Tianjin Institute of Endocrinology was established in 1978 by Professor Chu Hsien-I, a renowned endocrinologist both nationally and internationally, as well as the founding president of Tianjin Medical College. It is recognized as the first professional research institution in the field of endocrinology in China. In 2004, the institute merged with the Metabolic Diseases Hospital (now known as Chu Hsien-I Memorial Hospital) at Tianjin Medical University, adopting a unified operational system that integrates the functions of both the hospital and the research institute.
As the primary research base for the national key (cultivation) discipline in Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases at Tianjin Medical University, the institute operates two key laboratories at the provincial and ministerial levels: the National Health Commission Key Laboratory of Hormones and Development and the Tianjin Key Laboratory of Metabolic Diseases. Over the past forty years since its establishment, the institute has driven disciplinary advancement through scientific research, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration among clinical medicine, basic medicine, and preventive medicine. It has also promoted mutual progress between basic research and translational medicine, making significant contributions to public health.
The institute boasts a distinguished faculty team, which includes recipients of the National Outstanding Youth Science Fund, leading talents from the Ten Thousand Talents Plan sponsored by Central Organization Department, National Health Commission Young and Middle-aged Experts with Outstanding Contributions, Tianjin Haihe Medical Scholars, Tianjin Distinguished Professors, and participants in various national and provincial talent programs. Additionally, it is home to a Tianjin Innovation Talent Team. With approximately 4,000 square meters of research space and equipment valued at over 50 million yuan, the institute offers comprehensive platforms for cell biology, molecular biology, histopathology, and SPF-level experimental animal research facilities.
The research institute is dedicated to exploring the key molecular mechanisms that contribute to the onset and progression of endocrine and metabolic disorders, with the objective of establishing a robust foundation for disease prevention and management. The main physiological and pathophysiological conditions involved in the research include glucose and lipid metabolism and diabetes, bone homeostasis and osteoporosis, as well as thyroid diseases, among others, all of which have yielded notable achievements.
