On March 11, 2023, the Shanghai Medical Association Clinical Translation Forum 2023 was held at the National Engineering Center for Biochip at Shanghai located in Zhangjiang High-Tech Park, Pudong New Area. The forum was sponsored by the Biomedical Translation Branch of Shanghai Medical Association (SMA), Shanghai Institute for Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Technologies (SIBPT), and Shanghai Biopharmaceutical Industry Association (SBIA), and organized by the National Engineering Center for Biochip at Shanghai and Shanghai Outdo Biotech Co., Ltd. Yang Chuan, Executive Director of Sinofaith Technology Asset Evaluation Research Center, attended the event.

On November 17, 2022, the Science and Technology Commission of Shanghai Municipality (STCSM), Shanghai Municipal Health Commission and other six authorities jointly issued the Operating Rules for Promoting the Transformation of Scientific and Technological Achievements from Medical and Health Institutions in Shanghai (Trial) (hereinafter referred to as the "Rules") to convert scientific and technological (S&T) achievements from medical and health institutions into real productive forces and boost the high-quality development of the biomedical industry in Shanghai. The event aimed to draw a blueprint for the future health sector, advance the commercialization of research results and technological innovations, and foster connections among medical institutions, businesses, academia, research institutes, financial institutions, service providers, and user groups. Discussions at the event focused on the key steps in biomedical translation from samples to products, especially the role and sustainability of the biobank. The event was attended by nearly two hundred representatives from hospitals, the pharmaceutical, finance, and intellectual property sectors, and government agencies, and garnered more than 10,000 views online.

The event was presided over by Prof. Gao Hengjun from the National Engineering Center for Biochip at Shanghai. Wu Jinglei, President of SMA; Zhu Wei, Deputy Director of the Health Commission of Pudong New Area; and Prof. Fan Jincheng, former Secretary of the Science, Technology, and Economic Committee of Pudong New Area and Chairman of the Biomedical Translation Branch of SMA delivered speeches during the event.

Afterward, medical experts presented excellent academic reports, and Sinofaith participated in the final roundtable discussion. Fu Daxu, President of SIBPT, presided over the discussion session. Yang Chuan, Executive Director of Sinofaith Technology Asset Evaluation Research Center; Gao Hengjun, Executive Director of the Clinical Research Institute of Shanghai General Hospital; Pan Jing, Chair and CEO of TMI Robotics Technology Co., Ltd.; and Chang Yan, General Manager of Shanghai InnoStar Bio-tech Co., Ltd. joined in the discussions about biological data, AI, biotechnology, and IP evaluation during the translation of medical innovations. Yang Chuan pointed out that biomedical innovation is impossible without financial and policy support, and that Sinofaith’s technology investment banking services can help connect hospitals, universities, research institutions, businesses, and investors to integrate the value chain, innovation chain, and supply chain, and facilitate biomedical translation in Shanghai.

Yang Chuan, Executive Director of Sinofaith Technology Asset Evaluation Research Center (second from left)

Before the event, participants also visited the National Engineering Center for Biochip at Shanghai, where they visited China's biggest biobank and learned how Zhangjiang Biobank collects, uses, and shares biosample resources for key disease research projects. Representatives from many hospitals highlighted the need to effectively utilize the national biochip platform and biobank to facilitate clinical research and improve clinical translation.

From samples to products: Making full use of the biobank, promoting the transformation of S&T achievements from medical and health institutions, and fostering the high-quality development of the biomedical industry is a sure way to improve people's health and quality of life and create real social and economic benefits.