On February 29, 2022, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (China Office) delegation visited Shanghai Medical College of Fudan University. Visitors included Prof. Zhijie Zheng , Director of the China Office, Dr. Wenfeng Gong, Senior Strategy Officer, and Dr. Heng Du, Senior Program Officer. Prof. Fan Wu, Deputy Dean of Shanghai Medical College of Fudan University, welcomed the delegation. Prof. Yingyao Chen, Deputy Dean of Fudan School of Public Health, Hongyang Xu and Xi Wang from the Office of International Cooperation of Shanghai Medical College, joined the reception.
Dr. Heng Du introduced the vision, major work, and main achievements of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and its cooperation with Fudan University. She said that Gates Foundation is committed to supporting China in addressing public health and development challenges, including the prevention and treatment of tuberculosis and AIDS, the further expansion of immunization and other health services, the improvement of sanitation facilities, and the development of philanthropy. In recent years, Gates Foundation has carried out in-depth cooperation at different levels with Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University in the epidemiological research of COVID-19, Streptococcus pneumonia infection, and the prevention and treatment of tuberculosis.
Following Dr. Du's presentation, Prof. Zhijie Zheng introduced the organizational structure and latest strategic plan of the China Office of Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. He mentioned that the foundation had been divided into five groups in China. In the past five months, the Gates Foundation has advanced five specific strategies, hoping to support China to become a major provider of global public goods, a research center for global health development, and an essential partner in global development assistance, thus promoting the development of China's philanthropy, vaccine planning, infectious disease prevention, and rural revitalization. Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation also looks forward to cooperating with Fudan University based on shared interests in the future.
Deputy Dean Prof. Fan Wu introduced to the Gates Foundation(China Office)the history, institutional structure, management system, scientific research strength, international cooperation, funding, and research strengths of Shanghai Medical University. Prof. Fan Wu pointed out the urgency of promoting early screening and intellectual development of children's precocious heart disease in poor areas of China and the advantages of Shanghai Medical University's experience in related fields. Prof. Fan Wu also briefly introduced the edges of the new platforms like the Institute of Major Infectious Disease and Biosafety and Tang Zhongying Institute for Advanced Studies, Fudan University.
After a warm and in-depth discussion between the two parties, Prof. Wu suggested the possible directions for future cooperation between the two parties and expressed her expectation for collaboration in the fields of immunization plans, children's congenital heart disease screening, and promotion of poor children's intellectual development and other aspects.
