A delegation from the University of Birmingham (UoB) visited the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University (FAH-SYSU) in Guangzhou's Nansha on June 20. A memorandum of understanding (MOU) was signed to further cooperation on healthy aging research.

(The Signing Ceremony)

Xiao Haipeng, Executive Vice President of Sun Yat-sen University and President of the FAH-SYSU, introduced that FAH-SYSU and UoB will jointly establish an International Institute of Health Ageing (IHA).

(Xiao Haipeng, Executive Vice President of Sun Yat-sen University and President of the FAH-SYSU)

A number of multidisciplinary research groups in healthy-aging-related areas will be established. Vocational training and professional education will be provided for people working in the field of aging and medical students. The institute will also transform the research outcomes into medical care services and promote them in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

"We have developed a mode of cooperation that allows talent from both sides to collaborate closely. FAH-SYSU plans to provide venues and facilities for the research at our Nansha site. We also hope to learn from UoB in terms of medical services for the elderly," said Xiao.

The delegation from UoB took a tour of the Clinical Diagnosis and Treatment Center, Research and Development Center, and International Robotic Surgery Training Center (IRSTC) at the FAH-SYSU Nansha site.

(Adam Tickell, Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the UoB)

"The new hospital and facilities are exceptional. Our academics and faculty are really excited about the opportunity of developing a new institute for healthy aging," said Adam Tickell, Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the UoB. He told GDToday that he was impressed by the enthusiasm for science considering the development of the young sci-tech team in FAH-SYSU.

He elaborated that both the UK and China have an aging population, so it's important to tackle challenges in terms of health and support people as they grow into their old age. "The opportunity for our faculty to work with world-leading faculty in FAH-SYSU will make an important contribution to the future of our health," he added.

The two sides exchanged ideas about scientific research, teaching, talent training, and discipline construction, focusing on promoting multidisciplinary research and industrial transformation of research results to help developing countries cultivate scientific research talent.

FAH-SYSU and UoB have established partnerships and collaborated in the fields of clinical trials, general medicine, global anti-epidemic, and geriatrics since 2013, according to FAH-SYSU.

Link to the report: https://www.newsgd.com/node_99363c4f3b/218d3595a0.shtml