Guangdong Engineering Technology Research Center of Ophthalmic Diagnosis and Treatment Innovations

Addressing bottlenecks in clinical ophthalmic diagnosis/treatment and national strategic needs, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center is committed to the independent R&D and applied translation of innovative ophthalmic technologies and equipment. In 2015, the Guangdong Provincial Department of Science and Technology approved the establishment of the "Guangdong Engineering Technology Research Center of Ophthalmic Diagnosis and Treatment Innovations" (hereinafter referred to as "the Engineering Research Center") at Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University.

Guided by national strategies and clinical demands, the Engineering Research Center drives innovations through the integration of medicine, science, and engineering. It is committed to the research, development, and translation of advanced ophthalmic diagnostic and therapeutic technologies, as well as common key technologies in related cutting-edge interdisciplinary fields. It effectively addresses the critical bottlenecks in China’s advanced ophthalmic diagnostic and therapeutic technologies, such as weak R&D capabilities, insufficient translation integration, and low levels of self-sufficiency.

Since its inception, the Engineering Research Center has rapidly developed with continuously elevating positioning:

• 2016: Designated as a key "Three Major Platforms" construction project by Sun Yat-sen University.
• 2019: Listed as a key construction platform for Guangdong's high-level hospitals.
• 2020: Received support from Guangzhou to establish the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Engineering Center for Ophthalmic Diagnosis, Treatment Technology and Equipment.
• 2023: Fully relocated to Guangzhou International Bio-Island and applied to establish the National Technology Innovation Center for Ophthalmic Diagnosis and Treatment.

Leveraging the world-class clinical resources and research strengths of Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, the Engineering Research Center strives to bridge the entire chain from technology R&D to industrial translation. It aims to fill technological gaps domestically and enhance China's independent innovation capability and self-sufficiency in ophthalmic disease diagnosis and treatment.

Focusing on the R&D and translation of novel ophthalmic diagnostic and therapeutic technologies, the Engineering Research Center is driven by innovative projects and integrates multidisciplinary advantageous resources, yielding outcomes with international influence:

• Innovated ophthalmic AI algorithms and pioneered the development of intelligent analysis systems for diagnosing major eye diseases and related systemic conditions, leading international ophthalmic AI development.
• Developed micron-level surgical robots enhancing operational stability, overcoming limitations in remote micron-level ophthalmic surgery, with technology transferred for clinical evaluation.
• Broke optical imaging precision barriers, developed a full-field OCT diagnostic system enabling cellular-level microscopic imaging, created China's first handheld OCT system for infants, and built the world's first ophthalmic multi-modal imaging device. All equipment series have completed technology transfer.
• Pioneered the research on stem cell therapy for eye diseases in China. Developed autologous limbal stem cell combined with corneal stromal stem cell transplantation for corneal injury repair, which was approved for filing as a national clinical research project.

In recent years, the Engineering Research Center has undertaken over 50 research projects of various types, including National Key R&D Program projects, Key Projects of the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC), Guangdong provincial Key R&D Programs, Guangzhou municipal Key R&D programs, and NSFC general projects. It has published over 100 papers in high-impact journals including Nature Medicine, Nature Biomedical Engineering, Nature Communications, ACS Nano, and EClinicalMedicine. The Engineering Research Center holds over 50+ invention patents, 20+ utility model patents, 30+ software copyrights. It has completed the industrialization and translation of more than 10 technologies, with commercialization value reaching hundreds of millions of yuan.

Top left: Engineering Research Center plaque; Top right: ZOC Building on Bio-island;

Bottom left: Ophthalmic AI Technology Laboratory; Bottom center: Ophthalmic Imaging Technology Laboratory; Bottom right: Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Laboratory.