On November 4, 2024, Professor Diana Eccles, Dean of Medicine at the University of Southampton, and Professor Ruihua Hou, Associate Dean International in the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Southhampton, visited Shanghai Medical College. Professor Zhenghong Yuan, President of Shanghai Medical College and Vice President of Fudan University, welcomed the delegation. Dr. Tongyu Zhu, Deputy Dean of Shanghai Medical College, chaired the meeting.
Dr. Tongyu Zhu highlighted that Fudan University had signed a cooperation agreement with the University of Southampton earlier this year. The aim of this agreement was to strengthen collaboration between the universities' medical faculties to enhance academic exchanges in the medical field and explore more opportunities for research and teaching cooperation.
Professor Hou introduced the overall situation of the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Southampton. Professor Diana Eccles remarked that this meeting would help deepen mutual understanding between the two institutions. She stated that moving forward, both sides would actively promote collaborations among researchers and facilitate student exchange programs. They aim to enhance academic interactions and build bridges for collaborative efforts among researchers in terms of research cooperation. Speaking on student development, Professor Eccles also said that they planned to initiate joint training programs and further discuss critical issues such as project models, student selection criteria, and funding support to provide a better international platform for comprehensive student development.
Representatives from the Office of International Cooperation and Exchange at Shanghai Medical College provided an overview of the college's development. Professors from the School of Basic Science and the Institute of Brain Science presented updates on their respective research areas. Representatives from the Graduate School of Medicine, Medical Research Office, and relevant officials from various departments also participated in the discussions.
During their visit, Professor Diana Eccles and her team also visited the Shanghai Cancer Center, where they toured the tissue bank, breast cancer ward, and pathology department. They praised the hospital's medical standards and research capabilities.
Moving forward, both Fudan University and the University of Southampton look towards stronger cooperation as they both strive for excellence.
