You are welcome to attend the seminar. Please find the details below:

Date: 21 March, 2025 (Friday)
Time: 4:00 - 6:00pm (Registration starts at 3:30pm)
Venue: Lecture Theatre 2, Cheung Kung Hai Conference Centre, G/F, William MW Mong Block, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, 21 Sassoon Road, Pokfulam, Hong Kong
Mode: Face to face
CME Points for RCMPs: 2 points
Fee: Free of Charge
Enquires: Tel: 81000538；Email: scmevent@hku.hk
Registration: Here

Speaker:
Professor Li Xinli
Deputy Director, State Key Laboratory for Innovation and Transformation of Luobing Theory
Professor, Chief Cardiologist, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University

Moderator:
Professor Shen Jiangang
Professor, School of Chinese Medicine, HKU

Abstract:

Heart failure (HF) represents the end-stage progression of cardiovascular diseases, characterized by high incidence, mortality, and rehospitalization rates. Despite advancements in modern medicine for HF management, patient prognosis remains suboptimal. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) offers unique advantages in cardiovascular disease treatment, particularly exemplified by the multi-herbal formula Qili Qiangxin (芪藶強心), developed based on the collateral disease theory. This formula demonstrates significant clinical value in improving cardiac function, alleviating symptoms, and reducing cardiovascular events in HF patients.
In cardiovascular contexts, Luobing theory attributes HF pathogenesis to “stasis of the heart collaterals,” while the cardiovascular event chain delineates the continuum from atherosclerosis to myocardial infarction and ultimately HF. These perspectives reflect the integration of traditional Chinese medical principles with modern pathophysiology.
Qiliqiangxin Capsule, a TCM formulation, has been validated in clinical studies for its efficacy in HF with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) demonstrate that Qiliqiangxin significantly improves 6-minute walking distance, clinical cardiac function, and reduces NT-proBNP levels in HF patients. Notably, the landmark QUEST study—a large multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial investigating the efficacy and safety of Qili Qiangxin for HF—was completed and published in 2024 in Nature Medicine. This study was also recognized as one of the “Top Ten Annual Chinese Cardiovascular Research Breakthroughs.” Mechanistically, Qiliqiangxin exerts therapeutic effects through multi-target modulation, including enhancing myocardial energy metabolism, suppressing inflammation, and mitigating myocardial fibrosis.
As a representative TCM intervention for HF, evidence-based validation and mechanistic insights of Qiliqiangxin provide novel perspectives for HF management. With deepening integration of TCM and modern medicine, therapies grounded in traditional theories hold promise in advancing cardiovascular disease prevention and treatment, offering patients more comprehensive and personalized therapeutic strategies.

About the Speaker:

Professor Li Xinli is a Professor, Chief Cardiologist and Doctorate Supervisor of the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University. He is the Deputy Director of the State Key Laboratory for Innovation and Transformation of Luobing Theory. He is a special contribution expert of the State Council of China, and Chief Cardiologist and second-level Professor of the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University. Professor Li has dedicated in the basic and clinical research on cardiology for decades; As the corresponding author, he has published more than 300 articles in various esteemed journals (including Nature Medicine, JACC, Circulation, etc.) Professor Li has supervised over 100 post-graduate and doctorate students. His Academic appointments includes Vice President of the Cardiovascular Branch of the Chinese Society of Gerontology, Vice Chairman of the Heart Failure Group of the Cardiovascular Branch of the Chinese Medical Doctor Association, Vice Chairman of the Hypertension Group of the Chinese Society of Cardiovascular Diseases, Vice Chairman of the Collateral Disease Branch of the Chinese Society of Chinese Medicine, Vice Chairman of the Precision Medicine Branch of the Chinese Society of Thoracic Cardiovascular Anesthesiology, etc.

Professor Li will introduce a recent large scale RCT study with over 3100 heart failure patients from 133 hospitals to evaluate the effectiveness of Qiliquangxin Capsule to reduce mortality and hospitalization for heart failure. This study has been published in Nature Medicine (2024 Aug;30(8):2295-2302).