The completion and smooth relocation of the new Hebei Yanda Ludaopei Hospital campus mark a major step forward for the Ludaopei Medical Group’s clinical capacity. On this occasion, internationally renowned hematologist Professor Robert Negrin—Director of the Blood and Marrow Transplantation Program at Stanford University and President-Elect of the American Society of Hematology (ASH)—visited the hospital for an in-depth exchange with Professor Lu Peihua, who leads the Ludaopei Medical Group. Their discussion centered on the evolution of cellular therapies, clinical challenges in CAR-T, and opportunities for global collaboration. Both sides emphasized that cross-border cooperation and open academic exchange are essential engines driving progress in hematologic disease care. Oncology Frontier – Hematology Frontier presents key takeaways from this Sino-U.S. dialogue to offer both practical reference and insight for the cell therapy community.Dialogue
Prof. Lu Peihua: This year is a historic milestone for our group: the new 97-acre Yanda Ludaopei Hospital campus has been completed and brought online without disruption. It is our distinct honor to welcome Professor Robert Negrin. Prof. Negrin is an authority in hematology, having led Stanford’s Blood and Marrow Transplantation Program for two decades, served as President of both the International Society for Cell & Gene Therapy (ISCT) and the American Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation (ASBMT), and he will assume the ASH presidency in 2026. His influential research has significantly advanced our field. The United States and China are among the world’s most dynamic healthcare systems. While our histories, structures, and scales differ, our shared purpose is unchanged: delivering the best possible care for patients. Thank you, Professor Negrin, for being here.
Prof. Robert Negrin: It is a great pleasure to visit again and to witness the remarkable progress achieved within just a year. This is an extraordinary comprehensive facility—vibrant, aesthetically designed, and academically outstanding. When I look at what is happening in China, especially at Ludaopei, I am struck by how much we share in common. Our collective goal is to improve outcomes in complex hematologic malignancies, always keeping patient benefit at the center. This is not a competition; it is a collegial partnership. I am particularly impressed by Ludaopei’s technological capabilities and integration: many diagnostics and treatments that would be outsourced elsewhere are performed in-house here, and that level of integration is truly exceptional.
Prof. Lu Peihua: Thank you for your recognition and support. I was fortunate to learn under Prof. Negrin’s mentorship. Early in my career at Stanford, I systematically studied the foundations of cellular therapy—beginning with cytokine-induced killer (CIK) cells—in Prof. Negrin’s laboratory. Building on that foundation, our hospital has since moved to the forefront of CAR-T therapy.
Prof. Robert Negrin: I consider Prof. Lu not only a former trainee but a leading colleague, collaborator, and driver of global progress in cellular therapy. Each visit is an opportunity for mutual learning, and such peer-to-peer academic dialogue is vital to advancing medicine.
Prof. Lu Peihua: The growth of cellular therapy is multifaceted. CAR-T has matured rapidly—from autologous products to “off-the-shelf” allogeneic products, and now toward in vivo CAR-T. Beyond CAR-T, we are seeing CAR-NK and CAR-macrophage strategies. Indications are expanding from hematologic malignancies into solid tumors and even autoimmune diseases. Some recent studies suggest CAR-T could potentially clear senescent cells, hinting at future anti-aging applications. Opportunity and challenge go hand in hand. Over the past decade, we have partnered with multiple CAR-T companies and conducted clinical trials to bring more effective options to relapsed/refractory patients. Although challenges remain, our focus is on continual optimization—reducing toxicities and improving safety—while learning from global leaders like Prof. Negrin and colleagues at Stanford to better serve patients.
Prof. Robert Negrin: Scientific progress comes from identifying what works, analyzing failures, and iterating. That requires systematic data collection, outcome tracking, and rigorous methods to understand current challenges. In CAR-T, two major drivers of treatment failure are well recognized: loss of the target antigen and T-cell exhaustion. We are addressing these with dual- or multi-target CAR constructs, and with allogeneic “universal” CAR-T products that may be less prone to exhaustion. The key is to understand mechanisms—of both success and failure—and refine therapy accordingly. Patients in the U.S., China, Europe, Vietnam—everywhere—face essentially the same clinical challenges. We should break down barriers, collaborate internationally, and share experience through meetings and ongoing dialogue. That is precisely the value of conferences like the Ludaopei Hematology Conference. Finally, to young physicians and scientists: you are engaged in a profoundly meaningful pursuit. This institution exemplifies passion and leadership—rooted in Academician Lu Daopei’s vision and carried forward by the next generation. Converting science and technology into tangible patient benefit is, in my view, the highest achievement of a medical career.
Expert Profiles
Professor Lu Peihua Executive Medical Director, Ludaopei Hospital; President, Beijing Ludaopei Institute of Hematology MD, Peking University Health Science Center; Residency at the University of Nebraska Medical Center; Fellowship in Hematology/Oncology at Stanford University. Board-certified in Hematology and Oncology (U.S.); licensed in both China and the U.S. Academic and professional roles include leadership positions within the Chinese Non-Public Medical Institutions Association, the CSCO Anti-Leukemia Alliance, Beijing Medical Education Association, and others. Recipient of the 2021 Taishan Award for Value-Based Healthcare (Medical Management).
Professor Robert Negrin Professor of Medicine, Stanford University Director, Blood & Marrow Transplantation (2000–2020). BA, University of California, Berkeley; MD, Harvard Medical School. Completed Internal Medicine and Hematology training at Stanford and joined the faculty in 1990. Research focuses on cellular immunology, especially mechanisms underlying graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) and graft-versus-tumor (GVT) in animal models and clinical contexts. Author of 300+ original articles, 40 book chapters, and one edited volume. Honors include the Doris Duke Distinguished Clinical Scientist Award; Member of the American College of Physicians. Former President of ISCT and ASBMT; former Deputy Editor of Blood and Founding Editor of Blood Advances. ASH President-Elect (2025), ASH President (2026).
