On September 23, 2019, Chen Chunlei, Secretary of the Party Committee of Hangzhou Normal University, visited the Sino-German Affiliated Hospital of Hangzhou Normal University - Virchow United Pathology Institute (also known as Hangzhou Virchow Medical Laboratory) for investigation and research. He was accompanied by Zhang Zhijun, Deputy Secretary of the University Party Committee; Luo Hong, Secretary of the Affiliated Hospital Party Committee and Chinese Director of the Virchow United Pathology Institute; Wang Zhongping, Deputy Secretary of the Affiliated Hospital Party Committee and Secretary of the Commission for Discipline Inspection; and Yang Wenjun, Director of the Pathology Department of the Affiliated Hospital.

Subsequently, discussions continued with Professor Manfred Dietel (Chairman of the German-Chinese Health Organization, Member of the German National Academy of Sciences, and German Director of the Joint Pathology Institute), Markus Fehr (Vice Chairman of the German-Chinese Health Organization and CEO of Virchow Laboratories Group), Zhang Xiaoping (Chief Representative of the German-Chinese Health Organization in China), Zhang Cheng (General Manager of Virchow Laboratories Group for East China), and Hua Cong (General Manager of Virchow Laboratories Group for Zhejiang).

During the symposium, Professor Manfred Dietel stated that the Virchow Joint Pathology Institute in Hangzhou has been completed and is now operational. The German side will use this platform as a blueprint based on the Virchow Pathology Institute at Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, introducing German-standard pathology and immunohistochemistry technologies. Additionally, the institute will adopt Thermo Fisher Scientific's high-throughput sequencing precision pathology diagnostic system to provide accurate diagnostic solutions, offering precise treatment plans for cancer and other major disease patients. Experts can also engage in real-time communication through the Sino-German Telepathology Consultation Platform, strengthening professional exchanges between both sides. The goal is to establish the laboratory as an international, high-level research institute.

During the exchange, Luo Hong, Secretary of the Party Committee of Hangzhou Normal University Affiliated Hospital, stated that the hospital has successfully obtained certification under Germany's KTQ (Kooperation für Transparenz und Qualität im Gesundheitswesen) Transparency and Quality Management System, becoming the first hospital in East China to achieve KTQ accreditation. This milestone is expected to set a benchmark in China and further highlight the achievements of Hangzhou's healthcare system development.

Secretary Chen Chunlei remarked that establishing an internationally advanced research institution like the Virchow Joint Pathology Institute in Hangzhou—a city of great promise—is a commendable achievement. Since December 2017, when Secretary Chen led a delegation to visit Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin and signed a strategic cooperation agreement with the German-Chinese Healthcare Association (GCHA), it has taken merely a year and a half to construct and operationalize such a cutting-edge, fully equipped laboratory—a milestone worthy of celebration.

President Markus Fehr‌ expressed great satisfaction with the collaboration between ‌Hangzhou Normal University (HNU)‌ and its affiliated hospital. He stated that the ‌Sino-German HNU Affiliated Hospital – Virchow Joint Pathology Institute‌ will fully leverage the core strengths of both sides, including ‌high-end equipment, advanced technology application, and talent recruitment‌, to provide ‌certified, full-coverage management system deployment‌ for:

 ‌   · Community elderly care institutions‌

 ‌    · ‌Private clinics‌

 ‌   ‌· Rehabilitation centers‌

 ‌    · Emergency medical services‌

The institute aims to ‌accelerate the establishment of a Comprehensive Cancer Center (CCC)‌ and build a ‌win-win platform for pathology collaboration‌, fostering more ‌international research projects‌. Together, we will strive to advance ‌pathology—the foundation of medical science‌—and work tirelessly to ‌alleviate patients' suffering‌.

During the symposium, Hua Cong, Zhejiang General Manager of Virchow Laboratory Group, accompanied the delegation from the German-Chinese Healthcare Association on a site visit to Virchow's office premises, including its routine pathology laboratory and molecular pathology laboratory.

Background Profile

Sino-German Medical Research Cooperation Agreement Translation

In July 2018, during the 9th Sino-German Economic and Technical Cooperation Forum held in Berlin, Germany, the Chinese and German governments signed the "Memorandum of Understanding on Medical and Academic Research Cooperation between Hangzhou Normal University (China) and German-Sino Healthcare Association" under the joint support of China's National Development and Reform Commission and Germany's Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy, aiming to enhance technical cooperation in healthcare projects between the two nations.

Subsequently, under the coordination of Hangzhou Municipal Government and German-Sino Healthcare Association, the Affiliated Hospital of Hangzhou Normal University entered into a strategic cooperation agreement with Virchow Laboratories Group, titled "Hangzhou Normal University Affiliated Hospital - Virchow Pathology Institute (China-Germany)".

According to the strategic cooperation agreement, the joint institute will establish comprehensive collaboration in:

 ‌    · Conventional pathology

 ‌    · Molecular diagnostics

 ‌    · Telepathology diagnosis

 ‌    · AI-assisted diagnostic technology

 ‌    · Biobank construction

 ‌    · Research achievement transformation

Adhering to the principle of benefit-sharing, the institute will be developed into:

1. A renowned regional pathology diagnosis center

2. An R&D hub

3. A sustainable win-win cooperation platform for the pathology industry