The University of Macau (UM) is making rapid progress in scientific research. A few years ago, UM began to vigorously promote interdisciplinary research through a strategy that can be summarised as ‘highlighting characteristics’, ‘capitalising on advantages’, ‘building peaks’, and ‘strengthening cooperation’. The result is a strategic ‘3+3+ 3+3’ research structure. Among the many research fields where UM excels, precision medicine for cancer treatment is an important one, with multiple breakthroughs having already been achieved.

Cancer is one of the leading causes of death worldwide. In Macao, cancer ranks No 1 among the ten leading causes of death. In a quest to develop cures for cancer, in 2013, UM began to focus on cancer research and the development of health products in order to fill local gap in these fields. The Faculty of Health Sciences, the Faculty of Science and Technology, the Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, the Institute of Applied Physics and Materials Engineering, and the Institute of Microelectronics, work together to carry out interdisciplinary research on cancers commonly found in Macao. To improve the quality of cancer research, UM focuses on two key areas: biomedical mechanisms and biomedical materials). It also plans to establish a frozen tissue bank and a live cell bank for the most common cancers found in Macao.

UM boasts a group of leading experts specialising in different aspects of cancer research. They include Deng Chuxia, Shen Hanming, Wang San Ming, Zheng Wenhua, Edwin Cheung Chong Wing, Di Lijun, Joong Sup Shim, Henry Kwok Hang Fai, Yuan Zhen, Liu Tzu‑Ming, Chen Xin, Chen Xiuping, Leo Lee Tsz On, and Dai Yunlu. UM researchers focus on tumour growth, metastasis, recurrence, and drug resistance mechanisms, in order to develop early cancer diagnosis methods, identify cancer driver genes, and screen for high‑efficiency drugs that can kill cancer cells. In terms of biomedical materials, UM has developed a new digital microfluidic system to assist medical personnel to cultivate single cells and select cancer drugs. UM researchers also work on inhibiting cancer metastasis and destroying cancer cells at high temperatures by using nanoparticles as drug carriers. In addition, they carry out innovative research on the role of traditional Chinese medicine in treating cancer. 

Earlier this year, UM established a joint cancer research centre with the Institute of Cancer and Basic Medicine, Chinese Academy of Sciences, with the aim of creating a world-renowned oncology research and training centre in Macao and the Greater Bay Area. Currently, the university is applying to the Ministry of Education of China to establish a cutting‑edge research centre in the field of precision medicine for cancer treatment. If successful, UM aspires to develop the centre into an international leading centre for cancer immunology and precision medicine for cancer treatment in Macao and the Greater Bay Area, in order to meet the growing demand for cancer research and researchers in the next decade that will accompany the increase in life expectancy.

For more information about research projects in the field of precision medicine for cancer treatment, please visit https://umagazine.co.um.edu.mo/