The Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences (NDPCHS) is set to impart its expertise in clinical trials to China National Biotec Group (CNBG), the largest vaccine biotech in China and a pivotal part of Sinopharm, China's leading pharmaceutical company.
The start of this partnership will see the renowned Clinical Trials Unit at NDPCHS deliver clinical trials training to CNBG. This marks the initiation of what is hoped will become a broader collaboration encompassing joint research efforts, leadership programmes, and a shared commitment to advancing clinical trials.
Professor Richard Hobbs, Head of the Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, said:
‘We are looking forward to working with CNBG, one of China’s oldest pharma established over 100 years ago, on a series of scientific initiatives. This training programme is a first step, with discussions underway to collaborate with CNBG’s exciting pipeline of vaccine candidates, especially in cancer and infection.’
CNBG President, Yang Huichuan, shared these sentiments about the partnership, stating:
‘The University of Oxford is a top university that has invested enormously in medical sciences. NDPCHS has many shared interests with CNBG, including but not limited to clinical trials and epidemiology studies. We are hoping to explore broader partnerships from clinical trial training, to better implement our international strategies with Oxford’s experience.’
The Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences at the University of Oxford is one of the largest centres for academic primary care globally and leads world-class research and teaching to rethink the way healthcare is delivered in primary care settings. Renowned for its world-class research infrastructure, such as the new Oxford Institute of Digital Health, and, in this collaboration, the Primary Care Clinical Trials Unit, NDPCHS is at the forefront of shaping the future of community healthcare and public health.
China National Biotec Group, has a history spanning over a century, and is a key player in the Chinese healthcare landscape. As a vital part of Sinopharm, China's largest pharmaceutical company, CNBG has been a key contributor to the global fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, with its vaccine standing as the third most widely used during these challenging times.