Funding approved: HK$32.99M
Indicative project time-frame: 2001–2011
The objective of the project was to promote the modernization of Chinese medicine. The efficacy driven approach was adopted to establish an evidence-based scientific model for Chinese medicine research, with a view to identifying complementary or alternative treatments for clinical problems that were not adequately solved by modern medicine. Five selected herbal formulae had been fully explored for their clinical efficacies, underlying mechanisms of action and safe applications. The project further studied two formulae for promoting ulcer healing and cardiovascular health. It not only gathered clinical evidence of the efficacy of selected herbal formulae, but also established models for clinical trials and drug authentication for Chinese medicine, thereby paving the way for drug development and commercialization.