MoU with China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences  

The scientific study of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) in Australia received a major boost with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the National Institute of Complementary Medicine (NICM) and the China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences (CACMS) on Monday 22 September 2008.

The five year agreement between NICM and CACMS focuses on the enhancement of scientific understanding of Chinese medicine through the facilitation of collaborative research projects and academic exchanges. This event also marked the official launch of the NICM Collaborative Centre for Traditional Chinese Medicine.

The delegation from China included Professor Hongxin Cao, President of CACMS; Professor Xudong Tang, President of Xiyuan Hospital and other senior officials.

Additional agreements were also signed between the Centre for Complementary Medicine Research (CompleMED), University of Western Sydney with Xiyuan Hospital, Shineway Pharmaceuticals (China) and the SOHO Group (Indonesia). Previous relevant agreements have also been arranged between Sydney University and Sun Yat Sen University and RMIT and the Institute of Materia Medica at CACMS. These agreements will support relevant research activities being undertaken by the NICM Collaborative Centre for Traditional Chinese Medicine.

An important and immediate initiative of the MOU is support for the development of national research priorities in Chinese medicine along with a linked five year plan for collaborative TCM research between Australia and China. This process commenced at the NICM Collaborative Centre Networking Forum held on 9 October in Sydney.

CACMS also facilitated a meeting of China based TCM researchers to join an Australian contingent of scientists in Beijing in early November. The meeting aimed to refine the priorities and plan for initiatives to support research on these priorities, including academic exchanges and multi-centre trials.

Content Updated January 2009