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HeYou "Joins Hands" with Soochow University to Jointly Build the South China Clinical Center of the State Key Laboratory of Radiation Medicine and Radiation Protection

  • News
  • 2023-03-01

The level of precision tumor treatment in the Greater Bay Area is expected to accelerate. To further promote the development of proton and heavy ion radiation medicine in China, on February 27, HeYou International Hospital Project (hereinafter referred to as “HeYou”) signed a strategic cooperation agreement with the State Key Laboratory of Radiation Medicine and Radiation Protection of Soochow University. The two parties will conduct in-depth scientific research cooperation in the fields of proton and heavy ion radiation biology and radiation oncology, and establish the South China Clinical Center of the State Key Laboratory of Radiation Medicine and Radiation Protection at HeYou.


The two parties will also jointly build the first proton and heavy ion radiation biology research and clinical translation platform in the Greater Bay Area, enhancing the clinical diagnosis, treatment, and basic research levels of radiation medicine in the region; jointly cultivate top-tier talents in radiation medicine, advance the construction of particle projects nationwide, and contribute greater strength to the Healthy China strategy.

HeYou Signs Strategic Cooperation Agreement with Soochow University


Jointly Build the South China Clinical Center of the National Key Laboratory

Bringing Cutting-Edge Medical Technology to Benefit More Patients, Serving Healthy China


Soochow University is among the first batch of universities included in the national “211 Project” and “2011 Plan.” The State Key Laboratory of Radiation Medicine and Radiation Protection of Soochow University was established in 2018. Guided by national strategic goals and major societal development needs, the laboratory focuses on radiation biological effects as its foundation, with radiation diagnosis and treatment and radiation protection as its objectives. It conducts high-level research in three key directions: radiation biological effects and mechanisms, advanced radiation diagnosis and therapy, and radiation protection. It aims to establish an advanced platform for radiation protection and treatment, a training base for outstanding talents in radiation medicine, and an open and shared platform for the translation of radiation medicine achievements. It is the only national key laboratory in the field of radiation medicine in China.


HeYou originates from the philanthropic aspiration of Midea’s founder He Xiangjian to “benefit the hometown and give back to society.” Funded by Midea Holding with an investment of over 10 billion RMB, HeYou International Hospital (in preparation) is located in Beijiao Town, Shunde District, Foshan City, Guangdong Province, within the core area of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, the Foshan Sanlong Bay High-End Innovation Cluster. It is a key construction project of Guangdong Province. HeYou, currently under accelerated construction, will focus on building a Proton and Heavy Ion Center, introducing internationally recognized advanced and cutting-edge precision tumor radiotherapy technology—proton and heavy ion radiation therapy—making it the first clinical and research institution in the Greater Bay Area to be equipped with both proton and heavy ion radiation technologies. It is expected that by 2026, the Proton and Heavy Ion Center will be completed and clinical trials will commence, significantly enhancing the level of precision tumor treatment in the Greater Bay Area and even South China.


According to the strategic cooperation agreement, the two parties will establish the South China Clinical Center of the State Key Laboratory of Radiation Medicine and Radiation Protection at HeYou. The center will be operated by a steering committee composed of Academician Chai Zhifang from the State Key Laboratory of Radiation Medicine and Radiation Protection of Soochow University and a team of high-level experts. Academician Chai Zhifang and other experts have long been dedicated to research in radiation medicine and nuclear medicine. They have received numerous awards, including the National Science Conference Award, the Second Prize of the National Natural Science Award, and the Second Prize of the National Science and Technology Progress Award. In 2005, they received the highest international award in radiochemistry named after Nobel laureate George von Hevesy, and in 2019, they received the Outstanding Scientific and Technological Achievement Award from the Chinese Academy of Sciences. Academician Chai pointed out that the development of nuclear medicine is currently facing new opportunities. He hopes that through in-depth cooperation between the laboratory and the hospital, resource sharing and complementary advantages can be achieved, accelerating the translation and application of scientific research results, jointly promoting the development of nuclear medical technology in China, and serving the high-quality economic and social development of the country and the region. He looks forward to closer cooperation and more fruitful results between the two parties.



