Innovative Achievements from First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University Debut at 2026 Guangzhou Medical Expo

Background

The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University participated in the 2026 Guangzhou Medical and Health Industry Expo, held from August 21 to 23 at the China Import and Export Fair Complex. During the event, government leaders from local, national, and provincial health departments, along with university officials, visited the hospital's booth. They examined the displayed innovations and received briefings on technical principles, clinical applications, and industrialization progress.

What was achieved

The hospital showcased its ischemia-free organ transplantation (IFOT) technology, developed by Professor He Xiaoshun's team and described as the world's first. This work led to the proposal of a new "organ medicine" concept, shifting organ transplantation from traditional cold preservation methods to warm or "hot" transplantation to address ischemia-reperfusion injury, characterized as a milestone breakthrough in the field. It received support from the 2023 National Key R&D Program for Disruptive Technology Innovation.

The displayed items included the ischemia-free liver perfusion system (Life-X100), the "Organ Savior" donor perfusion system (Life-D100), and a live organ laparoscopy training system. The technology has been promoted to hospitals in 8 countries and 49 hospitals in China, with experts from multiple countries visiting to observe and learn. The project has secured 45 authorized patents domestically and internationally, with 10 patents successfully transferred; related products have entered the National Medical Products Administration's special review process for innovative medical devices.

The second innovation was the artificial intelligence electronic nasopharyngoscope assisted monitoring system, developed by Professor Lei Wenbin, director of the hospital's ENT department. It has obtained the world's first registration certificate for an AI Class II electronic nasopharyngoscope medical device, along with EU CE Class I certification and 5A teaching certification. The associated project received 12 national, provincial, and municipal key grants totaling over 20 million RMB, resulted in 18 high-level papers (8 with impact factor greater than 10), 18 patent applications (6 authorized), and a core patent transfer valued at 13.6 million RMB. The product also appeared at the 2026 Dubai World Health Expo.

How it works

In conventional organ transplantation, donor organs are procured, flushed with cold preservation solution, stored on ice during transport, and then implanted. This process necessarily includes periods without blood flow, known as cold ischemia, followed by reperfusion upon implantation. These steps can cause ischemia-reperfusion injury, damaging cells and affecting graft function and long-term outcomes. The ischemia-free approach uses normothermic machine perfusion devices that maintain the organ at body temperature with continuous circulation of oxygenated blood and nutrients. This keeps the organ metabolically active and supplied with oxygen throughout procurement from the donor, ex-vivo preservation, transport if needed, and surgical implantation into the recipient, eliminating the ischemic interval.

The AI electronic nasopharyngoscope is used for examination of the nasopharynx, an important tool for early detection of nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Traditional procedures rely heavily on the endoscopist's experience to ensure complete visualization and accurate interpretation, which can lead to variability, especially in less experienced settings. The AI system integrates artificial intelligence directly into the examination workflow. It automatically recognizes anatomical sites in real time, performs dynamic quality control to confirm that all relevant areas have been adequately viewed, and provides intelligent prompts for any suspicious lesions. This assists the physician during the live procedure rather than only in post-examination review, aims to improve completeness and accuracy, and supports standardized training.

What it means for international patients

The hospital operates dedicated international medical services, including the Jianhua International Healthcare Center at its Yuexiu campus and an International Medical Center at the Nansha campus. These provide tailored services for international patients, such as English-language support, multidisciplinary consultations, and direct-billing arrangements with certain international insurance providers. The showcased technologies reflect ongoing advancements in organ transplantation and AI-enhanced diagnostics at the facility, which has hosted international observers and delegations.

International patients considering care related to organ medicine, ENT diagnostics, or associated specialties at this hospital should contact the facility directly to confirm current availability, specific eligibility criteria, suitability for individual medical conditions, and any procedural or regulatory requirements. The hospital states that patients must verify details with its international patient services.

About the hospital

The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, also known as FAH-SYSU, is located in Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China. Founded in 1910, it is a comprehensive tertiary Class A teaching hospital affiliated with Sun Yat-sen University. It operates multiple campuses, including Yuexiu (main), Huangpu, and Nansha, and has collaborated on regional medical centers in Guangxi and Guizhou.

It is recognized for its organ transplantation program, having performed China's first kidney transplant and pioneering ischemia-free organ transplantation techniques for liver, kidney, and heart, with cumulative experience in over 10,000 major organ transplant cases. The hospital maintains strengths in otorhinolaryngology, where the AI nasopharyngoscope was developed, along with other clinical areas. It is designated a national regional medical center pilot and has participated in numerous national key projects and international collaborations.