Sydney and Shanghai collaborate
29 July 2007
On 26 July 5 young researchers from the Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine showcased their research in tumor immunology, ovarian cancer, cancer-related gene expression, diabetes and leukaemia. The audience was University of Sydney Faculty of Medicine researchers eager to identify potential research collaborations with this prestigious medical school.
"The Sydney researchers who attended the research presentations by our Shanghai colleagues were impressed with the quality of their work and many of our staff have already identified possible joint projects," says Professor Nicholas King, Head of the Discipline of Pathology and Chair of the Shanghai Research Day. "We have much to learn from each other’s approaches including the use of traditional Chinese substances in intervening in chronic diseases such as diabetes".
In a parallel meeting Dr Lyndal Trevena, Sub-Dean International, Faculties of Health was determining the finer details of the exchange of medical students and cooperation on medical education and curriculum development with Professor Jiang Xucheng, Director of Educational Affairs and Professor Zhang Yong, Director of the International Office, Shanghai Jiaotong University. "Quality student exchange is just one way that we can work towards creating globally mobile and globally competent health graduates, said Dr Trevena. "I am certain that exchange with Shanghai will interest many of our students".
"Our relationship with this university has quickly developed into a rich collaboration in many different areas," says manager of relations with Asia and Pacific for the Faculties of Health, Ms Louise Freckelton. "The close relationship established over the past 5-years has now blossomed into exchanges for medical and research students, exchanges for research staff, exchange of medical education developments and now into collaborative research".
Research collaboration with the Shanghai Jiaotong School of Medicine began around 5 years ago in the Discipline of Pathology. Dr Bob Bao, a graduate of that school and now researcher in Pathology along with Professor Nicholas King and Associate Professor Brett Hambly engaged in research exchanges and hosted visiting fellows. From that small beginning the Faculty of Medicine decided it would work to expand the relationship.
What is next? "Well, we have decided that we will hold an annual research symposium, the first of which will be held in Shanghai in May 2008. It will showcase the work we are both doing in cancer. The topic will change each year and will focus on profiling the work being undertaken by young researchers from both universities", said Ms Freckelton. "We want this to become a regular fixture on the research calendar in both Shanghai and Sydney".
The Shanghai Jiaotong Research Day was opened by Professor Don Nutbeam, Provost of the University of Sydney and Public Health researcher and Professor Chen Guoqiang, Vice Dean of Science and Research, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine.