Medical Library | Shanghai Clinical Innovation Series
Renji Hospital, affiliated with Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, is a major Shanghai center for autoimmune liver disease, inflammatory bowel disease, rheumatology, reproductive medicine, kidney transplantation, cardiovascular emergencies, and neurology. Its 2025–2026 programs combine large clinical studies with biologic therapies, CAR-T and CAR-NK, reproductive medicine, transplantation, advanced cardiovascular intervention, and stroke and dementia care.
This Medical Library review summarizes six representative teams and directions based on the information provided. It also explains how CMCS can help international patients organize their records and communicate with the appropriate specialist team.
1. Gastroenterology: New Mechanisms and Targeted Care for Autoimmune Liver Disease
Leads: Academician Fang Jingyuan, Professor Ma Xiong, and Professor Shen Jun
Focus: Inflammatory bowel disease, autoimmune hepatitis, and primary biliary cholangitis.
The Renji gastroenterology program is described as a leading non-oncology research platform in autoimmune liver disease, linking susceptibility genetics, immune mechanisms, and targeted treatment development.
Key 2025–2026 milestones
- Autoimmune hepatitis: A multi-hospital study involving 15 institutions identified new susceptibility loci, with findings published in Hepatology in February 2025.
- Primary biliary cholangitis: A new specific immunotherapy target was reported in the Journal of Hepatology in 2025.
- International recognition: Professor Ma Xiong was invited to write a review of primary biliary cholangitis for The Lancet.
Autoimmune liver disease can progress quietly before symptoms become obvious. Treatment decisions may depend on liver enzymes, autoantibodies, imaging, fibrosis assessment, biopsy findings, previous response, and the presence of overlap syndromes or extrahepatic autoimmune disease.
A newly identified susceptibility locus or immune target is not automatically a clinical test or an approved medicine. Patients should ask whether the result has been validated, whether it changes treatment, and whether the proposed therapy is standard care, part of a clinical trial, or still in development. Our Gastrointestinal Surgery in Shanghai guide offers related background on specialist digestive care.
Clinical profile: A translational autoimmune-liver program connecting genetics, immune biology, and targeted treatment.
2. Rheumatology and Immunology: CAR-T and CAR-NK for Difficult-to-Treat Autoimmune Disease
Leads: Professors Ye Shuang and Fu Qiong
Focus: Systemic lupus erythematosus, dermatomyositis, systemic sclerosis, and rheumatoid arthritis.
Autoimmune diseases are increasingly being studied through immune-cell depletion and immune-system resetting rather than lifelong suppression alone. The reported Renji program is positioned among the early clinical leaders in autoimmune CAR-T and CAR-NK translation.
Key 2025–2026 milestones
- GC012F: A dual-target CD19/BCMA autologous CAR-T product was reported in May and June 2025 to have produced drug-free remission at 104 weeks in patients with difficult-to-treat SLE.
- Relma-cel: A Phase I program reported at EULAR 2026 included 12 patients, all of whom achieved an SRI-4 response, with Phase II development progressing.
- Allogeneic CAR-NK: A study published in The Lancet in late 2025 was described as the world's first allogeneic CD19 CAR-NK treatment for SLE. Among 18 patients, 67% were reported to be in drug-free remission at one year.
These findings are clinically exciting but remain highly specialized. Patients should confirm whether a product is approved or investigational, how eligibility is determined, whether the disease has the target required for treatment, and how infection, cytokine-release syndrome, cytopenias, hypogammaglobulinemia, and long-term immune recovery will be managed.
Autoimmune CAR-T is not simply a stronger version of conventional immunosuppression. It involves a different risk–benefit discussion, including hospitalization, lymphodepletion, fertility considerations, vaccination planning, infection prevention, and long-term follow-up.
Our Rheumatoid Arthritis and Lupus Treatment in Shanghai Medical Library guide provides related background.
Clinical profile: An early clinical-translational platform using autologous and allogeneic immune-cell therapies to pursue drug-free remission in autoimmune disease.
3. Reproductive Medicine: Precision Assessment of Implantation and Fertility Preservation
Lead: Professor Sun Yun
Focus: Recurrent implantation failure, implantation disorders, and fertility preservation.
The program's major achievement was the technology platform for precision diagnosis and treatment of implantation disorders, which received the second prize of the 2025 National Science and Technology Progress Award. The team also pioneered what was described as full-course assessment of endometrial receptivity.
Recurrent implantation failure can involve embryo quality, uterine anatomy, endometrial receptivity, inflammation, thrombosis, endocrine factors, sperm factors, and chance. A full-course assessment aims to avoid focusing on one test while overlooking the entire reproductive timeline.
Patients should ask which part of the assessment has been validated in randomized trials, whether a test changes the treatment plan, and whether the recommendation applies to their age, embryo stage, genetic-testing status, and previous IVF history. Not every commercial receptivity test improves live-birth rates.
For international patients, our Fertility Treatment in Shanghai: IVF Options guide provides related information about preparing for reproductive medicine care.
Clinical profile: A reproductive medicine program using large clinical evidence and longitudinal endometrial assessment to refine the management of implantation failure.
4. Urology and Transplantation: Complex Reconstruction and Minimally Invasive Graft Surgery
Leads: Professors Pan Jiahua and Zhang Ming
Focus: Kidney transplantation, renal autotransplantation, urinary stones, and benign prostatic hyperplasia.
The reported work includes renal autotransplantation to repair ureteral defects and renal artery stenosis secondary to vasculitis, as well as robot-assisted partial resection of a transplanted kidney in October 2025. The latter was described in the supplied material as a first-of-its-kind claim that should be confirmed through formal institutional or peer-reviewed documentation.
Renal autotransplantation may be considered in selected patients when the kidney can be removed, repaired outside the body, and reimplanted to preserve renal function. It is a complex operation requiring careful vascular planning, ischemia management, and long-term monitoring.
Surgery on a transplanted kidney is also highly individualized. The team must balance preservation of graft function, cancer or lesion control, immunosuppression, infection risk, and the possibility of rejection or vascular complications.
Patients should ask why a complex reconstruction or robotic approach is preferred, what alternatives exist, how kidney function will be protected, and what immunosuppression and follow-up will be required.
Clinical profile: A transplant and reconstructive urology program focused on difficult anatomy, kidney preservation, and minimally invasive techniques.
5. Cardiology: Vulnerable Plaque, AI-Supported Imaging, and High-Risk Intervention
Leads: Professors Bu Jun, Jiang Meng, and He Ben
Focus: Coronary artery disease, heart failure, arrhythmia, and cardiomyopathy.
Key 2025–2026 milestones
- Professional recognition: Professor Bu Jun received the 2025 Wu Jieping Medical Innovation Award in March 2026.
- Lipid-metabolism heterogeneity: A study published in the European Heart Journal in June 2026 examined heterogeneity in lipid metabolism related to abdominal aortic aneurysm and atherosclerosis.
- High-risk emergency care: Successful treatment of acute myocardial infarction with heart failure in a 101-year-old patient was reported in November 2025.
- Pulmonary valve intervention: The first reported composite pulmonary-valve implantation in East China was completed in June 2026.
The program's practical theme is early identification of vulnerable plaque and high-risk cardiovascular patients through imaging, AI-supported assessment, and intervention. Older age and complex comorbidity do not automatically rule out invasive treatment, but the decision must consider frailty, kidney function, bleeding risk, cognition, goals of care, and recovery potential.
Patients should ask whether an imaging or AI result changes management, how plaque vulnerability is defined, and whether the proposed procedure is intended to improve survival, prevent a future event, relieve symptoms, or stabilize an emergency.
For broader cardiovascular background, see our Heart Valve Disease Treatment in Shanghai Medical Library guide.
Clinical profile: A cardiovascular program combining vulnerable-plaque research, imaging and AI, and high-risk interventional care.
6. Neurology: Stroke Quality Control, Population Reports, and Alzheimer's Treatment Access
Leads: Professors Li Yansheng and Wang Hualong
Focus: Acute ischemic stroke, Parkinson's disease, and Alzheimer's disease.
Key 2025–2026 milestones
- Parkinson's disease reporting: The team led the China Parkinson's Disease Report 2025.
- Alzheimer's treatment: The Jiading branch reported its first infusion of donanemab for mild Alzheimer's disease in July 2026.
- Stroke workflow: Door-to-needle time was reported by one source to have fallen from 90 minutes to 25 minutes; this operational claim should be confirmed through formal hospital data.
Rapid treatment for acute ischemic stroke depends on triage, brain imaging, vascular imaging, emergency transport, and clear treatment protocols. The most useful quality measure is not only speed, but also correct patient selection, complication management, and functional outcome after discharge.
Anti-amyloid therapies such as donanemab are intended for carefully selected patients with early Alzheimer's disease and confirmed amyloid pathology. They require discussion of amyloid-related imaging abnormalities, bleeding risk, MRI monitoring, APOE status where relevant, treatment duration, and realistic expectations.
Our Stroke guide for international patients in Shanghai provides related background, and the Huashan Alzheimer's disease specialist profile offers additional context for dementia evaluation.
Clinical profile: A neurology program combining stroke quality improvement, national disease reporting, and the clinical introduction of disease-specific Alzheimer's treatment.
7. How CMCS Helps International Patients Communicate with Specialists
For an international patient considering autoimmune treatment, fertility care, transplantation, cardiovascular intervention, stroke treatment, or Alzheimer's therapy in Shanghai, the first step is to match the clinical question with the right specialist team. China Medical Concierge Shanghai (CMCS) is a health management and medical coordination service that helps patients connect with specialist doctors and hospital resources in Shanghai. CMCS is not a hospital and does not independently diagnose or prescribe treatment.
Before a consultation, CMCS can help organize liver tests, autoantibody panels, biopsy and imaging, rheumatology records, IVF and embryo records, transplant and immunosuppression history, ECG and echocardiography, catheterization data, brain imaging, cognitive assessments, medication history, and current symptoms. For overseas patients, the records can be arranged into a concise English medical summary for the specialist.
CMCS can help patients prepare focused questions such as:
- Is the proposed biologic, CAR-T, CAR-NK, device, transplant procedure, or neurotherapy approved for this diagnosis and treatment stage?
- What pathology, biomarker, imaging, fertility, organ-function, or safety criteria determine eligibility?
- Is the evidence from a randomized trial, real-world study, first-in-human procedure, or early-phase clinical trial?
- What are the major risks, hospitalization needs, monitoring requirements, fertility considerations, and long-term follow-up obligations?
- What standard treatments or alternatives should be considered before an innovative approach?
- How will treatment benefit be measured, and what happens if the response is incomplete?
During the consultation, CMCS can assist with appointment coordination, medical interpretation, communication between the patient and the care team, and clarification of the doctor's recommendations. Afterward, a case manager can help organize the proposed next steps, identify additional tests or records, clarify the follow-up schedule, and coordinate further communication with the hospital.
The final treatment decision must be made by the patient and the treating medical team. CMCS does not independently select a drug, cell therapy, device, transplant pathway, or clinical trial. Its role is to help the patient bring complete information to the right specialist and ensure that evidence, eligibility, risks, alternatives, access, and monitoring are discussed clearly.
To learn more about specialist consultations and treatment coordination in Shanghai, contact CMCS:
Email: contract@medicalsh.com
WhatsApp: Contact CMCS on WhatsApp
Website: medicalsh.com
Conclusion
The Renji Hospital teams reviewed here demonstrate a wide translational range: autoimmune liver disease and IBD research, CAR-T and CAR-NK for autoimmune disease, precision fertility care, complex kidney reconstruction, high-risk cardiovascular intervention, and faster stroke and Alzheimer's treatment pathways.
For patients, the goal is not to pursue every new therapy or procedure, but to identify the option that fits the diagnosis, biomarker profile, disease stage, health status, previous treatment, and personal goals. This article was prepared from the team and program information provided for editorial use. Research findings, product names, approval status, clinical results, and treatment access should be confirmed through the hospital, research team, regulatory authorities, and formally published studies. This article is for medical education only and is not individualized medical advice.
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