Chinese Medicine Life Sciences Complex

The School of Life Sciences at Beijing University of Chinese Medicine (BUCM) was founded in October 2016 under the leadership of Wang Zhizhen, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the founding dean. 

Inside the Traditional Chinese Medicine Life Sciences Complex

The school is dedicated to the creative transformation and innovative development of Chinese medicine (CM) and to advancing an interdisciplinary field of CM life sciences. Guided by the motto "Inheriting the Essence, Innovating with Integrity," it seeks to deepen understanding of CM theory, treatment patterns and research of mechanisms, while building a globally recognized "Double First-Class" discipline that supports China's visions for Healthy China and a world-class educational system.

The school plays a leading role in BUCM’s “Double First-Class” discipline of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine and hosts several national and internationally recognized research programs. It includes four teaching departments, three research centers and a postdoctoral research station, offering four master's programs and five doctoral programs. The faculty includes national-level experts, globally highly cited researchers and numerous provincial and ministerial scholars, providing a strong foundation for research and education. 

BUCM encourages innovation and entrepreneurship through initiatives such as the Double Helix program and a multi-advisor mentoring model. In 2024, a student-led project won a national silver medal in the China International College Students' Innovation Competition. Graduates consistently find high-quality employment and report full satisfaction.    

BUCM students celebrate winning the national silver medal at the China International College Students' Innovation Competition 2024.

The school actively builds an innovation ecosystem for intelligent CM and collaborates with major cities such as Beijing and Shenzhen as well as leading enterprises including ENN, WEGO, Huawei and Tencent. The WEGO Research Institute was established to accelerate technology transfer and support economic development. Since 2018, the school has hosted the annual BUCM international conference on the forefront of integrative medicine, first held at Harvard Medical School in the United States. The conference has attracted dozens of world-leading experts and more than 7,500 online participants, raising international awareness of CM life sciences and offering students opportunities to engage directly with global thought leaders. The school also works with government departments to promote collaborative initiatives such as the university plus enterprise plus government model.   

Highlights from the annual BUCM international conference on the forefront of integrative medicine, featuring world-leading experts and engaging sessions that connect students with global thought leaders.

In 2022, BUCM organized the CM Exhibition Zone led by the School of Life Sciences at the Beijing Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games, introducing CM culture to athletes and officials. The school designed and operated the "10-Second CM Experience Pavilion," which later appeared at the China International Fair for Trade in Services, showcasing innovations in digital CM and the modernization of CM services to a global audience.

The “10-Second CM Experience Pavilion” showcased at the 2022 China International Fair for Trade in Services.

Looking ahead, the school is growing into a world-class research-oriented hub that blends tradition with innovation. By strengthening faculty development, advancing research and expanding international partnerships, it aims to become a globally influential center for interdisciplinary medicine, a place where East meets West in health science innovation.