On the morning of October 8, Tang Zhouping, Chair of the committee of Tongji Hospital, led a delegation to Heidelberg University in Germany to sign the Memorandum of Understanding for the Establishment of the Tongji-Heidelberg Rare Disease Center. The collaboration aims to promote the innovation and breakthroughs in basic and clinical research, as well as in patient management and therapeutic methods for rare diseases, through the joint efforts of Tongji Hospital and Heidelberg University Hospital, providing more accurate and effective medical services to patients with rare diseases.

Both parties will jointly build the Tongji-Heidelberg Center for Rare Diseases in accordance with the agreement. The center will leverage the advantageous resources of the two hospitals in the diagnosis and research of rare diseases to carry out in-depth cooperation and exchanges. This cooperation allows both sides to engage in cutting-edge research cooperation, clinical technical exchanges, and medical talent training projects, focusing on fields such as inherited metabolic diseases, rare liver diseases, rare kidney diseases, and complex rare diseases. Tongji Hospital, as a top general hospital in China, possesses profound expertise and experience in the diagnosis and treatment of rare diseases. This cooperation will enable the complementary advantages of both parties to accelerate the transformation of scientific research results into clinical applications, providing more accurate and efficient treatment plans for patients with rare diseases.

Before the signing of the agreement, Professor Weller, Vice President of Heidelberg University, and Michael Boutros, Dean of Heidelberg Medical College, delivered enthusiastic speeches, expressing that the establishment of the center would be a new start for Heidelberg University and Tongji Hospital to deepen cooperation and seek common development. They expressed their anticipation for future cooperation between Tongji and Heidelberg University in the field of rare diseases.

Professor Hoffmann, Director of the Center for Rare Diseases at Heidelberg University, stated that they were glad to establish cooperation with Tongji Hospital and stated his belief that, through the joint efforts of both parties, more breakthroughs in the field of rare disease would benefit a greater number of patients.

Professor of Pediatrics Luo Xiaoping, Director of the Rare Disease Diagnosis and Research Center, introduced the development of rare disease programs at Tongji Hospital and put forward framework proposal for future cooperation. He suggested the establishment of a case-sharing mechanism for rare diseases to enhance discussion and share experience, as well as to propel the joint diagnosis and treatment of complex cases. Meanwhile, he proposed exploring the innovative treatment for rare diseases by leveraging the technical advantages of Heidelberg University Medical Center in the fields of diagnosis and personalized precision therapy. In addition, both parties will collaborate on the related basic and clinical research of rare diseases, further exploring the pathogenesis of various rare diseases and selecting treatment options. Based on the results, they will formulate and promote standards and guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of rare diseases, thereby improving the overall level of diagnosis and treatment of rare diseases.

Tang Zhouping stated that this cooperation is a crucial step for Tongji Hospital in the field of rare diseases. Tongji Hospital will collaborate closely with the Center for Rare Diseases at Heidelberg University, contributing to the national and even global advancements in the field of rare diseases, and lighting up the hope of life for the patients.

Established in 2011, the Center for Rare Diseases at Heidelberg University is now one of the most influential rare disease medical centers. Featuring advanced diagnostic technology, personalized therapy, and multidisciplinary collaboration, the Center has not only accumulated abundant experience in clinical practice but also built several rare disease registry network in Europe, making excellent accomplishments in terms of multidisciplinary cooperation and precision therapy, which has earned the Center extensive international reputation.

Written by: Sun Jinhao

Edited by: Feng Siyu, Chang Wen, Peng Yumeng