Overall Fundraising Plan
Funding History
Teaching and Training Programme
The programme comprises the following elements:
- King’s CICM Forum
- Brings the latest science to care providers.
- Provides opportunities for KHP students, clinicians, and scientists to meet, dialogue, and brainstorm with TCM practitioners.
- PhD and Postdoctoral Training
- Advanced research training in integrative Chinese and Western medicine.
- Pre-Doctoral Research Training
- Includes Master’s and undergraduate-level research assistants.
- Training opportunities:
- Students Selected Components (SSCs)
- Scholarly Projects
- Wet and Dry Lab Projects
Research Priorities
- Systemically cataloguing TCM-related collections of world-leading British libraries, museums, universities and research institutes to facilitate information exchanges and support research, education and training.
- Conducting surveys of patients, practitioners, care providers and other stakeholders in NHS hospitals, general practitioner services and TCM clinics to gain evidence needed to guide ICM research, teaching and care.
- Identifying and addressing possible reasons for conflicts among different medical modalities and approaches.
- Leading and participating in international collaborations to develop, disseminate and implement good practice guidelines and standards in integrative medicine research.
- Leading, supporting and enabling international collaborations in authentication, quality control and exchange of medicinal plants, herbal drugs and other medicinal materials, as these activities are the foundation of high-quality traditional, complementary and integrative medicine.
- Applying bioimaging, photoplethysmography (measuring blood volume in the peripheral circulation), pulse wave velocity and artificial intelligence to TCM inspection, tongue and pulse diagnostics, to innovate in clinical diagnosis.
- Applying Bayesian methods, network pharmacology and artificial intelligence to TCM real-world data to identify signals of potential efficacy and safety concerns.
- Conducting innovative randomised controlled trials, including randomised controlled, pragmatic and n-of-1 trials, to examine efficacy, effectiveness and safety of TCM and ICM interventions, notably incorporating TCM diagnosis-based stratification.
- Conducting studies of endogenous defences of the kidney and other organs, as inspired by the TCM concepts of Healthy qi (正气) and Wei defensive qi (卫气), which defend against injury caused by pathogenic qi (邪气). This will enable the development of potential novel diagnostic, preventive, and therapeutic strategies.
- Conducting knowledge-based studies of TCM tonifying drugs and non-drug therapies, including traditional acupuncture, electroacupuncture, moxibustion, acupoint laser radiation, medical qigong, etc, to drive innovation in prevention and therapeutics by restoring compromised endogenous defence mechanisms.
- Conducting multi-omics-based studies of cellular, genetic, epigenetic, and metabolic mechanisms of dysfunctional Yin qi (阴气) and Yang qi (阳气) that underpin disease, to guide targeted, personalised TCM and ICM intervention.
- Contributing to introducing efficacious and safe traditional medicine products into the UK/European markets. This will foster the development and enrichment of integrative medicine by incorporating diverse health concepts, methodologies, and products.
- Applying emerging new science & technology to probe the scientific basis of some sophisticated TCM concepts that cannot yet be explained by conventional technologies.
ICM-Centric Version of World’s Questions | King’s Answers
Inspired by the award-winning World’s Questions | King’s Answers campaign (https://www.kcl.ac.uk/world-questions-kings-answers), we are keen to listen to a wide spectrum of ideas and opinions, ranging from patients, caregivers, general public and media, to the TCM community, KHP staff, King’s CICM Honorary Advisors, collaborators and other stakeholders. Based on the projects and approaches listed above, we are keen to engage in further dialogues and collaboration to develop an ICM-centric version of World’s Questions | King’s Answers, aiming to bring down barriers, facilitate dialogue, bridge collaboration and enable ICM in research, innovation, education and training, as well as service and care
Purposes & Research Focus of the King’s CICM Funds:
The King’s CICM fundraising will focus on opportunities to address kidney disease, cardiovascular disease, cancer and other ageing-related disorders. TCM-inspired biomedical innovation, drug development and non-drug therapies will be the main purposes of the initiative.
- In Stage 1, we plan to raise £0.5m for King’s CICM Empowerment Fund, which will enable world-class integrative medicine research and training. We will build the platform and network needed for the growth of the Centre, including faculty and research team development, websites, forums and education and training endeavors. We propose that the £0.5m King’s CICM Empowerment Fund be partitioned to fulfil the following purposes:
- £400k to support co-funded research projects
- £50k to support CICM education, training and forum activities
- £25k to support publications, academic meetings, dissemination and outreach, and
- £25k to facilitate website development and fundraising activity.
