In the preliminary meeting of operating the regional research center, International Centre for Genetic Engineering Biotechnology (ICGEB) in China, China Medical City (CMC), China's leading medical industrialization base in Taizhou, Jiangsu Province, was invited by ICGEB to discuss the promotion and collaboration between CMC and ICGEB.

The meeting mainly discussed which areas of research activities will be the most appropriate for collaboration. "In cooperation with CMC, we are expecting there will be novel approaches for the development of new therapeutics, vaccines, and diagnostics," said Dr. Lawrence Banks, the scientific coordinator and group leader of ICGEB.

ICGEB is an international institution promoted by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization. As a center of excellence for research and training in genetic engineering and biotechnology, its goal is to make benefits for the developing countries.

Collaborating with CMC and China National Center for Biotechnology Development (CNCBD), ICGEB decided to set up the world’s first ICGEB regional research center (ICGEB-RRC) at CMC. Through providing high-quality research fields, holding meetings and workshops, training scientists in the lab and providing great opportunities in ICGEB-RRC, top-class scientists will be attracted to do research and tackle disease here.

Although CMC invests more in developing biotechnology, there is a long way to go for the future development. According to Banks, the main advice is to push science innovation, as big discoveries can greatly impact the global health sector.