1 April 2025, Beijing, China: ICGEB signs a Tripartite agreement with the China National Center for Biotechnology Development (CNCBD) and the China Medical City (CMC) to renew the ICGEB China Regional Research Centre for five years.
Visiting China last week, Dr. Lawrence Banks, ICGEB Director-General signed the renewal agreement for the ICGEB Regional Research Centre, which has been active since September 2020. The RRC is located in China Medical City science park, Taizhou, which has more than 800 companies working in the biomedical sector, including subsidiaries of several large multinational pharmaceutical companies. The ICGEB is the catalyst for research in the field of innovative pharmaceutical therapies for cancer and degenerative diseases.
Dr. Banks, accompanied by Ms. Elena Benedetti, Head of Fundraising, Technology Transfer & Innovation at ICGEB, met with CNCBD and CMC management, the ICGEB China RRC faculty and international students, together with Prof. Nathan Yang, RRC Director.
In addition, an ICGEB-developed technology to treat uterine fibroids has been licensed to a Chinese company.
ICGEB signed a license agreement with the Jiangsu Huatai Vaccine Engineering Technology Research Co. Ltd., represented by Dr. Fuzhong Peng for a technology developed by the Cardiovascular Biology Group at ICGEB Trieste, headed by Dr. Serena Zacchina, on Anti mi-RNAs for the treatment of Leiomyomas. The technology has been patented in Europe, China, and the USA.
Leiomyomas, better known as uterine fibroids, affect between 20% and 50% of women of reproductive age, and their presence significantly interferes with the ability to start a pregnancy. These fibroids can be symptomatic and are in many cases responsible for significant reproductive dysfunction and pain. The only therapy currently available is an invasive surgical procedure. The license for this new therapeutic approach to Jiangsu Huatai opens up possibilities for conducting clinical studies to make this available to patients.
A further agreement was signed with the China RRC to host a Group Leader at the ICGEB Trieste Headquarters for 1 year, to strengthen scientific exchange.
Related: ICGEB-DIC-MOST International Fellowship Programme call
