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- Clinical Trials Capabilities
 Cardiology
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Clinical Trials Capabilities > Endocrinology

Strength and Expertise

In this global epidemic of diabetes and obesity, China is in the forefront with more than 40 million people affected. Over 10-30% of people in Hong Kong have diabetes, obesity and metabolic syndrome, which underlie major morbidities and premature mortality due to stroke, heart disease and kidney failure. Since 1990, the CUHK Diabetes Care and Research Group has researched extensively into the epidemiology, pathophysiology and treatment of diabetes and obesity in Hong Kong Chinese. Led by clinician scientists, our group comprises a growing team of 60 basic scientists, epidemiologists, technologists, biostatisticians, health care professionals and supporting staff to engage in a series of interlinked projects to address the many unmet needs of people with diabetes. Collectively, our group has raised more than HK$120 million through competitive grants, donations and contract research and published more than 300 original or review articles in peer reviewed journals and book chapters. These integrated research, care and education programs are conducted by the following Centres under the auspices of the Hong Kong Institute of Diabetes and Obesity (HKIDO).

  • Applied Genomics and Genetics Centre
  • Bioinformatics and Outcome Research Centre
  • Clinical Trial Centre
  • Drug Discovery and Cell Replacement Centre
  • Education and Professional Development Centre.

Applied Genomics and Genetics Centre
Using state-of-the-art technology and bioinformatics, we aim to unravel the genetic basis of diabetes and associated complications in Chinese populations using multiple cohorts of well characterized patients and control subjects to define the genotype-phenotype correlations and the effects of environments and lifestyles on unmasking these chronic diseases. In addition to identifying novel disease pathways, this knowledge also allows risk stratification and disease classification for early prevention and targeted intervention. Our collaborators include leading scientists from UK, USA, Japan and China and the program is supported by a large number of competitive grants including Innovation Technology Committee, Research Grant Committee Earmarked Grants and Central Allocation, US National Institute of Health.

Bioinformatics and Outcome Research Centre
Since 1995, our group has established the Hong Kong Diabetes Registry as part of a quality improvement program. Using this comprehensive database consisting of prospective data from 8000 type 2 diabetic patients, we have developed and validated a series of risk equations to predict 5-year probabilities of heart disease, stroke and end stage renal disease. Given the heterogeneity of diabetes, early risk stratification should enable clinicians to make informed decisions in order to triage patients into the most appropriate care models to reduce risk of complications.
Based on our extensive experiences in conducting clinical trials in accordance to good clinical practice which has independent effects on improving clinical outcomes, in 2007, our group has used world class information technology to develop an innovative web-based diabetes management program which has incorporated these Chinese relevant risk equations and evidence-based care protocols. The ultimate goal is to create a virtual environment to promote sharing of best practices in diabetes care This web-based program, hosted by the CUHK, will provide a focal point to enable Asian collaborators to process and manage a wealth of clinical information for quality assurance, benchmarking and analysis purposes.

Clinical Trial Centre
We are amongst the first research groups in Asia to conduct clinical trials in accordance to international standards since 1990, supported by leading multinational companies. To date, our centre has conducted more than 50 phase 2-4 clinical trials, either initiated by investigators or sponsored by multinational companies, in the field of diabetes, obesity and associated complications. Our Centre is often amongst the top sites with efficient recruitment and high retention rates. Members of our group also contribute to the dissemination of key findings from these trials through publications and invited conference presentations. Data from these studies have contributed to the approval of new drug applications in the US, Europe and Japan. Our site has been inspected by audit teams from major drug companies and government agencies including US-FDA and its equivalent from Japan and China. Senior members of the group are also serving on the steering committees or advisory boards of multinational companies to advise or coordinate international projects in diabetes and obesity.

Drug Discovery and Cell Replacement Centre
Based on scientific rationale and using validated molecular, cellular and animal models for diabetes and obesity, our group also collaborates with organizations and academic groups including multinational companies and the Hong Kong Jockey Club Institute of Chinese Medicine (HKJCICM) to evaluate the efficacy, safety and mechanisms of actions of novel compounds including Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) with anti-diabetic and anti-obesity claims. Results from these experiments will offer potential targets for drug development and provide new insights into disease mechanisms.

