NEWS & EVENTS

The Vincent V.C. Woo Chinese Medicine Clinical Research Institute (the Institute) of the School of Chinese Medicine hosted the “Advancing Clinical Pathways and Practice Guidelines for Evidence-based Chinese Medicine & Integrative Medicine Symposium” on 23 March, 2025. The event brought together top experts from around the world in Chinese, integrative, and Western medicine, discussing the latest research and applications in evidence-based medicine.

The symposium, convened by Professor Bian Zhaoxiang, Founding Director and Co-Director of the Institute, drew more than 200 attendees. In the opening remarks, Professor Alex Wai, President and Vice-Chancellor of HKBU, said that Chinese medicine is one of the key disciplines of HKBU. The School of Chinese Medicine has achieved remarkable accomplishments in teaching, research, technology translation, and medical services over the years. Additionally, HKBU has been selected by the Government as the contractor for the service deed of Hong Kong’s first Chinese medicine hospital. The future of Chinese medicine lies in ‘the harmonious dialogue between traditional wisdom and modern science,’ and this symposium would offer new insights and strength to evidence-based Chinese medicine and integrative medicine.

Addressing the ceremony, Dr Cheung Wai-lun, Project Director of the Chinese Medicine Hospital Project Office, the Health Bureau, said that the establishment of The Chinese Medicine Hospital of Hong Kong (CMHHK) is an important milestone in the development of Chinese medicine in Hong Kong, and that promoting the development of Chinese medicine through evidence-based medicine is one of the important directions of the hospital. He pointed out that the application of evidence-based medicine is very important to the clinical practice of Chinese medicine. The pathway of developing Chinese medicine in Hong Kong is open. Through the concerted efforts of different stakeholders, the adoption of evidence-based medicine will be promoted, which would benefit patients. 

Speaking at the event, Dr Vincent Chung Chi-ho, Commissioner for Chinese Medicine Development of the Chinese Medicine Unit, the Health Bureau, said that, with the staunch support of the Government, the Hospital Authority has further extended the Integrated Chinese-Western Medicine (ICWM) services to cover more hospital sites and disease areas, unleashing the advantages and functions of Chinese medicine and ICWM. The Chinese Medicine Development Fund has supported the commencement of Chinese medicine research and talent development projects which are instrumental in driving the professional and industry development of Chinese medicine in Hong Kong. He pointed out that this symposium presents a valuable opportunity to bring together international experts to engage in in-depth discussions on the latest developments in evidence-based medicine, Chinese medicine, and the integration of Chinese and Western medicine, which will help pave the future of integrative medicine.

Mr Harry Yeung, Vice President of the Vincent and Lily Woo Foundation, expressed the Foundation’s expectations for the Institute.  He hopes the Institute can benefit more patients, promote the integration of Chinese and Western medicine, advance innovative and translational research in Chinese medicine, and also cultivate high-quality research talent in the field.

Professor Lyu Aiping, Vice-President (Research and Development) cum Dean of Graduate School and Acting Dean of the School of Chinese Medicine at HKBU, extended a warm welcome and appreciation to all speakers, guests, and attendees for their participation and support. He highlighted that clinical pathways and practice guidelines are crucial for the standardisation and internationalisation of both Chinese and Western medicine. He believed that this symposium would bring new insights to the development of the Chinese medicine industry and CMHHK.

Highlighted speakers of the symposium include Professor David MOHER, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute; Professor Xudong TANG, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences; Professor Hongchun ZHANG, China-Japan Friendship Hospital; Professor Jianping LIU, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine; Professor Hongcai SHANG, Dongfang Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine; Professor Junhua ZHANG, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine; Professor Zehuai WEN, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine; Professor Long GE, Lanzhou University; Dr Ping Ping LAM, CMHHK; Professor Myeong Soo LEE, Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine; Professor Yaolong CHEN, Lanzhou University; and Professor Zhaoxiang BIAN, Hong Kong Baptist University. These distinguished speakers delivered outstanding presentations covering topics such as open science and publication science in health research; the progress and development of clinical pathways and practice guidelines in the field of Chinese medicine and integrative medicine; the identification, design and methodological framework of evidence-based clinical research; and methods for integrating multiple evidence and the collaboration of artificial intelligence.

In addition to the presentations, the symposium featured two group discussions focusing on the collaboration between Chinese and Western medicine and their clinical pathways, as well as the scientific, standardized, and transparent collaboration between traditional and Western medicine. Professor Yibin FENG from The University of Hong Kong; Dr Chun Pong LAM from Hong Kong Baptist University; and Dr. Kai Ping LEE from Haven of Hope - The Chinese University of Hong Kong Chinese Medicine Centre for Training and Research made significant contributions to the two group discussions. Four distinguished individuals, Professor Zhaoxiang BIAN from Hong Kong Baptist University, Professor Kam Wa CHAN from Hong Kong Baptist University, Professor Zhixiu LIN from The Chinese University of Hong Kong, and Dr. Chun-wing LAU from CMHHK, served as chairs of the presentation sections in this symposium.

The symposium was co-organised with Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine, CMHHK, Chinese EQUATOR Centre, World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Guideline Implementation and Knowledge Translation, and Guidelines International Network Asia.