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Vibrancy of the Chinese medicine research landscape

29 Aug 2025

(From left, front row) Ms Jessica Low, Regional Vice President, APAC Solutions, Elsevier; Dr Katy Koon Ho-kee, Senior Chinese Medicine Officer (Chinese Medicine Unit), Health Bureau; Professor Alex Wai, President and Vice-Chancellor, HKBU; Dr Edmund Fong Ho-ching, Assistant Director of Health (Chinese Medicine), Department of Health; Professor Lyu Aiping, Vice-President (Research & Development), HKBU; Professor Li Min, Dean of School of Chinese Medicine, HKBU, and other guests attend the launching event of “Evolving Legacy: Decoding the Scientific Trajectory of Chinese Medicine”. (From left, front row) Ms Jessica Low, Regional Vice President, APAC Solutions, Elsevier; Dr Katy Koon Ho-kee, Senior Chinese Medicine Officer (Chinese Medicine Unit), Health Bureau; Professor Alex Wai, President and Vice-Chancellor, HKBU; Dr Edmund Fong Ho-ching, Assistant Director of Health (Chinese Medicine), Department of Health; Professor Lyu Aiping, Vice-President (Research & Development), HKBU; Professor Li Min, Dean of School of Chinese Medicine, HKBU, and other guests attend the launching event of “Evolving Legacy: Decoding the Scientific Trajectory of Chinese Medicine”.
(From left, front row) Ms Jessica Low, Regional Vice President, APAC Solutions, Elsevier; Dr Katy Koon Ho-kee, Senior Chinese Medicine Officer (Chinese Medicine Unit), Health Bureau; Professor Alex Wai, President and Vice-Chancellor, HKBU; Dr Edmund Fong Ho-ching, Assistant Director of Health (Chinese Medicine), Department of Health; Professor Lyu Aiping, Vice-President (Research & Development), HKBU; Professor Li Min, Dean of School of Chinese Medicine, HKBU, and other guests attend the launching event of “Evolving Legacy: Decoding the Scientific Trajectory of Chinese Medicine”.

 

In a significant advancement for the field of Chinese medicine and in collaboration with the global academic data analytics company Elsevier, HKBU has released a report titled Evolving Legacy: Decoding the Scientific Trajectory of Chinese Medicine. This comprehensive analysis marks the first systematic study of the modernisation and global trends in Chinese medicine research, drawing insights from over 200,000 publications between 2014 and 2023. 

Key data and findings in research and applications

The report paints a vibrant picture of the Chinese medicine research landscape, revealing a striking 10.6% compound annual growth rate in research output over the 10 years covered by the report. This surge is particularly noteworthy when compared to the average growth rate of just 3.9% in all scientific research globally. The total volume of relevant publications has nearly tripled, indicating a substantial increase in interest and investment in this area of study.

Among the published works, 14.2% are ranked in the top 10% of the most cited literature globally, showcasing the significant academic impact of research in Chinese medicine. Furthermore, the average Field-Weighted Citation Impact (FWCI) stands at 1.12, which is 12% above the international benchmark, underscoring the quality and relevance of the research. 

The report also highlights the transdisciplinary nature of Chinese medicine research. 61.9% of the output falls in the realm of medicine, 33.1% intersects with biochemistry, genetics, and molecular biology; and 28.1% relates to pharmacology, toxicology and pharmaceutics. This indicates a growing trend towards collaboration across multiple scientific disciplines.

In 10 years, HKBU has also distinguished itself as a leader in this rapidly evolving field, with 1,764 publications and an impressive FWCI of 1.62. The University’s dedication to excellence is further demonstrated by its substantial 28.1% share of the top 10% highly cited publications.

Aside from enhancing the reproducibility and international credibility of Chinese medicine research through the promotion of standardised guidelines for clinical trial reporting, HKBU is also pioneering innovative drug delivery mechanisms to modernise the application of bioactive components in traditional Chinese medicine. By employing molecular pharmacognosy and data science, HKBU researchers are deepening their understanding of the genetic background and evolutionary mechanisms of medicinal plants. This integration of traditional knowledge with modern science shows great promise in the scientific modernisation of Chinese medicine.

Evidence-based integration to address modern health challenges

Professor Alexander Wai, President and Vice-Chancellor of HKBU, stated that the University has been committed to advancing the field of Chinese medicine through research and teaching. The report is one of the University's important achievements in advancing the standardisation, modernisation, and internationalisation of Chinese medicine. The report also showcases the rapid development of Chinese medicine research, its transdisciplinary integration, and its broad influence in areas such as digital health and systems medicine.

Professor Lyu Aiping, Vice-President (Research and Development) and Dean of Graduate School at HKBU, believes the report underscores that Chinese medicine is moving into a modernisation phase centred on systems medicine. By integrating life sciences and data technologies, it is expected that a new standard for integrating Chinese and Western medicine can be established.

Professor Lyu remarked that understanding human complexity through the lens of systems medicine focuses not only on clinical data, but also on patient experience and environmental factors, leading to more comprehensive and personalised care. 

The report can be accessed here.