Special Facility and Equipment

Clinical trials
Our clinical trial unit consists of a multidisciplinary team of 12 highly experienced research nurses and assistants, supported by a team of endocrinologists to ensure efficient recruitment of patients and adherence to protocols in the conduct of these trials. All patients recruited into the study are followed up in our 2000 square feet clinical trial centre, fully equipped for consultations, processing of samples, storage of documents and communication technology for data processing. In collaboration with other academic units, notably Department of Diagnostic Radiology and Organ Imaging as well as University Pathology Service (UPS), we also initiate, design and conduct proof of concept studies to evaluate the efficacy, tolerability, safety and mechanisms of actions of novel compounds or explore new indications of existing therapies in patients and volunteers, relating to diabetes and obesity.

Mechanism of action studies
Scientists, technologists and pathologists working at our Drug Discovery Centre have extensive experiences in conducting proof of concept molecular, cellular and pathophysiological studies to explore mechanisms and evaluate efficacies of novel compounds with potential anti-diabetic and anti-obesity actions. Supported by the CUHK Animal Laboratory Services, we have access to several state of the art animal models including the Zucker fa/fa rats; transgenic animals expressing human islet amylin polypeptide and beta amyloid; hypertensive, uninephrectomised rats and streptozotocin induced diabetic rats for the study of diabetes and related complications. In addition, our laboratories have established standard assays and related experimental models to evaluate actions of insulin and other hormones on muscle, fat, liver and islet b cells in the control of glucose and lipid metabolism.

Networking, coordination and management
Apart from being affiliated to the Prince of Wales Hospital, a 1400-bed teaching hospital, our Clinical Trial Centre has networked with 10 Diabetes Centres in Hong Kong and is currently coordinating several local multicentre studies, either sponsored by multinational companies or initiated by investigators to address major therapeutic questions, including use of novel drugs or care protocols to prevent diabetes and associated complications. Our ultimate objective is to create new knowledge and develop our human resources to change practice and improve quality of life for people with or at risk of having diabetes.

Our group has a long standing relationship with the CUHK University Pathology Service (UPS) which can provide efficient, high quality and externally accredited laboratory services to facilitate conduct of multicentre studies both within and outside Hong Kong. Recently, we have catalysed the partnership between UPS and a leading pharmaceutical company from Japan to provide a territory wide laboratory service to multiple sites resulting in substantial cost saving for the sponsor and marked improvement in efficiency for this critical component of a successful clinical trial.

In collaboration with the CUHK Centre for Clinical Trials, CUHK Drug Development Centre and our collaborators both within and outside Hong Kong, our group is in a prime position to work closely with industry and other sponsors to initiate, design, coordinate and implement large scale randomized clinical trials including pharmacogenomics and pharmacoecnomics to address major therapeutic questions in diabetes and obesity with particular pertinence to Asian populations in the field of diabetes and obesity.

Disease Types and Number of Patients Potential for Clinical Trials Recruitment

The Diabetes Mellitus and Endocrine Unit at the Prince of Wales Hospital is the regional referral centre in the NE region of the New Territories of Hong Kong. Led by 12 endocrinologists and 6 diabetes nurse specialists, we provide a full range of endocrine, diabetes and metabolic services to a population of 1 million of people within the region, over 90% of whom are of Chinese descent. While we are capable of conducting clinical trials in areas relating to general endocrinology, our main research focus includes diabetes, obesity and diabetic complications, notably diabetic kidney disease. Apart from conducting sponsored trials, our centre can also serve as a site management office to assist sponsors to conduct multicentre studies in Hong Kong and Asia.

Collaboration, Partners and Multi-centre Trials Capability

Our sponsors include multinational companies such as Astra Zeneca, Bayer, Bristol Myer Squibbs, Daiichi-Sankyo, Glaxo Smith Kline, MSD, Novo Nordisk, Novartis, Otsuka, Pfizer, Roche and Sanofi-aventis. We also collaborate with the phytochemists, Chinese Medicine practitioners and scientists from the HKJCICM to explore the efficacy, safety and mechanisms of actions of extracted fractions of TCM related to diabetes and neuroendocrinology, considered as a strategic platform by the HKJCICM.

Clinical Trials Monitored and/or Audited by Industry, FDA and local RGC etc.

Since 1990, our group has been regularly inspected by audit teams from headquarters of multinational companies including Daiichi-Sankyo, Astra Zeneca, MSD, Novo Nordisk as well as US-FDA or its equivalents from Japan and China. In 2006, our group has been accredited by the SFDA to become one of the national clinical trial centres in China for conduct of registration trials.