SHANGHAI, October 23, 2026 — The inaugural Jiahui International Cell Therapy Summit, hosted by Jiahui International Hospital and co-organized by Jiahui Medical Research and Education Group (J-Med), was held today. The summit featured in-depth discussions on the latest advances in cell therapy, standardized clinical applications, and international collaboration, alongside the official unveiling of the Jiahui International Cell Therapy Center. Prof. John K. HSIANG, Chairman of Jiahui Health Executive Committee; Prof. Allen WU, President of Jiahui International Hospital; Prof. Eric J. Rubin, Editor-in-Chief of the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM), a leading figure in global academic medicine; and experts and scholars in cell therapy attended the event. The summit was livestreamed globally, with physicians, medical students, international healthcare professionals, patients, and their families from 14 countries and regions registering to watch online.
Unveiling ceremony of the Jiahui International Cell Therapy Center. From left to right: Prof. XU Pengpeng of Shanghai Ruijin Hospital; Prof. XIAO Xiuying of Shanghai Renji Hospital; Prof. John K. HSIANG, Chairman of Jiahui Health Executive Committee; and Prof. Allen WU, President of Jiahui International Hospital.
The summit brought together experts from medicine, oncology, cell therapy, immunology, and other disciplines. Distinguished participants included Prof. Eric J. Rubin, Editor-in-Chief of NEJM and Professor at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health; Prof. XU Pengpeng, a lymphoma treatment expert at Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine; Prof. XIAO Xiuying, Director of Medical Oncology at Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine; Prof. XU Huji, Director of Rheumatology and Immunology at Shanghai Changzheng Hospital, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Naval Medical University; Prof. HAO Siguo, Chief of Hematology at Jiahui International Cancer Center (JICC) and an expert in hematologic diseases and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation; and Prof. XUAN Linli, Chief of Medical Oncology at Jiahui International Cancer Center (JICC).
Prof. John K. HSIANG noted that, supported by factors including China's large population, efficient regulatory approval processes, the accelerating return of overseas talent, and relatively lower drug development costs, the country has continuously strengthened its innovative drug research and development capabilities and clinical translation capacity in recent years. China has become a major hub for the development and clinical testing of innovative therapies, as well as an important contributor to global medical innovation. In June 2026, the world's first CAR-T therapy for solid tumors was approved in Shanghai, marking a significant milestone in China's transformation from a follower of technological advances to a global contributor in the field of cell therapy. Prof. HSIANG emphasized that cell therapy holds considerable promise for treating cancer and autoimmune diseases. With high national healthcare standards and extensive international collaboration, China is well positioned to play an increasingly important role in this field. As innovative drugs and advanced therapies become more widely available in China, demand from international patients seeking medical treatment in the country continues to grow. Inbound medical travel is evolving from patients seeking treatment incidentally during visits to China toward patients making dedicated trips specifically for medical care. Healthcare institutions therefore need to further strengthen their cross-border medical services, enabling more patients worldwide to access China's medical innovations safely and conveniently.
Prof. Eric J. Rubin, Editor-in-Chief of NEJM and Professor at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, shared his perspective that China has become a global center for innovation in cell therapy, supported by its large patient population and strong research capabilities. He noted that research publications by Chinese scholars in leading international academic journals have also grown exponentially. A decade ago, NEJM published only one research article by Chinese scholars, compared with more than 20 published so far this year. Looking ahead, China is expected to play an increasingly important role in the field of cell therapy.
Prof. Allen WU, President of Jiahui International Hospital, noted that over the past nine years, Jiahui International Hospital has provided nearly 500,000 patient visits annually, serving patients from 180 countries and regions worldwide. Today, a growing number of international patients are traveling to China in search of advanced treatment options. This increasing demand has been an important driving force behind the establishment of the Jiahui International Cell Therapy Center. Looking ahead, the center will strictly comply with national healthcare regulations, adhere to the principles of evidence-based medicine, and uphold Jiahui's core values of Care, Quality, and Impact, maintaining the highest standards of medical quality control. As a key step in Jiahui's continued efforts to advance precision medicine, deepen multidisciplinary collaboration, and promote the standardized clinical application of advanced treatment options, the new center will leverage Jiahui International Hospital's comprehensive medical platform and multidisciplinary capabilities to connect the latest research advances from China and around the world with clinical practice, providing high-quality medical services to more patients from China and overseas.
