Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU) has established the Centre for Chinese Herbal Medicine Drug Development (CDD), which is equipped with comprehensive and cutting-edge facilities that can enhance Hong Kong's ability to develop novel Chinese medicine (CM) drugs according to market demands. It will also standardise and internationalise the development of CM drugs, and nurture talent for the industry.

In tandem with the opportunities arising from the commencement of service of Hong Kong's first Chinese Medicine Hospital, the establishment of this one-stop CM drug development platform will hopefully speed up the development of innovative CM drugs in Hong Kong.

The Centre is currently working on two novel CM drug research projects that focus on chronic constipation and inflammatory bowel disease, respectively.

The Centre has set up six research platforms including the Clinical Data Science Group, the Gut Microbiota and Metabolism Group, the Immunology and Gut Inflammation Group, the Chinese Medicine Pharmacognosy Group, the AI-driven Drug Discovery Group and the Drug Application Group.

Image caption- Left to right: Professor Lyu Aiping, Dean of Chinese Medicine; Professor Guo Yike, Vice-President (Research and Development); Professor Alexander Wai, President and Vice-Chancellor; Professor Rick Wong, Interim Provost; and Professor Bian Zhaoxiang, Associate Vice-President (Chinese Medicine Development) and Director of the Clinical Division of the School of Chinese Medicine at HKBU, who is also the Director of the CDD.