Memorandum of Understanding on Collaboration in Integrative and Traditional Chinese Medicine between the Department of Health and Human Services of the United States of America and the Ministry of Health of the People's Republic of China

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) of the United States of America and the Ministry of Health (MOH) of China (hereinafter referred to as “the Participants”),

Guided by the Protocol between the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Ministry of Health of the People’s Republic of China for Cooperation in Health of 1979, last renewed on December 8, 2003 (hereinafter referred to the Protocol) and

the Memorandum of Understanding on Health and Medical Sciences Cooperation between the Department of Health of Human Services of the United States and the Ministry of Science and Technology of the People’s Republic of China, signed April 16th, 2006;

Recognizing the various and mutual interests and goals of the Participants in identifying, developing, and promoting approaches to health care informed by robust scientific evidence, and that make use of all appropriate therapeutic approaches, health-care professionals and disciplines to achieve optimal health and healing;

Appreciating the essential need to promote state-of-the-art scientific research, technology, and methods through individual scientist-to-scientist research collaborations to achieve these mutual interests and goals;

Acknowledging the national leadership, experience, expertise, resources, and national influence related to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) of the Ministry of Health (MOH) of the PRC, and the important role of the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) of the Peoples’ Republic of China (PRC) related to activities in science and technology, as well as the extensive experience, expertise, resources, and national leadership related to integrative medicine of HHS;

Recognizing that Americans are increasingly turning to complementary and alternative interventions such as traditional Chinese medicine for improved quality of life;

Noting that such a collaboration will advance the knowledge of these interventions and the understanding of when and how to appropriately integrate these them with western biomedical approaches to improve the health of Americans and Chinese;

Valuing the numerous ongoing collaborative research, training, and international-exchange activities related to TCM supported in whole or in part by MOH, MOST, and HHS; and

In accordance with the respective national laws, regulations, and international treaties of which the two participants are parties, and with deep respect for ethics and the protection of intellectual property,

Reach the following understandings: 

1. MOH and HHS plan to work together to advance the scientific discipline of integrative and TCM medical research through approaches intended to foster and stimulate additional scientific exchange and collaboration on TCM between individual scientists and research institutions in both countries.  The purpose of this Memorandum of Understanding is to identify broad areas of mutual interest, and general activities the participants could carry out in support of their shared priorities and objectives.

    

2. Taking note of those health conditions for which TCM could hold particular promise, Participants expect areas of mutual interest would include the following:
   1. Basic and clinical research on acupuncture;
   2. Basic and clinical research on the safety and efficacy of Chinese herbal remedies and the development of optimal methodologies for quality assurance in manufacturing these remedies;
   3. The development of improved methodology for research and development that involves the following:
      • The study of complex, simultaneous interventions (e.g., herbal-medicine mixtures, or mixed-modality approaches, etc.);
      • The study of individualized interventions;
      • The use of subjective or patient-reported endpoints for safety and efficacy in clinical research on complementary and alternative medicine/traditional medicine (CAM/TM);
      • The integration of traditional and modern/Western diagnostic approaches and criteria;
      • The integration of traditional and modern/Western endpoints for the safety and efficacy in clinical research on CAM/TM; and
      • The application of genomics, proteomics, and systems biology to the study of TCM.

3. Participants may wish to carry out a number of activities pursuant to this Memorandum of Understanding, including:
   1. The exchange of information regarding institutional priorities and plans, and important research findings;
   2. Fostering scientific collaborations between individual Chinese and American scientists;
   3. Fostering other opportunities for scientific exchange and dialogue between individual Chinese and American scientists;
   4. The joint funding of individual collaborative research and training projects that otherwise satisfy the criteria of scientific merit, relevance, and priority of both countries;
   5. Scientific cooperation, including research, concerning the use in TCM of alternatives to the body parts, organs and blood of endangered wildlife, and
   6. The inclusion and participation of qualified experts in scientific workshops, conferences and symposia.

    

4. The Participants are to conduct all activities carried out under this Memorandum of Understanding in full and complete accordance with the applicable laws, regulations, policies, review procedures, and priorities of the Participants.  Support required for any specific activity is contingent on the availability of necessary funds and other resources.  Further, this Memorandum of Understanding creates no international legal obligations, and supersedes no existing agreements between HHS and MOH.

    

5. HHS and MOH plan to identify individuals to serve on a working group within 6 months after signing this Memorandum of Understanding.  The working group may include HHS and MOH employees as well as other scientists from each country actively engaged in cooperative projects and should periodically review progress and provide advice and recommendations on future activities.

    

6. Activities under this Memorandum of Understanding may commence upon signature.  The Memorandum of Understanding is to continue for three years, and is to automatically extend for another three years unless one participant provides a written notice of its intention to discontinue the Memorandum of Understanding six months before its expiration date.  Discontinuation or expiration of this Memorandum of Understanding should not affect projects undertaken before its expiration or discontinuation.

Signed on 16th day of June, 2008 in Annapolis, Maryland, United States of America, in English and in Chinese, each version being equally valid.

/Michael O. Leavitt/
 Michael O. Leavitt
Secretary,
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

/Wang Guoqiang/
 Wang Guoqiang
Vice-minister, Ministry of Health,
People's Republic of China
Commissioner of State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine

Last revised: June 18, 2008