Universities convene for customised healthcare research symposium

Precision medicine is the customisation of healthcare that sees treatment and practices tailored to patients’ needs rather than a one-size-fits-all model.

This customised healthcare sees individuals classified into subpopulations that differ in their susceptibility to a particular disease, in their biological response to disease, or in their reaction to a specific treatment.

Through the classification of these patients, preventive or therapeutic treatments can then be targeted towards those groups who will benefit, helping to avoid excess expense and side effects for those who won’t benefit.

The symposium will discuss topics including obesity, cardiovascular disease pathways, dementia and cancer, and how precision medicine can help prevent and better treat these diseases.

The two universities began their multi-faceted relationship in 2006 with the inaugural research symposium being held in 2008. The annual symposium has allowed the two institutions to highlight their research expertise and to facilitate research collaborations in selected and emerging areas.

This year’s Sino-Australian Research Symposium marks 10 years of collaboration between the two universities with precision medicine seen as a future strength of the Sydney Medical School and Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine relations.

This year also marks the 45^th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Australia and China. Ever since, the two countries have witnessed substantial development of bilateral relations in many sectors.

Representatives from the Chinese Consulate General in Sydney and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade are attending the Symposium to witness the special occasion and speak at the opening ceremony.