At the invitation of Pharma Boardroom, Professor Paul Tam spoke about the new developments and plans of research after taking office as Vice-President and Chair Professor at the Macao University of Science and Technology.
Professor Tam elaborated on his current research in Gut Liver Organoid Advanced Sciences (GLOAS), proposing the idea of providing a human surrogate platform for the advancement of diagnostics and drug therapeutics. Professor Tam said “most of the preclinical studies being conducted for new therapies today are done on animals, and this is not ideal for regulators as when you come to later stage clinical trials you are basing your data on human trials. With advances in stem cell biology, we are creating human mini-organs and introducing certain disease models. The specific disease model is then used to better understand the disease process from the beginning and then we can design and test the best target for intervention in this in vitro system.” Professor Tam also said there are plans to set up a clinical trial center in Macao.
Vice-President Tam interview article on Pharma Boardroom
Asked about his experience as Vice-President of M.U.S.T., Professor Tam stated "the University itself is only 23 years old but is in the top 250 globally. We are competent in many areas of research but have also precisely chosen niches in which we can be larger players on the global scene. It is a private university where translational research is placed as a top priority, and it is actively encouraged. As a university leader, I can set an example with my success to show the fruitful nature of dealing with the industry. We need serious entrepreneurs, and we are pushing for that in Macao. Furthermore, we want not only CEOs and CSOs, but also CMOs in the field of biopharmaceuticals. To do this, we have partnered with Peking University to set up a program to nurture the next generation of CMOs that will be able to operate in China and hopefully the rest of the world."
Professor Tam also said that Hong Kong has had clinical trial centers for the past 20 years to serve as a one-stop shop for partners, and he believes that the establishment of a similar research center at the Macau University of Science and Technology is a win-win situation for the entire industry and Macao, and the University is now putting it in place. “We can provide clinical trials for products discovered through research and provide a service platform for the Greater Bay Area through collaboration with the Hong Kong Centre.”
Photo with Diana Viola, CEO of Pharma Boardroom
Please click the link for the full interview: https://pharmaboardroom.com/interviews/paul-tam-chair-professor-vp-macau-university-of-science-and-technology/