- In Stage 2, we plan to raise a £5m King’s CICM Establishment Fund, which will enable further growth of the Centre by recruiting global talents, facilitating collaboration and resource integration. This will expand the remit of CICM to cover more major areas of unmet needs and will deliver broader and deeper impacts. It is proposed that the £5m King’s CICM Establishment Fund be broken down to accomplish the following purposes:
- £4m for sustainability: three academic and research positions created to recruit leaders at the frontiers of ICM
- £800k for co-funded projects covering all key themes
- £100k for ICM education, training and forum
- £50k supporting publication, meetings, dissemination and outreach, and
- £50k: website and fundraising activity.
Forward plan for fundraising:
1. To establish a pool of donations aligned with donor-selected projects.
2. To establish two Commemorative Academic Awards —the Peter Hylands Award and the Peter Houghton Award — after the late Professors Peter Hylands and Peter Houghton, two finest King’s scientists and pioneers in ICM research. These awards will be used to (i) co-fund PhD students and post-doctoral fellows who can secure competitive external funding for further training at King’s CICM, e.g., Chinese Scholarship Council PhD Studentship or Postdoctoral Fellowship; and (ii) to recruit full-time academics and researchers. This plan has the support of the Hylands and Houghton families and the Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, King’s College London, to which both Prof. Hylands and Prof. Houghton were affiliated.
- The Peter Hylands Award will support the application of cutting-edge technologies in ICM research & development; and
- The Peter Houghton Award will support pharmaceutical discovery from plants and other natural resources.
Tribute to Prof. Peter Hylands, Formerly Head of Institute of Pharmaceutical Science, King’s College London; Co-Founder of the King’s CICM initiative and Founding Treasurer, Board and Executive Council Member of the GP-TCM Research Association:
https://pharmaceutical-journal.com/article/news/tribute-peter-hylands
https://www.gp-tcm.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Jun-2019-GP-TCM-RA-NL.pdf
Mrs Debs Hylands: “Thank you so much for sending this proposal. It is incredibly exciting. Peter would be very happy.”
Tribute to Prof. Peter Houghton, Professor of Pharmacognosy, King’s College London; an international leader in medicinal plant and ethnopharmacology research:
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/13880209.2024.2365210
https://apsgb.co.uk/people-news/in-memoriam-professor-peter-houghton-london-uk
Mrs Joan Houghton: “…Peter was always very supportive of projects that facilitated a better understanding of different approaches to the gaining of knowledge leading to a more complete use of the resources to increase health and combat disease. Also, very close to Peter’s heart was the education and nurture of young scientists who could become the leaders of the future. He had discussed with me the possibility of setting up some form of scholarship to enable those with talent and enthusiasm in this field to be able to travel and to meet with others who may help develop but also challenge their ideas. I am, therefore, wholeheartedly supportive of your proposal and gladly agree that Peter would be honoured to have his name attached to such a scholarship.”
Significance of these Academic Awards:
These awards will perpetuate the innovative spirit of two professors by supporting early-career researchers, as well as attracting outstanding academics to King’s CICM. The Hylands Award will drive technological innovation and application, while the Houghton Award will further natural product drug discovery, reflecting each professor’s distinct contributions. These awards embody a shared commitment to interdisciplinary collaboration, education, and the transformative potential of integrative medicine. By nurturing future leaders, they ensure Professors Hylands’ and Houghton’s vision continues to bridge scientific traditions and improve global health.
3. To establish two Special Commemorative Awards—the Boying Ma Award and the Man Fong Mei Award—in honour of the late Professors Boying Ma (马伯英教授) and Man Fong Mei (梅万方教授), who have played important roles in developing ICM in the UK and internationally.
- The Boying Ma Award will support Medical History and Medical Humanities research.
- The Man Fong Mei Award will support ICM research with novel interdisciplinary features.