Speakers at the inauguration ceremony of the Jiahui International Cell Therapy Center. From left to right: Prof. John K. HSIANG, Chairman of Jiahui Health Executive Committee; Prof. Eric J. Rubin, Editor-in-Chief of the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM); and Prof. Allen WU, President of Jiahui International Hospital.
Cell therapy has emerged as an important area of development at the intersection of life sciences and clinical medicine in recent years. As a medical technology that uses living cells as therapeutic agents, cell therapy can treat diseases and facilitate tissue repair by replacing or repairing damaged cells, eliminating abnormal cells, or regulating pathological tissue conditions. In recent years, research and clinical applications of cell therapy have continued to advance in oncology, autoimmune diseases, hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, and other areas, making it an important focus of global medical innovation and clinical translation.
During the academic sessions, Prof. XU Pengpeng presented on "Clinical and Translational Research in Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma"; Prof. XIAO Xiuying discussed "Progress and Challenges in Clinical Research on Cell Therapy for Solid Tumors"; Prof. XU Huji shared insights into "Clinical Research and Advances in Universal CAR-T and In Vivo CAR-T Therapies"; Prof. HAO Siguo introduced "Applications of Umbilical Cord Blood Transplantation in Hematological Malignancies"; and Prof. XUAN Linli presented on "Real-World CAR-T Treatment and Long-Term Infection Management."
The summit also highlighted the clinical experience behind JICC’s growing cell therapy capabilities. Prof. HAO Siguo, Chief of Hematology at JICC, has been involved in CAR-T treatment and research since 2017, initially advancing its use for lymphoma and multiple myeloma. His experience includes managing complex, high-risk patients, such as those with multiple prior lines of treatment, significant comorbidities and extramedullary disease. In addition to CAR-T therapy, he has extensive expertise in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, including cord blood transplantation for hematologic malignancies. His presentation reflected JICC’s focus on bringing long-standing clinical experience in blood cancers and transplantation into its broader cellular therapy platform.
Experts sharing their research and clinical insights at the summit. Prof. XU Pengpeng of Shanghai Ruijin Hospital (bottom left); Prof. XIAO Xiuying of Shanghai Renji Hospital (center left); Prof. XU Huji of Shanghai Changzheng Hospital (top right); Prof. HAO Siguo of Jiahui International Cancer Center (top left); and Prof. XUAN Linli of Jiahui International Hospital (bottom right).
Jiahui International Cancer Center has accumulated extensive clinical experience in cancer cell therapy, particularly CAR-T treatment. In September 2023, the first international patient in China to receive CAR-T treatment with axicabtagene ciloleucel was discharged from Jiahui International Cancer Center. Since then, the center has provided CAR-T treatment services to patients from Singapore, Hong Kong SAR, Russia, Hungary, New Zealand, India, Pakistan, the Maldives, and other countries and regions. Following China's approval of the world's first CAR-T therapy for solid tumors in June 2026, Jiahui became one of the first medical institutions to introduce the therapy into clinical practice and was among the first to complete treatment for the world's first international patient to receive this therapy. Meanwhile, Jiahui has continued to promote international exchanges and the sharing of clinical experience related to China's innovative therapies. In May 2026, Jiahui International Cancer Center organized an online training session titled "Advances in Cutting-Edge Oncology Treatment: CAR-T Innovation and Comprehensive Clinical Management" for more than 360 physicians from Saudi Arabia. The training systematically introduced the fundamentals of CAR-T clinical management and facilitated discussions on the potential applications of innovative cell therapies.
Another milestone came with Satri-cel (CT041), the newly approved CAR-T therapy for solid tumors. JICC treated the world’s first international recipient of the therapy, a 59-year-old patient from New Zealand with advanced gastroduodenal cancer, who completed treatment and was discharged on August 16, 2026. Prof. XUAN Linli, Chief of Medical Oncology at JICC, served as the patient’s attending physician, leading the assessment of his condition and the development of his individualized treatment plan. She also oversaw the management of treatment-related complications and coordinated post-treatment follow-up with his physician in New Zealand. The case demonstrates JICC’s ability to deliver innovative therapies through comprehensive clinical management and coordinated care for international patients.
