International Collaboration for New Hope for Patients: A Travel Note from the Tzu Chi Hospital Team to China

As part of Tzu Chi Hospital's commitment to providing compassionate medical services and cutting-edge technology, a Tzu Chi Hospital delegation conducted a working visit to several leading biotechnology institutions in China, including BGI, Celconta, ITC, and Hillgene, from September 16–20, 2025.
The trip aimed to broaden their horizons and establish strategic collaborations in the fields of gene therapy, immunotherapy, and digital healthcare systems.

BGI Visit

The team departed from Jakarta for Hong Kong, then continued overland to Shenzhen. Upon arrival, the group headed directly to BGI (Beijing Genomics Institute) for a brief tour of the research campus and enjoyed dinner with the BGI team. 
Their first impression of BGI was its modern, integrated research environment, emphasizing a healthy lifestyle for all employees.

Exploring Celconta and ITC

The morning began with breakfast in the BGI cafeteria before being met by Celconta representatives for a visit to their laboratory in Dongguan, one of Shenzhen's health business districts. The group was taken on a tour of an educational showroom showcasing Celconta's flagship products, particularly stem cell and immunotherapy technology.

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Stem cells are the body's fundamental cells that can develop into various cell types and function to repair damaged tissue.
Immunotherapy is a treatment method that utilizes the immune system to recognize and destroy disease-causing cells, particularly cancer.
Gene therapy works by repairing or replacing damaged genes within cells, thus addressing the root cause of disease.

Celconta focuses not only on stem cell regeneration but also on the genetic modification of immune cells, including NK, DC, NKT, γδT, TIL, CAR-T, CAR-NK, and TCR-T.
After donning sterile lab coats and passing through a disinfection room, the team visited a cell bank with a capacity of one million cells, which stores various cell types for individual therapy.
The visit continued to Celconta's headquarters, where the team was welcomed by co-founder Mr. Haitao Xie. The meeting was cordial and concluded with a presentation of the 3D layout of Celconta's laboratory.

In the afternoon, the group continued their journey to Guangzhou to meet with Mr. Sarpin, a Tzu Chi volunteer with a strong business network in electronics technology. Together with him, the team visited ITC Electronics, a company developing digital hospital systems.

The technologies on display included:

• KTP-based patient self-registration screens
• Patient guidance system for specialists based on physical complaints
• Integrated inpatient monitoring at the nurse station
• Operating room communication and camera systems for real-time medical learning
• The visit concluded with a demonstration of the advanced audio-visual system for the multi-purpose room.

Learning from BGI Innovation

In the morning, the team returned for breakfast in the BGI cafeteria before embarking on a comprehensive tour of their research area. Founded in 1990, BGI is now recognized as one of the world's largest biotechnology companies, with business lines including BGI Research, BGI Genomic, BGI Bioverse (agriculture), MGI (medical device manufacturing), and BGI Cell.

The team visited the GMP Lab for stem cell production used in genetic therapy for thalassemia, as well as a sequencing room containing dozens of automated and robotic instruments for DNA analysis of various organisms. At BGI headquarters, the Tzu Chi Hospital team also met with Indonesian students from BGI College on an exchange program. They shared their experiences about the differences in education systems and the rapid technological advancements in China.
That afternoon, the group continued their flight to Shanghai.

Visit Shanghai Children's Medical Center & Hillgene

The visit began at Shanghai Children's Medical Center (SCMC), a hospital that has only been open for one year but has already handled more than 500 bone marrow transplant (BMT) cases with a 95% success rate.
The hospital has 32 ISO 5 clean rooms, two sterile BMT wards, and a dedicated CAR-T therapy unit for children a program fully supported by the Chinese government, ensuring free treatment for patients.

In the afternoon, the group continued their journey to Suzhou to visit Hillgene, a CDMO (Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization) company specializing in cell and gene therapy.
The team was greeted by Prof. Yuan (CTO of Hillgene) and taken to tour the facilities on three floors of laboratories:

• Upper floor: Production of viral vectors for gene therapy
• Middle floor: Quality Control Lab
• Lower floor: Cell Production Area

Through the viewing gallery, the team was able to witness firsthand the manufacturing process and quality control of immune cells such as CAR-T, CAR-NK, TCR-T, and TIL.
The visit concluded with a dinner with the team.