Shanghai establishes immunology institute

The Shanghai Immune Therapy Institute was established on Thursday as part of the city's efforts to accelerate developing basic and translational research in the immunological field to promote the city's biomedical industry.

Based at Renji Hospital under the Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, the institute will integrate superior resources and gather top talents to build a world-class frontier research center for immunology and a research and development base for innovative immunotherapy.

Tumor immunotherapy, chronic inflammatory diseases and transplantation immunology, and infectious diseases and vaccines will be the three major R&D and application areas for the institute.

Phased goals for the institute include being built into a full-chain scientific research platform regarding immune-related diseases by 2025. It is also expected to become an R&D center with a group of internationally influential professionals in this field and with global influence.

By 2035, the institute is set to have an internationally leading position in the research fields of new drug targets, new mechanisms, antibody drug development, immunotherapy and other major immune-related diseases. It is expected to become a core element in Shanghai's world-class biomedical industry cluster, which is under construction, as well as in the city's independent innovation efforts.

Dong Chen, founding director of the Shanghai Immune Therapy Institute and an academician with the Chinese Academy of Sciences from the field of immunology, said the facility will gather advantages of both Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine and Renji Hospital in basic and clinical advantages in immunology and integrate itself into the overall development outlook of State key laboratories in the Zhangjiang National Innovation Demonstration Zone and the Lingang free trade area in Pudong New District.

"Immunotherapy is a frontier and popular domain in the world's medical research today. The strengthened innovative research in immunotherapy is significant for the city's strategic goal of building itself into a scientific and technological innovation center with global influence and better safeguards people's health," Dong said.

Fan Xianqun, president of Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, said immunology is closely relevant to the prevention and treatment of major diseases, including tumors as well as infectious and metabolic diseases, and aging.

"Each major breakthrough in immunology may come with strides in medicine and the biomedical industry," he said.