On 13 May 2026, Prof. LAO Lixing, President of Virginia University of Integrative Medicine, United States, delivered a PAIR Seminar titled “Clinical Trials on Chinese Herbal Medicine, Methodology and Challenges” at the PolyU campus. The seminar attracted an audience of over 40 scholars, researchers, practitioners and students onsite, and over 13,300 online viewers across various social media platforms.
The Pursuit of Evidence-Based Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)
Prof. Lao opened the seminar by discussing the paradigm shift toward Evidence-Based Medicine (EBM). While Chinese Herbal Medicine (CHM) has been used for millennia, the complexity of multi-herb formulas presents unique hurdles for scientific validation. According to the EBM hierarchy, Randomised Controlled Trials represent the gold standard. Prof. Lao’s work focuses on applying FDA research guidelines to CHM, covering everything from the authentication of raw materials and extraction methods to quality control and quality assurance using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC).
Case Studies: HLXL and TSD
The seminar delved into two primary case studies. The first focused on HLXL (Huo-Luo-Xiao-Ling) for the treatment of knee osteoarthritis. Pre-clinical trials on rats demonstrated significant reductions in arthritic scores and pro-inflammatory cytokines. However, a subsequent Phase II human clinical trial, while confirming the formula's safety, revealed that the 8-week treatment was not superior to the placebo in reducing pain. Prof. Lao noted this as a classic example of the “species gap” between animal and human responses.
The second case study examined Tumour-Shrinking Decoction (TSD) for the treatment of uterine fibroids. This double-blind, dose-controlled trial aimed to evaluate symptom relief and fibroid size reduction. While the study provided valuable data on safety and potential efficacy, it highlighted the challenges posed by “fixed” formulas compared with the “individualised” nature of TCM diagnosis.
The lecture concluded with an engaging Q&A session moderated by Prof. Wong Man-sau, Director of Research Centre for Chinese Medicine Innovation and Professor of the Department of Food Science and Nutrition at PolyU. In response to questions regarding online scepticism and geographical variations in herbal efficacy, Prof. Lao emphasised that robust scientific evidence is the most effective tool for global validation. He further explained how the “multi-target” nature of herbal formulas necessitates specialised requirements for clinical sample sizes and efficacy indicators. Prof. Lao encouraged researchers to persevere in integrating FDA-level rigor with TCM wisdom to ensure the sustainable development of Chinese medicine in global healthcare.
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| Topics | PAIR Seminars |
|---|---|
| Research Units | PolyU Academy for Interdisciplinary Research |
Prof. LAO Lixing
Professor and President
Virginia University of Integrative Medicine (VUIM), USA
Professor Lixing Lao, Ph.D., Professor and President, Virginia University of Integrative Medicine (VUIM), Fairfax, Virginia, USA. Prior to his position at VUIM, he was a professor and the Director of the School of Chinese Medicine, The University of Hong Kong holding Vivian Taam Wong Endowed Professorship in Integrative Medicine during 2013-2019. He was a Professor of Family Medicine and the Director of the Traditional Chinese Medicine Research Program in the Center for Integrative Medicine of the School of Medicine, University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB), USA until 2013.
Prof. Lao graduated from the Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) in 1983 and completed his Ph.D. in physiology at UMB in 1992. As a licensed acupuncturist and Chinese medicine practitioner, Prof. Lao has practiced acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicines for over 40 years and served as a Board member for five years on the Maryland State Board of Acupuncture.
Dr. Lao is the principal investigator and co-investigator of over 20 clinical trials and pre-clinical studies in acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicines funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Department of Defense (DoD), USA and Medical and Health Research Fund (MHRF) in Hong Kong. He is particularly interested in conducting translational research that bridges basic science, clinical trials, and "real world" acupuncture/Chinese medicine clinical practice. He established the laboratory of TCM research in UMB in 1999 to conduct basic science studies on acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicines. Widely recognised for his unique contributions to acupuncture/TCM research methodology, he publishes and lectures extensively in this field. He has actively published over 330 peer-reviewed scientific papers and 20 book chapters or books. He has also given over 300 presentations at national and international conferences/symposia.
Prof. Lao is currently a board member of the Society for Acupuncture Research and served as a co-president of the Society for five years (2003-2007). He is elected vice president of the World Federation of Acupuncture and Moxibustion Societies (WFAS) and was an appointed Secretary General of the Consortium for Globalization of Chinese Medicine (CGCM) which is based in the University of Hong Kong (2013-2019). He served a member of PDQ Cancer CAM Advisory Board, the National Cancer Institute (NCI), National Institutes of Health (NIH). He also served on the editorial boards in a number of journals including associate editor in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, the Journal of Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine and was the Editor-in-Chief in the Journal of Integrative Medicine. He was awarded a Qi-Huang International Award by China Association of Chinese Medicine in December 2015 and awarded the Chief Executive’s Commendation for Community Service in recognition of his contribution to the development of Chinese medicine in Hong Kong by the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR), China in July 2019.
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