Hunan’s first stem cell and regenerative medicine science park opened on June 30. The park will have a complete industrial chain supported by a cell quality management and control center, a stem cell and regenerative medicine research institute, a stem cell technology for clinical use center, and a bioscience exhibition hall.

The leaders and experts present at the opening ceremony included: Hu Henghua, CPC Hunan Provincial Committee Standing Committee member and CPC Changsha Municipal Committee secretary; Wu Guiying, Hunan vice governor; Pei Gang, and Wei Yuquan, members of the Chinese Academy of Science (CAS); Prof. Thomas C. Südhof, member of the National Academy of Science, U.S.A; and, Prof. Moshe Szyf, member of the Academy of Science of the Royal Society of Canada.

The park is located in the Changsha National Economic & Technical Development Zone (CNETDZ), and covers a total area of more than 200 mu (about 13 ha.).

The first phase covers an area of 50 mu (about 3.3 ha.), with an investment of 1.5 billion CNY. It will have two key projects – a Hunan Cell Tissue Bank with more than five million samples, and a Hunan Cell Preparation Center for clinical use.

Vice Governor Wu unveiled a plaque with name of the cell tissue bank and the cell preparation center on it to mark its official opening.

The park will facilitate Hunan’s stem cell storage and utilization, so as to meet increasing healthcare demands. After completion, it will greatly speed the development and clinical use of stem cells and regenerative medicine technology, promote Hunan’s stem cell and regenerative medicine progress, and become a bright spot of Hunan’s new technology, industry, and economy. (en.changsha.gov.cn)