Brazilian and Chinese researchers gathered on September 23 at the Blood Center of the University of Campinas (Unicamp) to discuss potential collaborations in the development of innovative treatments for cancer patients. The meeting was organized by CEPID CancerThera, which hosted a mixed delegation of Chinese doctors, researchers, and entrepreneurs interested in fostering scientific cooperation opportunities between the two countries.
The visit is part of an initiative to expand access to new medical approaches in cancer treatment, such as the Theranostic model — under strong development at CancerThera — and CAR-T cell therapy (Chimeric Antigen Receptor), which was the focus of the presentations offered by the Chinese researchers. CAR-T therapy uses the patient’s own immune cells to treat hematologic cancers, with advantages including the reduction of chemotherapy sessions.
The Chinese delegation attended detailed presentations on research in the Theranostic model, conducted by CancerThera, and on CAR-T cells by the Advanced Therapy Center (Nutera), in Ribeirão Preto (SP). In turn, the Chinese researchers presented their own ongoing research and the facilities of leading medical centers in China. The Chinese representatives showed great interest in understanding how Brazil is advancing in this field, particularly in the treatment of hematologic cancers.
Opening doors for collaborations
“Their main interest during the visit was to learn how we are positioned in the CAR-T field, especially since half of the delegation was composed of hematologists,” commented Dr. Carmino Antonio de Souza, onco-hematologist, professor at the School of Medical Sciences at Unicamp, and principal investigator of CEPID CancerThera.
During the visit, in addition to participating in the presentations and discussions held in the multimedia room of the Blood Center/Unicamp, the delegation toured the lymphocyte collection unit, essential for developing CAR-T cell therapies. The visitors also had the opportunity to visit the Nuclear Medicine Service at the Clinics Hospital of Unicamp. In the same building, they saw the accommodation provided for patients after bone marrow transplants, with well-structured facilities.
The visit opened new doors for collaboration, with Chinese researchers highlighting the importance of future partnerships in the biotechnology, hospital, and research institute sectors. “We truly value our relationship with Brazil; we have a long history of collaboration in various fields. Now, we are trying to bring products here, bringing this new therapy [CAR-T] so that more patients can have access. That is our purpose,” said Yongke Zhang, Chief Scientific Officer at IASO BioTherapeutics. He also expressed optimism about the possibility of collaborating with CancerThera: “I believe there are excellent opportunities for us.”
The Chinese delegation was composed of:
- Claudia Wu, Vice President of the Xamano Group.
- Hao Mu, researcher at the Lymphoma and Myeloma Center of the Institute of Hematology and Blood Diseases Hospital, vice leader of the Myeloma and Plasma Cell Diseases Group of the Hematologic Oncology Committee of the Chinese Anti-Cancer Association.
- Jin Jie, director of the Hematology Department at the Hospital of the Zhejiang University School of Medicine and the Provincial Key Laboratory for Hematologic Oncology (diagnosis and treatment).
- Qiu Lugui, tenured associate professor at Peking Union Medical College, director of the Lymphoma Diagnosis and Treatment Center at the Institute of Hematology of the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, principal investigator at the National Key Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, and medical director of the Hematopoietic Stem Cell Bank of Umbilical Cord Blood of Tianjin.
- Wang Wei, President of the Xamano Group.
- Yongke Zhang, Chief Scientific Officer of IASO BioTherapeutics.
Text and photos: Romulo Santana Osthues
