The clinical research wards in the Translational Medicine Complex of PUMCH, as a key part of the National Infrastructures for Translational Medicine (hereinafter referred to as the national infrastructures), commenced trial operation on December 28, 2023. The first batch of patients for clinical trials have been admitted. Equipped with both high-quality “hardware” and high-level “software”, this national infrastructures are functionally able to accommodate both healthy individuals and patients and achieve the full coverage from early-stage to Phase II/III clinical trials.

As a demonstration unit for research-oriented ward construction in Beijing, PUMCH places great emphasis on the construction and operational management of research-oriented wards. The national infrastructures are equipped with altogether nearly 200 specialized research-oriented beds. Among them, the general wards launched into trial operation can undertake investigator-initiated trials (IIT), investigator-sponsored trials (IST) initiated by pharmaceutical companies for the purpose of drug registration and also observations of clinical applications of drugs, medical devices, and new biomedical technologies. Many departments have already communicated with the specialized research-oriented wards, and some have submitted admission application forms. These applications are now being reviewed and approved one by one.

Academician Zhao Yupei pointed out that the clinical research wards served as an important platform for PUMCH to conduct high-quality clinical research. He emphasized the need to innovate management models, adopt project-based admission, dynamically adjust the number of beds according to demand, and play into and blend the “clinical” and “research” attributes of the wards to lend valuable space and support to promising projects.

PUMCH President Zhang Shuyang stated that the trial operation of the clinical research wards spoke volumes about the positioning of PUMCH as a nationally leading hospital dedicated to addressing “acute, critical, severe, complicated, difficult and rare diseases”. She hoped that the team could focus on high-level research that can change clinical outcomes, deliver more effective treatment methods, improve patient prognosis, and improve patients’ quality of life.

PUMCH Vice President Wu Peixin emphasized the importance of supporting IIT projects. With the launch of more IIT projects, the wards may be used for more and larger application scenarios. With that possibility comes great development opportunities for the wards. He hoped that the wards and relevant departments would work together to ensure good management and services for the standardized development of IIT projects.

The preparation taskforce for the clinical trial wards is composed of high performers hand-picked by the hospital. Professor Liu Xiaoqing from the Department of Infectious Diseases stated that the wards provided a dedicated space for investigators to organize or participate in international and domestic multi-center studies. The wards meet strict standards, thereby greatly enhancing the quality of clinical research and the credibility of research outcomes. Professor Zhang Taiping from the Department of General Surgery introduced the painstaking efforts and strong measures to ensure the safety of subjects: the Principal Investigator (PI) team closely collaborates with the ward team and conducts regular rounds, and a coordinated emergency mechanism was established with various monitoring wards to promptly respond to adverse reactions or changes in patients’ condition.

The trial operation of the clinical research wards provides favorable conditions for PUMCH to conduct high-level clinical research. PUMCH will tap into its well-performing specialties and comprehensive multi-disciplinary strength to tackle bottleneck issues and meet unmet clinical needs. The hospital will march forward relentlessly to push the limits of bioscience in terms of both its breadth and depth, fulfilling its historical mission of leading the national development of healthcare.

Written by the General Office of the Clinical Research Institute, the Publicity Department and the Preparation Taskforce for the Clinical Research Wards

Photographed by Sun Liang

Edited by Xiao Xiong

Translated by Liu Haiyan

Reviewed by Wang Yao