Research projects

Research projects

The China–Australia International Research Centre for Chinese Medicine (the Centre) conducts a range of high-impact traditional and complementary medicine research projects, including clinical trials, systematic reviews and the landmark 29-volume evidence-based clinical Chinese medicine monographs.

If you are interested in collaborating with the Centre or want to know more about its research projects, please email cairccm.rmit@rmit.edu.au.

Current projects

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  • About this project: This project involves publishing 29 evidence-based Chinese medicine clinical monographs in English and Chinese. These landmark monographs on conditions commonly treated by Chinese medicine form the volumes in the Evidence-based Clinical Chinese Medicine Book Series. Supporting documents, including evidence updates and summaries will also be published.
  • Researchers: Researchers from RMIT University and Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine co-author these monographs.
  • Status: The 29 English language versions of the monographs, and their updates and summaries, are complete. Chinese language versions are underway and due to be complete by the end of 2026.

  • About this project: Through systematic reviews and meta-analyses, this project examines CHM for acute and chronic rhinosinusitis and for post-surgical recovery. It also includes analyses of classical literature and a survey on practitioner prescribing.
  • Researchers: Jing Cui, Brian H May, Tony Zhang, Charlie Changli Xue.
  • Status: One systematic review published and one under review. 

  • About this project: This research project investigates Chinese herbal medicine as an adjunctive strategy for cardiovascular risk management in HIV care. It evaluates potential herb–drug interactions with antiretroviral therapy, synthesises existing evidence, and explores the perspectives of people living with HIV and healthcare professionals. The project aims to address safety, acceptability and implementation feasibility, and inform future clinical trial design and translation.
  • Researchers: Wan-Jung (Cheryl) Cheng, Anthony Jaworowski, Tony Zhang, Charlie Changli Xue
  • Status: Data collection in progress.

  • About this project: This project will evaluate the evidence for acupuncture in reducing postoperative pain and examine how acupuncture can be best implemented in the perioperative setting. 
  • Researchers: Anyi Lu (GPHCM), Meaghan Coyle (RMIT), Tony Zhang (RMIT), Gaofeng Zhao (GPHCM), Charlie Changli Xue (RMIT)
  • Status: Ongoing

  • About this project: This project examines the factors that affect how clinical practice guidelines for stroke rehabilitation are implemented by Chinese medicine practitioners.
  • Researchers: Shanshan Ling (GPHCM), Meaghan Coyle (RMIT), Tony Zhang (RMIT), Haining Ou (GPHCM), Charlie Changli Xue (RMIT)
  • Status: Ongoing

  • About this project: This project aims to develop and evaluate a large language model pipeline to support bilingual systematic review automation in traditional Chinese medicine, including literature screening, data extraction and evidence synthesis across English and Chinese databases.
  • Researchers: Iris Zhou (RMIT), Xiaofei Xu (Murdoch Uni), Xiuzhen Zhang (RMIT), Tony Zhang (RMIT), Charlie Changli Xue (RMIT)
  • Status: Ongoing

  • About this project: This pilot international clinical study aims to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of Shengqi Yifei Granules for patients with the frequent acute exacerbation phenotype of COPD, providing preliminary evidence for future large-scale randomised controlled trials.
  • Researchers:  Tony Zhang (RMIT), Lei Wu (GPHCM), Fulan Jiang (GPHCM), Feiting Fan (GPHCM), Iris Zhou (RMIT), Lin Lin (GPHCM), Charlie Changli Xue (RMIT)
  • Status: Ongoing

  • About this project: This project aims to evaluate the implementation of Chinese herbal medicine guidelines for COPD and identify key barriers and facilitators to guideline uptake. The findings will support the development of a multidimensional implementation strategy framework to improve evidence translation into clinical practice.
  • Researchers: Jingmin Xiao (GPHCM), Iris Zhou (RMIT), Tony Zhang (RMIT), Lei Wu (GPHCM), Charlie Changli Xue (RMIT)
  • Status: Ongoing

Completed projects

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  • About this project: This is a mixed-method study consisting of a pilot randomised controlled trial (RCT) and a qualitative study. The pilot RCT aims to test the study protocol and provide preliminary data for a future full-size RCT. The nested qualitative study aims to collect participants’ feedback on Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) external application.
  • Researchers: Junyue Wang (GPHCM), Claire Shuiqing Zhang (RMIT), Tony Zhang (RMIT), Chuanjian Lu (GPHCM), Charlie Changli Xue (RMIT).
  • Status: Project completed.

  • About this project: This real-world observational study aims to gather practice-based evidence of effectiveness and safety of CHM for migraine in the context of integrating Chinese medicine diagnostic procedures, patients’ preferences and matters relevant to clinical decision making.
  • Researchers: Shaohua Lyu (GPHCM), Claire Shuiqing Zhang (RMIT), Tony Zhang (RMIT), Jingbo Sun (GPHCM), Xinfeng Guo (GPHCM), Charlie Changli Xue (RMIT).
  • Status: Project completed.

  • About this project: This qualitative study aims to investigate the experiences, attitudes and perspectives of patients, caregivers and clinicians about the CHM treatment of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and co-existing sleep disturbance. This study will also give valuable insights into developing comprehensive MCI management strategies.
  • Researchers: Lingling Liu (GPHCM), Claire Shuiqing Zhang (RMIT), Tony Zhang (RMIT), Yifeng Cai (GPHCM), Charlie Changli Xue (RMIT).
  • Status: Project completed.

  • About this project: Through systematic review and meta-analysis, this project aims to examine whether Chinese medicine is more effective than placebo or usual care in reducing the severity of persistent symptoms in people with COVID-19 at the recovery stage. 
  • Researchers: Miranda Sin-Man Tsang, Iris Wenyu Zhou, Tony Zhang, Charlie Changli Xue.
  • Status: Project completed.

  • About this project: The study aims to systematically review registered randomised controlled trials to assess whether vitamin D supplementation can alleviate pain associated with endometriosis and primary dysmenorrhea. It seeks to provide evidence-based insights into the potential benefits of vitamin D in managing these conditions.
  • Researchers: Iris Zhou, Miranda Sin-Man Tsang, Tony Zhang, Charlie Changli Xue.
  • Status: Project completed.

  • About this project: This study is a randomised, subject-, investigator- and assessor-blinded, sham-controlled pilot trial to evaluate the feasibility, acceptability and efficacy of TQF for people with stage 2–4 diabetic kidney disease. 
  • Researchers: Meifang Liu (GPHCM), Yuan Di (RMIT), Tony Zhang (RMIT), Lei Zhang (GPHCM), Xusheng Liu (GPHCM), Charlie Changli Xue (RMIT).
  • Status: Project completed.

  • About this project: This is a prospective, observational, registry-based, cohort study of CHM for reducing colorectal adenoma recurrence with a follow-up phase up to one year, with an embedded qualitative study.
  • Researchers: Yi Cheng (GPHCM), Yuan Di (RMIT), Tony Zhang (RMIT), Beiping Zhang (GPHCM), Charlie Changli Xue (RMIT).
  • Status: Project completed.
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