COVER STORY • 封面專題 21 2025 UMAGAZINE 32 • 澳大新語 from natural polysaccharides. Prof Lu and his team are at the forefront of research into the use of Chinese medicine for cancer treatment, aiming to enhance treatment efficacy while reducing complications and alleviating patient suffering by harnessing the active components of Chinese medicine. In addition to SKL-MQCM, UM has leveraged its strengths in innovation and technology to establish several other research centres. The Macao Centre for Research and Development in Chinese Medicine supports pilot-scale production and registration of selected Chinese medicine formulas in Macao. The Macao Centre for Testing of Chinese Medicine is a government-designated institution responsible for testing and registering Chinese medicine products, conducting supervision and emergency testing, and providing services to the industry such as product testing, technical inspection, and the development of quality standards. The university is also preparing to launch the Centre for Immune Regulation to further advance research in the field. Through this comprehensive research and development ecosystem, UM aims to deliver innovative health solutions worldwide. Strengthening Mental Illness Prevention Through Academic Research According to the World Health Organization, depression is the third leading cause of disease burden worldwide. In response, Prof Xiang Yutao, distinguished professor and head of the Department of Public Health and Medicinal Administration in the Faculty of Health Sciences, is leading interdisciplinary research that integrates psychiatry and public health to tackle public mental health challenges. Prof Xiang explains that his team focuses on tertiary prevention of depression, which involves identifying high-risk populations, conducting early screenings, and developing customised treatment plans in collaboration with the National Clinical Research Centre of Mental Disorders. He emphasises that prevention is better than cure, and their aim is to enhance public health through early discovery and intervention, addressing the root causes of mental health issues in line with SDG3 (Good Health and Wellbeing). ‘Our ultimate goal is to translate research into clinical services, which is why we work closely with hospitals and treatment centres across the country,’ Prof Xiang says. He highlights that one of the team’s papers, Demographic and Clinical Features and Prescribing Patterns of Psychotropic Medications in Patients with the Melancholic Subtype of Major Depressive Disorder in China, has been cited in the Guideline for Prevention and Treatment of Depression in China (2025 Edition), demonstrating their contribution to clinical psychiatry. In response to global public health challenges, Prof Xiang and his team have also been at the forefront of efforts to support universal health coverage. In early 2020, they were among the first in the world to address the mental health needs of COVID-19 patients, healthcare workers, and the general public. The team published several groundbreaking articles on this topic in prestigious medical journals, including The Lancet and Lancet Psychiatry. Notably, their article Timely Mental Health Care for the 2019-nCoV Outbreak is Urgently Needed was the world’s first academic paper to explore the mental health impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Cited over 5,000 times, this influential paper not only provided vital guidance during the pandemic, but also served as an important reference for future public health responses. It has helped improve the sustainability of mental health services worldwide. Reforming Language Education to Enhance Public Literacy To advance SDG4 (Quality Education), UM has developed a well-rounded approach focused on 澳大論文獲《中國抑鬱障礙防治指南 （2025版）》引用 A paper by a UM research team is cited in the Guideline for Prevention and Treatment of Depression in China (2025 Edition) 項玉濤教授 Prof Xiang Yutao
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