Source: xinhuanet.com 2013-03-05
Written by: Zheng Tianhong
Translated by: Zhang Chentao

Xinhua Net, Guangzhou, March 4 (Reporter Zheng Tianhong). On March 4, Sun Yat-sen University (SYSU) and its affiliated hospitals signed a collaboration agreement with Johns Hopkins University (JHU) and Johns Hopkins Medicine International (JHI) located in Baltimore, U.S., on North Campus of SYSU. The three parties intend to establish a long-term partnership in the field of clinical and translational research.

Daniel E. Ford, Vice Dean for Clinical Investigation, School of Medicine, JHU, who participated in the signing ceremony, said that this is the School’s first example of global collaboration in the field of clinical and translational research. "China's medical industry and research have been in rapid growth in recent years. Sun Yat-sen University and its affiliated hospitals is one of China's largest academic medical service systems with sufficient strength to provide manpower and material resources to support our long-term cooperation. We see this as a global expansion of the mission and vision of Johns Hopkins Medicine."

According to the introduction, the specific targets of collaboration include: SYSU and JHU School of Medicine jointly establish the Medical Research Center for Clinical and Translational Research, conduct joint research projects, and work together to cultivate China's next generation of high-end clinical and translational talents with international perspectives through imparting knowledge and etc.

In the first stage of collaboration, experts from JHU will visit SYSU to teach courses in person and give lectures, assist in upgrading the construction level of SYSU’s medical research infrastructure, and jointly cultivate high-end clinical and translational researchers. Meanwhile, the two universities will set up a special committee of experts to annually select and send 10 outstanding young clinical researchers and 3 medical administrators from SYSU to JHU School of Medicine for specialized training.

In addition, experts from JHU will evaluate the clinical research capacity, infrastructure framework, research management of SYSU and its affiliated hospitals, and offer "tailor-made", specific strategic planning and substantive technical guidance.

According to the agreement, SYSU will also provide "seed money" and fund 10 clinical translational research projects selected according to the strengths and key areas of medicine in the two universities.

Johns Hopkins University is the first modern research university in the U.S. and receives the most funding from the federal government and the U.S. National Institutes of Health. By 2012, JHU has a total of 36 alumni who won the Nobel Prize.