Institute of Medical Technology, Peking University Health Science Center

Established in 2019, the Institute of Medical Technology is a directly affiliated teaching and research unit under the Peking University Health Science Center (PKUHSC). It plays a pivotal role in advancing Medical Technology as a newly recognized first-level discipline by China’s Ministry of Education.

As a major driver of modern medical innovation, Medical Technology offers powerful tools for exploring uncharted frontiers in healthcare. Now officially designated as a first-level discipline alongside China’s six traditional medical fields—Clinical Medicine, Basic Medicine, Pharmacy, Public Health, Nursing, and Stomatology—it provides critical technical and engineering support across medical domains. The discipline also serves as a key interdisciplinary bridge linking medicine with engineering.

The Institute currently offers nine secondary-level specialties:

 · Intelligent Medical Engineering and Technology

 · Medical Imaging Technology

 · Laboratory Medicine

 · Radiation Therapy Physics

 · Health Data Science

 · Oral Medical Technology

 · Respiratory Medical Technology

 · Rehabilitation Therapy

 · Optometry and Vision Science

As one of the earliest institutions in China to establish a doctoral program in Medical Technology, PKUHSC has prioritized its development. In 2017, the Center for Medical Technology Development was launched to coordinate support mechanisms for this emerging field. By 2018, eight secondary-level disciplines were approved, accompanied by the formation of an Academic Committee, Degree Sub-committee, and Teaching Advisory Board. In November 2019, the Institute of Medical Technology was formally established, complete with dedicated space, personnel, and institutional resources to ensure long-term growth.

In September 2019, the Institute welcomed its inaugural cohort of 41 postgraduate students. The following month, it was approved to establish a postdoctoral research station in Medical Technology. By December, a new undergraduate program in Medical Imaging Technology was launched, complementing the existing Laboratory Medicine track. A comprehensive, multi-level training system is now in place, cultivating high-level interdisciplinary talent to support national innovation in medical equipment and technology.

Since 2017, the faculty team has secured over RMB 140 million in research funding and published more than 140 academic papers in domestic and international journals. The Institute was selected for Beijing’s “Advanced and Frontier Disciplines” program in Intelligent Medical Engineering and Technology, and is actively building a collaborative regional platform for scientific research and education with institutions such as the Aerospace Center Hospital, Capital Medical University-affiliated hospitals, and local research institutes.

Given the inherently interdisciplinary nature of Medical Technology, the Institute has adopted a flexible and collaborative faculty mentorship model. Its academic team includes experts from PKUHSC, affiliated hospitals, the School of Information Science and Technology, College of Engineering, and School of Physics at Peking University. Faculty members include academicians, Changjiang Scholars, Distinguished Young Scholars, and Excellent Young Scientists, forming a top-tier team at the forefront of research and education.