The University of Hong Kong’s LKS Faculty of Medicine is designated to operate the Greater Bay Area International Clinical Trial Institute (GBAICTI) due to come into full operation in the fourth quarter, the Health Bureau announced today.

The institute is expected to operate fully at the Central Government-Aided Emergency Hospital in the Hetao area upon completion of the construction of its temporary office and biobank therein.  

The institute will be moved into one of the wet laboratory-enabled buildings, which is expected to complete construction later in the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Innovation & Technology Park, with a view to enhancing Hong Kong’s innovation and technology ecosystem in a proactive manner.

The Chief Executive put forward in the Policy Address last October the establishment of the GBAICTI in the Hong Kong Park of the Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science & Technology Innovation Co-operation Zone, or the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Innovation & Technology Park.

The bureau established the GBAICTI Limited in the second quarter of this year and designated the University of Hong Kong’s LKS Faculty of Medicine through an open tender process in the third quarter to operate the institute.

The GBAICTI Limited is wholly owned by the Government to oversee the work of the operator and effectively supervise the operations of the institute.

The bureau said clinical trials are an important process in translating basic research on drug and medical device innovation into marketing authorisation and clinical application.

The GBAICTI will serve as a one-stop clinical trial support platform to co-ordinate and integrate clinical trial resources in Hong Kong’s public and private sectors, including universities, the Hospital Authority and private healthcare facilities, to give impetus to the development of clinical trials on all fronts.

Secretary for Health Prof Lo Chung-mau said the establishment of the GBAICTI in the strategic location of the Hetao area can combine the strengths of Hong Kong and the Greater Bay Area (GBA) to provide more efficient services to multinational pharmaceutical enterprises, Mainland innovative biopharmaceutical enterprises, hospitals and research institutions.

It can also encourage them to conduct clinical trials in Hong Kong and the GBA, thereby expediting the translation of research results.

This is made possible as the GBAICTI can leverage the Hetao area’s development positioning for technology innovation and institutional innovation, as well as the related cross-boundary facilitation measures, Prof Lo explained.

“We hope that this will attract more pharmaceutical and medical device enterprises within and outside Hong Kong to conduct clinical trials in Hong Kong to further enhance the city’s capacity, recognition and status in terms of clinical trials and support a progressive transition to a primary evaluation approach for drug registration in Hong Kong.”

The GBAICTI in the Hong Kong Park and the Greater Bay Area International Clinical Trial Centre in the Shenzhen Park of the Hetao co-operation zone will join forces to synergise the development of clinical trials, and drive co-operation among the clinical trial networks of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and the Mainland, in particular the GBA.

The two parks will also co-ordinate clinical trial work of both places to comply with national and international standards.