Looking ahead, the Jiahui International Cell Therapy Center will focus on cell therapy options approved for use in China, taking into account each patient's specific medical condition and the relevant treatment indications. Supported by Jiahui International Hospital's comprehensive multidisciplinary medical platform, the center will continue refining its end-to-end care pathway, covering patient evaluation, cell collection, infusion management, adverse reaction monitoring and management, and post-treatment follow-up consultations. The center will further leverage Jiahui's strengths in multilingual services, cross-cultural communication, and international patient management to provide standardized, continuous, and personalized cell therapy services to patients worldwide.
About Jiahui International Cancer Center
Jiahui International Cancer Center is part of Shanghai Jiahui International Hospital. Led by a team of experienced oncology specialists, including Prof. HAO Siguo and Prof. XUAN Linli, the center is committed to providing comprehensive oncology care solutions that meet international standards for patients worldwide. Since its establishment, the center has maintained a strategic collaboration with the Mass General Cancer Center at Massachusetts General Hospital, a teaching hospital affiliated with Harvard Medical School in the United States.
Through a multidisciplinary care model, the center brings together medical expertise from China and abroad, combining advanced medical technologies and innovative therapies to develop personalized treatment plans for patients with all types of cancer.
The center provides comprehensive cancer care throughout the patient journey, including cancer risk assessment, cancer screening, precision molecular diagnosis, oncologic surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, targeted therapy, immunotherapy, and interventional treatments.
It has developed particular strengths in autologous stem cell transplantation and CAR-T cell therapy, providing international-standard medical services to cancer patients from numerous countries and regions worldwide.
As Shanghai's first officially authorized international hospital and one of the city's first pilot institutions for medical insurance coverage among high-standard privately operated healthcare providers, Shanghai Jiahui International Hospital is among the few comprehensive international hospitals in Shanghai equipped with its own pathology department, independent blood bank, and intensive care unit (ICU).
With 35 medical specialties and subspecialties, the hospital provides comprehensive, one-stop medical services and strong clinical support for patients at Jiahui International Cancer Center.
The hospital also offers a diversified payment system, including basic medical insurance, direct billing with commercial insurers, reimbursement-based commercial insurance, critical illness medical insurance, and Shanghai's Hu Hui Bao supplementary health insurance program, providing patients with greater flexibility in payment options.
About Shanghai Jiahui International Hospital
Shanghai Jiahui International Hospital is located at 689 Guiping Road, Xuhui District, Shanghai.
As Shanghai's first officially authorized international hospital, it was also among the city's first pilot institutions to participate in medical insurance coverage for high-standard privately operated healthcare providers.
The hospital commenced operations in October 2017 and has an approved capacity of 500 beds. It currently operates more than 35 departments, including several clinical centers of excellence, such as Jiahui International Cancer Center, the Women and Children's Medical Center, the Orthopedics and Sports Medicine Center, and the Heart Center.
Its core clinical services also include family medicine, surgery, and a 24/7 emergency department.
The majority of Jiahui's physicians have professional backgrounds at leading tertiary hospitals in China or internationally renowned medical institutions. Together, they are committed to providing an efficient, safe, integrated, and patient-centered healthcare experience.
As a pioneer in Shanghai's international healthcare services, Jiahui International Hospital has been designated as a medical service provider for the China International Import Expo (CIIE) for nine consecutive years.
The hospital has also received multiple recognitions, including awards for outstanding service and effective medical support, as well as recognition for excellence in patient-facing services.
Following assessments by Joint Commission International (JCI), Shanghai Jiahui International Hospital, Jiahui Health (Shanghai Jing'an), and Jiahui Health (Shanghai Yangpu) all achieved JCI accreditation with scores close to the maximum possible, receiving the organization's official Gold Seal of Approval in recognition of their commitment to international healthcare quality and patient safety standards.
