-Kaohsiung Medical University Chung-Ho Memorial Hospital-
To enhance the efficiency and quality of clinical trials and strengthen global competitiveness, Kaohsiung Medical University Chung-Ho Memorial Hospital (KMUH) has officially signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with AbbVie, the world’s fourth-largest pharmaceutical company. This strategic partnership, launched under a “Research Resource Integration Program,” aims to further deepened their strategic partnership, establish a high-efficiency model for clinical research collaboration.
One of the most notable highlights of this collaboration was KMUH’s outstandingperformance in a globalclinical trial for metastatic colorectal cancer. Among all participating global centers, KMUH was the first to successfully enroll the initial patient, underscoring the hospital’s operational excellence and solidifying Taiwan’s strategic role in the global landscape of new drug development.
Driving Medical Progress through Clinical Trials
KMUH Superintendent Dr. Jaw-Yuan Wang emphasized that clinical trials are vital not only for the development of new drugs but also for advancing medical science. Through evidence-based validation, clinical trials verify the safety and efficacy of innovative treatments—offering new hope to patients and driving ongoing improvements in healthcare systems.
KMUH has long been a frontrunner in clinical research, collaborating with numerous international pharmaceutical companies on more than 1,000 clinical trials to date, including over 500 trials in the past five years alone. Since taking office nearly two years ago, Superintendent Jaw-Yuan Wang has prioritized upgrading the hospital’s clinical trial environment and processes. These reforms have begun to yield tangible results. Statistics show that219 clinical trial agreements were signed over the past two years—an average annual increase of approximately 17.4% compared to the previous five-year period. Clinical Trial funding has also increased with a cumulative growth of 37.8%, further strengthening KMUH’s competitivenessas a trusted partner in international clinical trial collaborations.
Deepening Strategic Alliances with AbbVie
Leveraging KMUH’s robust research capabilities and extensive clinical experience, the hospital has played a key role in the development phase of new drug trials. So far, KMUH and AbbVie have collaborated on 21 international clinical trials, particularly in immunology, hematologic oncology, and solid tumors.
The core KMUH team involved includes:
- Dr. Ming-Long Yu, President of Kaohsiung Medical University and liver disease specialist
- Dr. Jaw-Yuan Wang, KMUH Superintendent and colorectal surgeon
- Dr. Chia-Yen Tai, KMUH Vice Superintendent and hepatobiliary specialist
- Dr. Yi-Chang Liu, Director of Clinical Trial Center
- Dr. Hui-Hua Hsiao, hematologist-oncologist
- Dr. Jen-Yu Hung, pulmonologist
- Dr. Yi-Chen Wu, gastroenterologist
- Dr. Chih-Fu Huang, Director of Clinical Research Department
This collaboration highlights the deep trust and strong synergy between both institutions in medical research and practical implementation.
Elevating Trial Quality and Patient Care
Mr. Kitt Sun, General Manager of AbbVie Taiwan, expressed enthusiasm about this partnership, especially the introduction of the Research Resource Integration Program. Under this model, AbbVie supports KMUH with research staff who handle specimen process, data documentation, and preliminary analysis. This allows KMUH’s research nurses to focus more on patient care, healthcare education, and safety monitoring—enhances the quality of care for trial participants, but also gives principal investigators greater confidence in the recruitment process, thereby accelerating the overall progress of the clinical trial.
Clinical trials serve as a vital bridge between innovation and clinical practice. The signing of this MOU marks a new phase in the collaboration between the two parties. Beyond the introduction of research personnel to enhance trial quality, the partnership also focuses on comprehensive improvements—includingstreamlined contract review, accelerated study initiation processes, and enhanced participant recruitment efficiency. KMUH is also actively participating in Taiwan’s Ministry of Health and Welfare’s “Clinical Trial Excellence and Innovation Program,” promoting quality enhancement, the development ofDecentralized Clinical Trials (DCTs), and alignment with international standards.
A Vision for the Future
With a strong foundation in patient-centered care and innovation, KMUH remains committed to driving progress in precision medicine and clinical innovation. Through international partnerships and continuous improvements in clinical trial infrastructure, KMUH aims to advance healthcare outcomes and bring life-changing healthcare and benefit more patients.
KMUH and AbbVie SignMOU tojointly advance Taiwan’s Medical Research Capabilities.
KMUH was the first to successfully enroll the initial patient among global research centers in a metastatic colorectal cancer clinical trial. AbbVie Taiwan General Manager Mr. Kitt Sun (left) presents a commemorative award to KMUH Superintendent Dr. Jaw-Yuan Wang.
Through this MOU, KMUH and AbbVie reaffirm their commitment to patient-centered care, advancing precision medicine and innovation-driven research to improve healthcare and benefit more patients.