The country's first national-level translational medicine center will be established in Shanghai to promote health benefits for individuals and communities.

Translational medicine, also known as translational science, is a discipline within biomedical and public health research. It focuses on translating laboratory findings into diagnostic tools, medicines, procedures, policies and education to improve the health of individuals.

"Translational medicine in China is rapidly growing, though started recently. The establishment of the new center will boost the development of translational medicine in the country," said Zhao Qiang, vice-president of Shanghai Ruijin Hospital.

Covering an area of 60,000 square meters, the research center will have 300 beds for clinical research. And its research will focus on tumors, cardiovascular disease and metabolic diseases among others.

This weekend, the 8th Sino-US Symposium on Medicine in the 21st Century will be held in Shanghai on Nov 16-17, and this year's theme is translational medicine. Medical experts and scholars from both home and abroad will come together to discuss the latest research and the practice's development in the world.