On January 22, 2025, the unveiling ceremony of the Institute for Cell Therapy Translation, jointly established by Southern Medical University Shenzhen Hospital and Shenzhen Cell Valley Biopharmaceutical Co., Ltd., was held at the hospital. The event was hosted by Deputy Dean Chen Ye. Distinguished guests in attendance included Lin Zhenzhong (Deputy Director) and Wang Huanyu (Director) from the Shenzhen Qianhai Administration Bureau; Professor Shi Yuanyuan (Chairman and General Manager), Professor Wang Jianxun (Chief Scientist), and Tang Xiaomeng (Deputy General Manager) from Shenzhen Cell Valley; as well as Mr. Zheng Jinzhong (Chairman of the Greater China Cancer Foundation and renowned Hong Kong philanthropist), Mr. Chen Yiyi (Vice Chairman of the Hong Kong Biotechnology Organization), and Professor David Jin (formerly of Weill Cornell Medicine).

Southern Medical University Shenzhen Hospital is the only university-affiliated hospital within the Qianhai Free Trade Zone capable of simultaneously undertaking medical, educational, and research missions. As the first "Top-Tier Hospital" project to land under Shenzhen's "Three Top-Tier Projects" (medical teams, top-tier hospitals, and top-tier specialties) initiative, the hospital enjoys the policy advantage of "pioneering trials." Serving as the vanguard of Southern Medical University's "Shenzhen Strategy," it has always been dedicated to medical technology innovation and the translation of scientific research achievements.

At the unveiling ceremony, Zhou Hongwei, Dean of Southern Medical University Shenzhen Hospital, stated that the establishment of the Institute for Cell Therapy Translation in collaboration with Shenzhen Cell Valley marks a significant step forward for the hospital in the field of cell therapy. The Institute will build an innovation platform integrating research, translation, and training. It will increase resource investment in key cell therapy research areas to gradually create an academic highland. By fostering a model of close cooperation between scientific research Principal Investigators (PIs) and clinical departments, the Institute aims to propel cell therapy technologies from the laboratory to the clinic, establishing a cell therapy pilot zone in Qianhai. Furthermore, it will jointly establish a talent training base for the cell therapy industry, conducting multi-level and diverse training programs to cultivate research-oriented, production-oriented, and quality control-oriented talents for the sector.

Mr. Shi Yuanyuan, Chairman of Shenzhen Cell Valley Biopharmaceutical Co., Ltd., remarked that as a major municipal project and a key public service platform for the biopharmaceutical industry, Shenzhen Cell Valley is a provider of one-stop comprehensive solutions in the field of cell and gene therapy, possessing profound technical accumulation and an international vision. He noted that this collaboration with Southern Medical University Shenzhen Hospital will inject momentum into the innovation and development of cell therapy. Through the establishment of the Institute, the company hopes to achieve fruitful scientific and clinical results, building a distinctive cell therapy and industrial translation platform for Shenzhen and even the entire nation. This initiative aims to bring hope to more patients, provide sustained momentum for the hospital's development, and contribute to the economic growth of Shenzhen.

The establishment of the Institute for Cell Therapy Translation will leverage the respective strengths of Southern Medical University Shenzhen Hospital and Shenzhen Cell Valley to add new impetus to Shenzhen-Hong Kong cooperation in cell therapy within the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. By establishing cooperative relationships with domestic and international research institutions and enterprises, the Institute strives to become a new high ground for innovation in the cell therapy field. It aims to lead continuous breakthroughs in cell therapy technology, promote the innovation of clinical treatment methods, and bring safer, more effective medical services to patients in Shenzhen, Hong Kong, and beyond.