What’s Next in China’s Biomedical Research and Healthcare – An Insider’s Take

On 26 July 2024, Tsinghua Medicine  Vice Provost and Senior Vice-Chancellor Professor Wong Tien Yin delivered an insightful talk titled "Evolution of China’s Biomedical Research and Healthcare Landscape: Why? How? What’s Next?" at the LKCMedicine EXCEL Research Seminar. Hosted by NTU Senior Vice-President (Health & Life Sciences) and LKCMedicine Dean Distinguished University Professor Joseph Sung, the seminar attracted over 180 researchers eager to glean insights into China’s biomedical research and healthcare ecosystem.

 

Prof Wong, who is also NTU Nanyang Professor of Practice (Clinical), provided an overview of the challenges of China’s healthcare system, from an overwhelmed healthcare system, to inequity in care between the rural and developed regions in China and a lag in development of new policies to provide high-quality and value-based care, to China’s population with changing disease spectrum (e.g., ageing and chronic diseases).  Scientists, clinicians and researchers also work in relatively competitive silos and lack systematic platforms to translate and implement their research to clinical care at a level comparable to research conducted on a global stage. 

To overcome these challenges in infrastructure and policies and achieve significant breakthroughs, he shared that clinicians and researchers often leverage their interpersonal networks. This makes the researchers and students the driving force for China’s clinical work and medical research. He further noted that they would benefit from insights and ideas from exchange programmes with global institutes like LKCMedicine as well as a mature clinical research programme and trials platform to implement their research, especially at a level comparable to global standards.

 

Referencing his research that involved the integration of digital technology, including AI, in healthcare settings in China, Prof Wong expounded the opportunities available for Singapore to work with China for translational and clinical research, and the support and development of clinician-scientists.

 

Prof Wong’s lecture was useful in illuminating the challenges and realities, but also potential opportunities, of  China’s biomedical research and healthcare system; opening a door for the attendees to consider pursuing their training and collaborative research in China.

 

His valuable insights were not limited to the healthcare systems and research, but also on the importance of developing  the next generation of researchers. The seminar concluded with an Ask-Me-Anything session involving 40 early career researchers, providing them a rare opportunity to ask for advice about career progression and developing themselves into a future leader in their respective fields.