Ho Chi Minh City University of Medicine and Pharmacy recognizes the first two strong frontier research groups

After the regulation establishing and organizing the activities of the strong research groups, the strong frontier research group and the potential research group at Ho Chi Minh City University of Medicine and Pharmacy were issued according to Decision No. 4283/QĐ-ĐHYD dated 11/8/2025, the movement to establish research groups at the University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Ho Chi Minh City has received positive response from units belonging to and under the University.

👉 On 04/11/2025, the Science and Technology Council advising the selection of research groups of Ho Chi Minh City University of Medicine and Pharmacy met and officially recognized the first two strong frontier research groups with an investment level of up to 1.75 billion per group over a period of 5 years. In addition, the strong frontier research groups enjoy many superior preferential mechanisms in research, training, and international cooperation: a 40% conversion of scientific research time for group leaders and core members, priority in leading projects at all levels, use of modern facilities and the university's laboratory, attraction of experts and graduate students both domestic and abroad, development of scientific and technological products, technology transfer and innovative start‑ups… Detailed information on the two strong frontier research groups is as follows:

1️⃣ Research group on gastric and esophageal diseases (Gastric And Esophageal Disease Study Group – GESG)
🔸 Group leader: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Võ Duy Long
🔸 Unit: Department of Gastroenterology – University Medical Center of Ho Chi Minh City, Faculty of Medicine, University of Medicine and Pharmacy Ho Chi Minh City.
🔸 Focus: Research on molecular biology, early screening and diagnosis, application of minimally invasive surgery in treatment, multimodal therapy, personalization and quality of life for patients with stomach, esophageal cancers and other benign diseases.
2️⃣ Interdisciplinary Gastrointestinal – Hepatobiliary Research Group, University of Medicine and Pharmacy Ho Chi Minh City (Gastro-Hepato Integrated Research Team, University of Medicine and Pharmacy at Ho Chi Minh City – GHIRT)
🔸 Team Leader: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Quach Trong Duc
🔸 Unit: Faculty of Medicine – University of Medicine and Pharmacy Ho Chi Minh City
🔸 Focus: Screening, early diagnosis, minimally invasive treatment and epidemiological research of gastrointestinal – hepatobiliary diseases; strengthening international collaboration, training researchers and developing scientific‑technological products for practical application.
✨ These two strong research groups are the culmination of leading experts and a generation of enthusiastic young scientists, representing interdisciplinary collaboration and international integration in medical research. Members of the groups come from various fields but share the common goal of producing research works with scientific value and practical impact.
👍 Not only aiming to enhance international publication capacity, the groups also focus on training the next‑generation team, building a professional, dynamic and creative research environment, transferring advanced technology, gradually affirming their position to achieve the title “Strong Research Group” in the future.

🎊 The University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Ho Chi Minh City respectfully congratulates the two Strong Near‑Research groups that have just been recognized, marking a new step forward in the university's scientific research ecosystem development strategy. At the same time, the university warmly welcomes and encourages new research groups to continue registering to participate, joining together to build a dynamic, creative, integrated research community, contributing to enhancing the university's scientific and technological capacity.