News

SCM joined hands with Good Practice in Traditional Chinese Medicine Research Association (GP-TCM RA) to organise a virtual conference titled "Chinese Medicines: from Anti-viral Effects to Future Global Development" today.

In his role as both the Dean of SCM and the President of GP-TCM RA, Professor Lyu welcomed participants to the first ever webinar held by the Association and expressed his gratitude to the five distinguished speakers from Germany, mainland China and Hong Kong for offering their insights into the use of Chinese medicines to combat viral diseases.  He pointed out in his opening address that while the COVID-19 pandemic had dealt a devastating blow to public health and economies worldwide, it had also presented a rare opportunity for medical researchers and healthcare professionals to look into the anti-viral effects of Chinese medicines on emerging viruses like the novel SARS-Cov2 coronavirus.

The guest speakers at the Conference included Dr. Yang Zifeng, Associate Professor of Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Health at Guangzhou Medical University, who elucidated "The Pathway for Medical Translation of TCM Against SARS-CoV-2 Based on Integration of Chinese and Western Medicine"; Professor Rudolf Bauer, Head of the Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences at the University of Graz, who shared his views on "What is Needed for the Acceptance of Chinese Medicine in the Fight Against COVID-19 in European Countries"; Professor Thomas Efferth, Chair of the Department of Pharmaceutical Biology at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, who presented his research findings on "Artemisinin Derivatives to Combat Viral Diseases"; Professor Liu Jianping, Dean of the School of Basic Medical Science at Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, who gave a talk on "Anti-COVID-19 with Traditional Chinese Medicine: Research Evidence in China"; and Professor Shaw Pang-chui, Director of Li Dak Sum Yip Yio Chin R&D Centre for Chinese Medicine at The Chinese University of Hong Kong, who shared his "Evidence-based Study on Traditional Prescriptions for the Inhibition of Influenza Virus".

GP-TCM RA, a non-profit organisation funded by the European Commission, has since its inception in 2012 been committed to promoting high-quality evidence-based research in traditional Chinese medicine through developing, disseminating and implementing good practice.