Wenzhou Medical University opens new cell growth research center

On Nov. 16, scientists and entrepreneurs fromChina’s healthcare sector gathered in Wenzhou, Zhejiang province, to witness theopeningof the new R&D center of the Cell Growth Factor Drugs and Protein Preparations National Engineering Research Center.

The eventcoincided with the 2024 World Young Scientist Summit's Grand Health Forum and the International Industry-Academia-Research Collaboration Conference on Biomedical Innovation and Translation.

Li Xiaokun, academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering andpresident of Wenzhou Medical University

Li Xiaokun, academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering andpresident of Wenzhou Medical University, said the researchcenter willfocus on cell growth factor drugs and protein research.

He said, by integrating resources across regions and promoting collaborative innovation, the center is committed to overcoming technical challenges and making more contributions throughmeticulous work. This will help solve bottleneck issues in the field's technological development, promote new drug research and clinical translation, and boost the high-quality development of the bio-pharmaceutical industry in Zhejiangprovince.

Zhou Yanchun, deputydirector of Zhejiang Provincial Development and Reform Commission.

Zhou Yanchun, deputydirector of Zhejiang Provincial Development and Reform Commission, pointed thatscientific and technological innovation is the core driving force for the high-quality economic and social development of Zhejiang.

Zhou said she hopes Wenzhou Medical University will take this opportunity to continue scientific research innovation, while strengthening talent cultivation, and that the university will also commercialize more scientific research results andmake contributions to the sustainable and healthy development of the province's bio-pharmaceutical industry.

Zeng Ruihua, secretary ofthe CPC Ouhai District Committeeof Wenzhou

According toZeng Ruihua, secretary ofthe CPC Ouhai District Committeeof Wenzhou, the district has closely worked with Wenzhou Medical University to holistically create the China Gene Medicine Valley andactively develop the life and healthindustry.

These efforts have achieved fruitful results in recent years, he added.

Zeng said, with the new building put into operation,Ouhai willadopt the"government-enterprise-medical-school"collaboration modeand strive to build a world-class gene medicine valley and atop pharmaceutical innovation ecosystem, aiming to lead China’s life and health industry.

Tthe Cell Growth Factor Drugs and Protein Preparations National Engineering Research Center is the first national engineering research center in the field of cell growth factors in the country. Since its approval for construction by the National Development and Reform Commission in April 2022, the center has focused on the major strategic needs of the country, with cell growth factor drugs and protein preparations as the core of research. By integrating resources across regions and promoting collaborative innovation, the center is committed to overcoming technical challenges and promoting new drug research and clinical translation. The center has obtained one new drug certificate and two clinical permits, with multiple candidate new drugs entering the preclinical research stage. It has achieved more than10 technical transformations and services, and its support for local economic and social development and the bio-pharmaceutical industry is becoming increasingly prominent.

The R&D building,with aspace floor of 15,000 square meters, is a new base for the National Engineering Research Center.Together with the previously built 5,000 square meters of pilot base and the 30,000 square meters of CDMO industrial demonstration base, the establishments will form a full development chain of bio-pharmaceuticals. This will greatly help the National Engineering Research Center achieve its next development goal– to become a global innovation and translation highland for cell growth factor drugs within the next 5-10 years, so as to provide strong support for the construction of Wenzhou'sFGF+ factor cityand Zhejiangprovince's construction of a scientific and technological innovationhub. They will alsocontribute to the construction of a science and technologycenter, aneducation powerhouse, andahealthy China.