Academician Chai Zhifang


The two parties will also jointly promote the establishment of a Particle Radiation Medicine Biobank at HeYou, striving to complete its construction within 2-3 years of HeYou’s establishment, meet the national standards for biobank construction and management within 3-4 years, and obtain the international standard ISO 20387 certification. Focusing on China’s proton and heavy ion radiation biology and radiation medicine, the two parties will also collaborate on clinical-oriented translational research in radiation medicine. Leveraging Soochow University’s research strength in radiation medicine, they will enhance the clinical diagnosis, treatment, and basic research levels of radiation medicine in the Greater Bay Area, jointly building the first demonstration platform for proton and heavy ion radiation biology research and clinical translation in the Greater Bay Area.

Rendering of the Proton and Heavy Ion Center of HeYou International Hospital (in Preparation)


Collaborative Training of Radiation Medicine Talents

Better Serving the Development of Radiation Medicine Nationwide


To further promote exchange and cooperation between universities and hospitals in talent cultivation and build an innovative cooperation model integrating industry and education, HeYou also signed a talent cultivation cooperation agreement with the School of Radiation Medicine and Protection of Soochow University Medical College.


According to the agreement, HeYou supports Soochow University in launching a top-tier talent cultivation program in radiation medicine. This program is an integrated bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral training scheme in radiation medicine at Soochow University, aimed at cultivating future leaders in the field of radiation medicine in China. The program is named the “Pioneer Class,” with enrollment planned to begin in 2023. The academic system is 8 to 10 years (the first 5 years are for basic theoretical study, the 6th to 7th years are for clinical internship, and the 8th to 10th years are for thesis work), with 10 to 20 students recruited annually. If students from the “Pioneer Class” intern at HeYou, the hospital will provide training in clinical research, hospital management, and capacity enhancement during their internship period.



HeYou Signs Talent Cultivation Cooperation Agreement with the School of Radiation Medicine and Protection of Soochow University Medical College


Adhering to the principle of “win-win cooperation, complementary advantages, and mutual benefit,” HeYou intends to become a clinical teaching base for the School of Radiation Medicine and Protection of Soochow University. Leveraging the brand, talent, technology, and management advantages of Soochow University’s radiation medicine program, the collaboration will cover hospital management, discipline support, technology promotion, talent cultivation, education and training, and scientific research, further enhancing HeYou’s management capabilities and medical service levels.


Relying on Soochow University’s advantages in talent cultivation and technological innovation in the field of radiation medicine, the two parties will also jointly establish a Soochow University Graduate Workstation at HeYou Hospital, dedicated to innovating the graduate training model and improving the quality of training in the field of radiation medicine in China. HeYou will also send medical personnel to Soochow University for further study each year. Soochow University will provide HeYou trainees with various radiation medicine teaching resources, including online open courses in radiation medicine and virtual simulation experiments.


Lu Jiade, Vice President of HeYou Hospital and Director of the Comprehensive Cancer Center and Proton and Heavy Ion Tumor Treatment Center, stated that Soochow University has a radiation medicine research team led by Academician Chai Zhifang, which is the cradle of professional radiation medicine talents in China and holds an important position in the field of radiation medicine in China. He hopes that through the cooperation between the two parties, the level of radiation medicine talent cultivation can be effectively improved, forming a future-oriented training system for tumor radiotherapy talents, and jointly promoting the development and advancement of proton and heavy ion technology applications in China. HeYou will also take this cooperation as an opportunity to accelerate the building of a professional, advanced, and rigorous medical team, actively expand multi-party exchanges and cooperation, strive to reach the international forefront of tumor treatment, promote the development of China’s tumor particle therapy industry, build a highland for the research and application of advanced particle therapy technology, bring cutting-edge medical technology to benefit more patients, and enable more tumor patients to receive more advanced and precise treatment.