博客

Our Centre has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Sweden-based company Cellcolabs AB, a leading producer of high-quality, GMP-certified mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs), in a strategic move to facilitate CNRM’s upcoming Phase I/II clinical trial investigating mesenchymal stromal cell (MSC) therapy for knee osteoarthritis.

Knee osteoarthritis is a common condition in older adults that affects joint cartilage and impedes movement. While current treatments range from pain medications, physical therapy, lubricating injections to other surgical procedures, CNRM proposes in an innovative breakthrough the use of allogeneic MSC therapy, a regenerative approach that injects donor-derived cells into the joint to reduce inflammation, alleviate pain, and potentially restore damaged cartilage.

“This MoU marks a major step forward in turning rigorous academic research into effective treatments for patients with knee osteoarthritis,” said Professor Patrick Yung Shu-hang, Director of CNRM and Chairman of the Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology in the Faculty of Medicine at CUHK.

“This partnership reflects our focus on enabling high-quality clinical research through robust cell manufacturing and international collaboration,” said Petter Hallman, Acting CEO at Cellcolabs. “Working with CNRM and CUHK allows us to support a clinically meaningful programme while strengthening the bridge between academic research and scalable therapeutic development.”

Ageing and osteoarthritis are both major worldwide health challenges. This partnership strives to advance standardised, high-quality MSC therapies and accelerate innovative regenerative treatments. Through a combination of Hong Kong’s research excellence and European expertise in advanced cell manufacturing, CNRM is excited to take part as a key contributor in broadening Hong Kong’s role as an international hub for biomedical innovation and cross-border technology transfer.

CNRM has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Beijing Gingko Group (BGG) to establish a three-year collaboration aimed at introducing advanced biomedical validation technologies into dietary supplements, pharmaceuticals and personal care products. The MoU was signed by Professor Patrick Yung Shu-hang, JP, Director of CNRM, and Mr Li Chunhua, founder of BGG, and witnessed by the founder of Senelixir Biotech Ltd Professor Wang Huating and BGG Global CEO Mr Li Kun.

In a move to leverage CNRM’s multi-disciplinary expertise and commercial viability, this partnership represents not only the credibility of CNRM’s technologies, but also the success of evidence-based health solutions and establishing new industry standards for both practical and commercial applications of rigorous academic research.

“The partnership with BGG establishes a crucial industrial validation platform for CNRM’s patented technologies.” said Professor Yung, “By applying and testing those technologies in real-world product development, it not only achieves the leap from academic patents to recognised industry standards but also lays the groundwork for breakthrough advancements in verification technologies for nutraceuticals and pharmaceuticals, aiming to set new innovative industry benchmarks for evidence-based health products.”

In this collaboration, CNRM will lead the scientific validation of high-value natural ingredients through extensive research and exploration into deep biological mechanisms, promoting the importance and wider adoption of evidence-based health solutions in both the local and international market.

BGG concurrently holds a contract research service agreement with CNRM’s spin-off company Senelixir Biotech Ltd, a collaborative effort in the development of supplements targeting another major global challenge in ageing, sarcopenia.