From July 11 to 12, Dr. Tao Cheng, President of the Institute of Hematology & Blood Diseases Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (IHCAMS), and his delegation visited Thailand. They met with representatives from the Ministry of Public Health of Thailand, the Embassy of The People's Republic of China in the Kingdom of Thailand , Chulalongkorn University Medical School, and Medpark Hospital, and signed a strategic agreement with Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University.
During the visit to the Ministry of Public Health, Dr. Tao Cheng was received by the Deputy Director of the Department of Science and Technology, Dr. Ballang Uppapong. Dr. Cheng introduced the institute, and due to the high gene frequency of thalassemia among population in Thailand and other Southeast Asian countries, he highlighted the latest progress in the first multi-center clinical trial of gene therapy for thalassemia in China, led by Duputy director Dr. Jun Shi’s team from IHCAMS. Dr. Ballang Uppapong looked forward to the health cooperation prospects between China and Thailand, and hoped that this new treatment method can soon be approved for clinical application and benefit people in both countries.
While visiting the Embassy of The People’s Republic of China in the Kingdom of Thailand, Dr. Tao Cheng was received by the Science and Technology Counsellor Ma Minggeng. Dr. Cheng briefed IHCAMS’s progress in cell therapy for various hematological diseases and its international collaborations, including the partnership with Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University. Counsellor Ma Minggeng introduced the political and medical background of Thailand and provided practical suggestions for future Sino-Thai cooperation. He emphasized the importance of strengthening the development of international cooperation bases while focusing on joint research projects to achieve the long-term goal of deepening mutually beneficial cooperation.
In the afternoon of the 11th, Dr. Tao Cheng, Deputy Director of the Haihe Laboratory of Cell Ecosystem Dr. Sha Hao, Dean of Chulalongkorn University Medical School Dr. Chanchai Sittipunt, and President of Bangkok Genomics Innovation Public Company Limited Goanpot Asvinvichit signed the Memorandum of Agreement in Bangkok. The memorandum aims to collaborate in the field of cell therapy for hematological diseases and actively organize personnel exchanges and training to promote international medical cooperation under the “Belt and Road” initiative. Chulalongkorn University, Thailand’s oldest national university, founded its affiliated hospital, King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, in 1914, making it one of Thailand’s largest public general hospitals. In April of this year, Nattiya Hirankarn, Vice Dean of Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, visited IHCAMS to learn about the latest progress in immunotherapy for hematologic malignancies and gene therapy for thalassemia, laying the foundation for future cooperation. In 2023, the Tianjin Binhai High-tech Zone, Haihe Laboratory of Cell Ecosystem, and BGI Genomics signed a cooperation agreement to establish the world’s first joint laboratory in the field of Spatial Temporal Omics in blood disease research. Bangkok Genomics Innovation Public Company Limited provides gene seuqencing services for reproductive health, infectious diseases, and tumor prevention and control. During the visit, Dr. Tao Cheng and his delegation also toured the diagnostic center of King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital and the cell and gene therapy laboratory at Chulalongkorn University Medical School.
In the afternoon of the 12th, Dr. Tao Cheng and his delegation visited Medpark Hospital. Medpark Hospital is one of Thailand’s top ten private hospitals, with 550 beds, including 130 intensive care beds, specializing in cancer treatment and radiotherapy. In June, Pongpat Patanavanich, Managing Director of Medpark Hospital, and his delegation visited IHCAMS Tuanbo Campus and Tianjin Union Precision Diagnosis Co., Ltd. Following mutual visits this year, the two parties plan to collaborate in international diagnosis and treatment, and telemedicine.
As the leader in hematology in China and the world’s largest hematology diagnosis and treatment center, especially cell therapy for hematological diseases,IHCAMS has years of international cooperation with countries participated in the “Belt and Road” initiative. The Memorandum of Agreement signed with Thai medical institutions includes both fundamental research and international medical services. IHCAMS will take the opportunity of the 50th anniversary of the formal establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Thailand next year to further deepen exchanges and cooperation between the two countries, to promote more fruitful health cooperation, and to jointly build a community of shared future for global health.
Professor Tao Cheng
Professor of Medicine, Peking Union Medical College (PUMC) and Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (CAMS);
President, Institute of Hematology & Blood Diseases Hospital, CAMS;
President, Institute of Basic Medical Science, CAMS;
Director of National Key Laboratory of Blood Science
Member of the Chinese Academy of Medical Science
