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2026 GBA Real-World Research and Application Forum Ends on a High Note

The Greater Bay Area International Clinical Trial Institute (GBAICTI), in collaboration with the Hong Kong Association of Pharmaceutical Industry (HKAPI), successfully hosted the 2026 GBA Real‑World Research and Application Forum on 29 January 2026. The event brought together distinguished representatives from government, academia, healthcare institutions, and industry to explore how real‑world data (RWD) can accelerate healthcare innovation and expedite patients access to advanced treatments across the Greater Bay Area (GBA).

The forum convened an exceptional group of Asia-Pacific speakers whose diverse expertise provided deep insights into the evolution and application of real‑world research. The forum was also honoured to have the Secretary for Health, Professor Lo Chung-mau, to officiate and deliver the opening remarks.

Advancing Real‑World Research for International Healthcare Future

Speakers at the forum reinforced the consensus that real‑world data is rapidly becoming a cornerstone of evidence‑driven healthcare. Experts’ contributions from the Chinese Mainland and Australia added valuable depth, offering lessons from large‑scale data integration initiatives and international regulatory frameworks that increasingly recognise and adopt real‑world evidence (RWE).

Mr Pan Jianhong, Associate Researcher at the Center for Drug Evaluation, National Medical Products Administration (NMPA), shared his perspectives on “Politics and Guidelines related to Real-World Research in the Chinese Mainland.”

Professor John Skerritt, Enterprise Professor in Health Research Impact, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences at the University of Melbourne, delivered a speech on “How Real-World Evidence can support Medicine Regulatory Approval.”

Forum discussions underscored the expanding role of real‑world research in shaping the future of healthcare across the region. Speakers highlighted how high‑quality data infrastructure and interoperable systems are essential for advancing regulatory science, informing health system planning, and accelerating the development and assessment of new therapies. Experts also shared practical perspectives—from building robust databases and applying principled real‑world evidence frameworks to leveraging primary healthcare insights, and experiences from the Chinese Mainland—illustrating the growing breadth of RWD applications in drug evaluation and clinical practice.

Institution–Industry Partnership Driving Progress

Professor Bernard Cheung, Chief Executive Officer of Greater Bay Area International Clinical Trial Institute, said: “Real‑world research is playing an increasingly pivotal role in improving healthcare decision‑making. This forum highlights our commitment to strengthening Hong Kong’s clinical trial capabilities and accelerating the R&D and approval of innovative medical products across Hong Kong, the Chinese Mainland and overseas. Bringing together leading experts from across the Asia‑Pacific, the event reinforces our mission to build a high‑quality, collaborative research ecosystem that connects Hong Kong with the Greater Bay Area and international partners. By advancing real‑world evidence generation, we aim to improve quality of patient care and contribute to the long‑term development of healthcare and biomedical innovation.”

Representing the industry perspective, Ms Sabrina Chan, Senior Executive Director, Hong Kong Association of the Pharmaceutical Industry (HKAPI), added:” AI is transforming healthcare, but data is the cornerstone. The broad application of real‑world data accelerates the evolution of healthcare systems, processes, and products — driving faster drug discovery, precision clinical decision‑making, evidence-based value assessment of medicines and devices, enhanced patient experiences, and precise resource allocation — limited only by our imagination. Today’s event serves as a platform for knowledge exchange, ideation, and collaboration. Supported by forward‑looking government policies and regulations, we are laying the foundation for a real-world research ecosystem that fosters medical innovation and translates it into meaningful health outcomes.”

Strengthening Collaboration Across the GBA

The 2026 GBA Real‑World Research and Application Forum marks an important milestone in strengthening collaboration in healthcare innovation. By bringing together policymakers, researchers, clinicians, and industry leaders from Hong Kong, the Chinese Mainland, Australia, and beyond, the forum helps advance a more integrated real‑world research ecosystem—one that supports evidence‑driven decision‑making and accelerates the GBA’s long‑term healthcare development goals.