WUHAN, May 16 – HUST strengthened its strategic partnership with Australia’s University of Queensland (UQ) during a delegation visit. The delegation was led by UQ Vice-Chancellor for International Affairs MR. LI Rongyu and Pro-Vice-Chancellor Prof. Alan Rowan convened a roundtable discussion at Tongji Medical College, focusing on medical-engineering innovation and exploring interdisciplinary solutions for healthy aging.

Prof. ZHANG Yonghui, the vice president opened the forum by opening a video link, highlighting complementary strengths of the two institutions: “The two institutions are strong in biomedical materials, neural science, and AI diagnostics and we can make further joint effort in medical-engineering research, especially in healthy aging to address some pressing health challenges.” He specifically proposed to set up a joint research institute at HUST’s Junshan Campus to push forward collaborative R&D.

Mr. LI Rongyu underscored the partnership’s societal relevance: “With both nations facing aging populations, combining UQ’s translational medicine leadership with HUST’s medical-engineering platforms will generate transformative solutions.” He confirmed plans to co-develop a research hub designed to address age-related diseases through integrated technologies.

Key Collaboration Frameworks

During working sessions, Prof. CHEN Gang, Director of Office for Research of Tongji Medical College and Pro-Vice-Chancellor Rowan outlined institutional roadmaps for Talent Development, and Research. Representatives from Tongji Medical College of HUST– including the Schools of Pharmacy, Nursing, and Public Health, and three affiliated hospitals – detailed project proposals in neural implants, diagnostic AI, and regenerative biomaterials.

Professor Rowan delivered a keynote speech on “Polymer Biomaterials for Age-Related Therapeutics” at Union Hospital and held specialized workshops with the School of Life Sciences.

Background Information

Starting in 2004 and renewed in 2023, the HUST-UQ partnership leverages both institutions are committed to solving aging-related health challenges. UQ is exceptionally strong in aging research and technological transfer, pioneering in the research on cervical cancer vaccines and MRI innovations.