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Official opening of Wellington Zhaotai Therapies, Malaghan Institute and Hunan Zhaotai Group partnership

6 October 2017

Earlier this month, the Malaghan Institute was excited to welcome a mayoral delegation from Changsha, China, for unveiling of a commemorative plaque officially opening Wellington Zhaotai Therapies.

Wellington Zhaotai Therapies, established in order to trial breakthrough CAR-T cell technologies, will give New Zealanders early access to this cutting-edge cancer therapy.

Celebrating the joint ventureship between the Malaghan Institute of Medical Research and the Hunan Zhaotai Medical Group, Deputy Mayor of Changsha city Qiu Jixing, as well as representatives from the Changsha Municipal Bureau, the China Council for the promotion of international trade and the Hunan Zhaotai Medical group were present during the unveiling. The event symbolises the continued development of research collaboration and innovation between New Zealand and China.

During the event, the delegation visited the Malaghan Institute’s facilities, including the GMP manufacturing lab where they had a chance to see the Institute’s cutting-edge research up close. Much of this technology will go towards trialling new forms of immunotherapies against cancer.

Afterwards, the group visited Victoria University of Wellington to also formally open a new partnership between the Hunan Group and Victoria – strengthening the relationship between Changsha and Wellington.