Joint research, exchange of scientists and students, as well as the development of international doctoral studies in Bialystok are the intended areas of cooperation between Medical University of Bialystok and Shanghai Jiao Tong University (China).
Medical University of Bialystok spokesman Prof. Lech Chyczewski told PAP that the Shanghai university is a reputable institution with which universities and scientists from around the world cooperate. Cooperation with Bialystok university will concern primarily lung cancer research. "This is a very important partnership" - he added.
Chyczewski said that Shanghai Jiao Tong University has a "huge" pulmonology centre that deals with lung cancer. The ward has more than 1.5 thousand beds, and for comparison - he said - ward in the clinical hospital in Bialystok has only about 50 beds. "This comparison gives an idea of the size of the centre, 300 treatments per day are performed there" - he said. He added that China has the largest percentage of people suffering from lung cancer.
Joint research on cancer will primarily involve transferring the lung cancer data collected by the Shanghai Jiao Tong University to Bialystok. These data will be analysed in the recently opened modern biostatistics and bioinformatics centre at the Bialystok university.
Chyczewski said that during research scientists receive a lot of chemical, biochemical and medical data that must be analysed, and conclusions will be helpful in diagnosing and treating diseases.
The cooperation of the two universities will also include exchange of students and scientists. According to Chyczewski, this will be an opportunity to expand the offer of international doctoral studies. Currently, Medical University of Bialystok offers biostatistics studies, launched to educate staff to work in the biostatistics centre.
It is unclear at this point what specializations would be added to international studies. Chyczewski said that doctors affiliated with the Shanghai university will be invited to Bialystok, to conduct their research and use the university facilities.
Bialystok university also hopes to expand the offere of graduate studies in English, which could also benefit the Chinese. Currently the university’s offer benefits students from Norway, the US and Saudi Arabia. Chyczewski said that the Chinese are interested in this offer and gaining experience in European universities. He added that the situation is similar with Chinese scientists who are looking for centres in Europe to cooperate.
The cooperation will be include seminars and trips of Polish scientists to the Shanghai university.
Medical University of Bialystok is one of the leading Polish medical schools. It has the status of National Leading Research Centre (Krajowy Naukowy Ośrodek Wiodący, KNOW). It cooperates with many universities around the world including schools in Turku (Finland), Madrid (Spain), Hamamatsu (Japan) and Mannheim (Germany).
PAP - Science and Scholarship in Poland
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