The Lo Ka Chung Research Centre for Natural Anti-Cancer Drug Development is established in late 2006. Through out the years the centre has carried out pioneering research in natural anti-cancer drugs, and has contributed directly to the community by promoting educational training. So far, the centre has developed two novel drugs to treat cancer. The second drug (BCA-PEG20), which represents a new paradigm for treating many cancer types, has been awarded the Prize of the State of Geneva and Gold Medal with Jury’s Commendation at the 37th International Exhibition of Inventions, New Techniques and Products of Geneva in 2009. We have formulated the drug with state-of-the-art DNA technology and protein modification and significantly prolonged its half-life for therapeutic use. The use of this new drug will open up many new opportunities for treating different types of cancers.

The PolyU Advanced Therapy Product (ATP) Laboratory is a Pharmaceutical Inspection Co-operation Scheme’s Good Manufacturing Practice (PIC/S GMP)-compliant facility, focusing on clinical research in immunotherapy, cell therapy, gene therapy and regenerative medicine. Equipped with a Production Site, Quality Control Laboratory and Training Laboratory, the Laboratory will serve as a robust platform for the development and clinical application of local ATPs. The ATP team, in collaboration with scientific research enterprises, the biopharmaceutical industry, and academic institutions, will focus on clinical trials for spinal cord injury patients during its first phase of work. It will make use of human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-matched umbilical cord blood received from the industry partner to produce umbilical cord blood-derived mononuclear cells. Quality control and product packaging procedures will also be performed. PIC/S GMP-compliant final products will then be sent to the hospitals for transplantation in patients.