Tribute to Prof Boying Ma, Honorary Chairman and Founding President of Federation of TCM Practitioners (UK) and the author of A History of Medicine in Chinese Culture (in 2 volumes, 2019), who contributed greatly to the TCM History part of Dr Joseph Needham’s book series Science and Civilisation in China: https://ftcmp.co.uk/en/deep-mourning-for-the-famous-medical-historian-professor-ma-boying/
Dr Alicia Grant (Mrs Ma), author of Globalisation of Variolation: The Overlooked Origins of Immunity for Smallpox in the 18th Century: “Professor Ma, a western medical professor in Shanghai and a TCM practitioner in London, devoted his energy for 25 years to the furtherance of integration of ICM and TCM. Boying would have been honoured with the establishment of a research scholarship in his name in recognition of
Tribute to Prof. Man Fong Mei, a Physics graduate of King’s College London, who pioneered the development of the TCM industry in the UK, by founding AcuMedic and the Chinese Medical Institute and Register (CMIR) UK, one of the earliest, largest and most influential TCM hospitals, training centres and hubs for promoting dialogues and integration of different medical traditions: https://shop.acumedic.com/articles/post/the-inspirational-life-of-profesor-man-fong-mei/
Mr Don Mei, Prof. Mei’s son and the current Director of Mei Group and all associated businesses and Chairman of CMIR: “(The proposal to set an award at Kings’ CICM named after Prof. Man Fong Mei) is not only acceptable but an honour which I appreciate.”
Significance of these Special Awards:
These two special commemorative awards seek to uphold the pioneering spirit of both professors by supporting groundbreaking research in medical history, medical humanities, and interdisciplinary studies. They aim to break down barriers, foster dialogue and enhance cross-cultural and cross-disciplinary exchange and collaboration—laying the intellectual foundation for the advancement of Integrative Chinese Medicine.
Support the King’s CICM
King’s College London is a global leader in medical innovation. By supporting our King’s CICM Initiative, you can help bridge ancient wisdom with modern science—advancing research, education, and healthcare worldwide.
How Your Contribution Makes a Difference
Funding will drive multidisciplinary research, training programmes, and clinical collaboration, with projects tailored to every level of support:
Funding Tiers & Impact
Under £60,000: Supports the research costs of pre-doctoral, doctoral, and postdoctoral projects, including:
- £1,000–£10,000:
- King’s CICM forums (disseminating evidence on TCM efficacy and safety).
- Pre-doctoral internships (A-level to MSc/MRes students).
- Contributions to the Peter Hylands, Peter Houghton, Boying Ma, or Man Fong Mei Awards.
- £10,000–£60,000:
- £10,000–40,000: 1–4 person-years of postdoctoral research (Research Costs Only).
- £40,000–50,000: 4-year PhD scholarship (Research Costs Only).
- £50,000–60,000: 5–6 person-years of postdoctoral research or two 4-year PhD scholarships (Research Costs Only).
- Opportunity to name scholarships after donors.
Over £60,000: Fuels large-scale research and sustainable growth:
- £65,000: 50% of a 4-year PhD studentship (UK students).
- £130,000–155,000:
- Fully funded PhD studentship (UK) or 12–24-month postdoctoral fellowship.
- 50% funded PhD studentship (international students).
- £250,000+: Fully funded PhD studentships (international) or endowed fellowships.
- £500,000–£1M: 4–8 fully funded PhD studentships (UK) or 2–4 fully funded fellowships.
- £1M–£3M: Endowed lectureships or 3–10 research positions.
- £3M+: Named professorship or centre.
How We Raise Funds
With the support of King’s Health Partners Fundraising Team, we pursue grants from:
- Major Trusts & Foundations: Wellcome Trust, NIHR, WHO, Samueli Foundation, and more.
- Strategic Partnerships: Collaborations with institutions like the UK Centre of Chinese Medicine.
- Philanthropy, Crowdfunding and Individual gifts, e.g., a £1,000 anonymous gift from an Honorary Advisor enabled our 1st Honorary Advisory Board Meeting and our Inaugural Forum (5th Jan. 2025), marking a new era for King’s CICM; a £3,000 donation from Phoenix Medical Group Ltd. has enabled the development of this King’s CICM Fundraising Website; another £3,000 unconditional donation from Dr Dan Jiang, one of our CICM Honorary Advisors, will be used to support the Peter Hylands, Peter Houghton, Boying Ma and Man Fong Mei Scholarship and Fellowship Awards, etc.
Join Our Mission
Help us redefine integrative medicine through:
- Research | Education | Global Health Innovation
Contact Us:
Dr. Qihe Xu
Director, King’s Centre for Integrative Chinese Medicine Initiative 2.0
📩 Email: qihe.xu@kcl.ac.uk
💬 WeChat: qxu1999
📱 WhatsApp: +44 7961 067996