Major Breakthrough: Top-Tier Domestic Institution Establishes Integrated Platform for Liver Disease and Liver Cancer Prevention and Treatment

On the afternoon of September 23, the Administrative Committee of Suzhou Wuzhong Economic and Technological Development Zone held a cooperation signing ceremony with Zhongshan Hospital Affiliated to Fudan University and Suzhou Yigan Medical Technology Industry Co., Ltd.

Cao Lubao, Member of the Standing Committee of the Jiangsu Provincial Party Committee and Secretary of the Suzhou Municipal Party Committee, met with Fan Jia, Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and President of Zhongshan Hospital Affiliated to Fudan University, and Ge Junbo, Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Director of the Department of Cardiology at Zhongshan Hospital Affiliated to Fudan University. They jointly witnessed the signing ceremony and agreed to jointly support the establishment of the Suzhou China-Innovation Institute for Liver Disease and Liver Cancer, aiming to build it into a hub for talent aggregation, standard-setting, and industrial innovation in the fields of liver disease and liver cancer. The initiative will focus on the collaborative translation of innovative achievements, striving to establish a national highland for innovation in liver disease and liver cancer.

Pan Guoqiang, Member of the Standing Committee of the Suzhou Municipal Party Committee and Secretary-General of the Municipal Party Committee; Ji Jing, Vice Mayor of the Suzhou Municipal People’s Government; Ding Lixin, Secretary of the Wuzhong District Party Committee; Xu Jiming, Member of the Standing Committee of the Wuzhong District Party Committee, Deputy Secretary of the Party Working Committee of the Wuzhong Economic and Technological Development Zone, and Deputy Director of its Administrative Committee; key officials from relevant departments of Suzhou City and Wuzhong District; Zhou Jian, Vice President of Zhongshan Hospital Fudan University, Director of the Department of Hepatic Surgery, and Chairman of the Liver Cancer Professional Committee of the China Anti-Cancer Association; and Cang Jing, Vice President of Zhongshan Hospital Fudan University and Chairman of the Pain Professional Committee of the Chinese Society of Cardiothoracic Anesthesiology, among other leaders, attended the signing ceremony.

VCBeat conducted exclusive interviews with Shen Wei, Executive Director of the Zhongchuang Institute of Liver Disease and Liver Cancer and Chairman of Yigan Technology Industry Co., Ltd., as well as Tang Youming, Executive Secretary-General of the Zhongchuang Institute of Liver Disease and Liver Cancer.

VCBeat: As a leading figure in the medical innovation ecosystem, could you share your past successful experiences?

Shen Wei: As one of the principal founders, I helped establish the China Cardiovascular Health Alliance, the Cardiovascular Health Research Institute, and the Xinxin Cardiovascular Health Foundation, overseeing the implementation and operations of the entire initiative. After years of development, the Alliance has become the most influential and authoritative benchmark platform in the field of cardiovascular disease. With my continued deepening engagement in medical innovation, I have gained a more profound understanding of the mission and responsibilities inherent to healthcare. Against the macro-strategic backdrop of building a technologically strong nation, accelerating the translation of medical achievements into practical applications on the basis of the Alliance’s platform is of critical importance. Therefore, in recent years, I have separately established an innovation translation platform and an investment platform, constructing an innovation ecosystem that integrates “government, industry, academia, research, healthcare, and investment.” By coordinating relevant resources across the entire industry and supply chain, and by establishing collaborative mechanisms, we provide comprehensive support for innovative industrial development.

China bears a significant burden of liver disease and liver cancer, with many of our relatives and friends deeply affected by these conditions. Strengthening the prevention and control of liver disease and liver cancer is a beneficial endeavor for both the nation and its people. Therefore, after in-depth discussions with renowned experts in relevant fields within China, we have decided to jointly establish a future leading ecosystem platform in the country—the Zhongchuang Institute of Liver Disease and Liver Cancer.

VCBeat: What are the goals and work directions of the Zhongchuang Institute for Liver Disease and Liver Cancer?

Shen Wei: Our goal in establishing the research institute is to create an open ecosystem platform that integrates clinical practice and industry within the fields of liver disease and liver cancer. By staying at the forefront of clinical advancements and closely aligning with clinical needs and industrial development, we aim to help foster an innovative life sciences cluster focused on liver disease and liver cancer, support the growth of related innovative enterprises, and ultimately benefit the broad population of patients with liver disease and liver cancer.

The Institute will advance its work along three key pillars: integrated prevention and treatment of liver diseases and liver cancer, talent development, and translation of research outcomes. These efforts aim to elevate China’s standards in the prevention and treatment of liver diseases and liver cancer, strengthen disciplinary construction, foster talent, and drive innovative industrial development.

VCBeat: As an industry professional, why did you join this platform?

Tang Youming: I previously served as a clinician for many years and held responsibilities in sales, marketing, strategic projects, and innovative business at renowned multinational corporations. Additionally, I was a founding member operating a digital internet healthcare platform. Transitioning from clinical practice to corporate roles and then to service platforms, I have consistently explored ways to better meet the growing demand for healthcare services, particularly the need for comprehensive whole-disease-course solutions—spanning from treatment to prevention, and even extending to earlier-stage health management. It is a great honor to join the Zhongchuang Institute of Liver Disease and Liver Cancer as Executive Secretary-General, where I will also oversee the implementation and execution of initiatives for the China Alliance for Liver Disease and Liver Cancer Prevention and Control.

VCBeat: How will the Research Institute build an integrated system for the prevention and treatment of liver disease and liver cancer?

Tang Youming: We will pool resources from all sectors to launch the construction of an Integrated Center for Liver Disease and Liver Cancer Prevention and Treatment, providing patients with a comprehensive, integrated care pathway that spans the entire disease management journey—including screening, diagnosis and treatment, follow-up, and rehabilitation. Subsequently, we plan to conduct public health education to promote awareness of “early screening and early diagnosis,” while collaborating with hospitals to establish a screening network to enhance screening efficiency. In the diagnosis and treatment phase, we will set up standardized units and implement vertical coordination mechanisms to facilitate tiered diagnosis and treatment for this specific condition. Furthermore, we will support patient rehabilitation through a standardized follow-up system, AI-driven follow-up, and internet-based healthcare services. These are the key initiatives we will undertake in the near term to build an integrated system for liver disease and liver cancer prevention and treatment.

The Zhongchuang Institute for Liver Disease and Liver Cancer will place people’s health at the center, foster an open and inclusive mindset to build a medical innovation ecosystem, unite like-minded partners and stakeholders, strengthen prevention and control efforts for liver disease and liver cancer, promote advancements in diagnosis and treatment, aim to reduce the prevalence and mortality of liver disease and liver cancer in China, and contribute to the Healthy China initiative.