New MoU strengthens research collaboration with China

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed between St Vincent’s Melbourne and the Sichuan Provincial People’s China symbolising St Vincent’s commitment to advancing international collaboration in clinical research and innovation.

The MoU was signed during a recent visit of delegates from Sichuan Provincial People’s Hospital comprised of clinical leaders, hospital presidents, and directors from key research areas including medical oncology, haematology and anaesthesiology. 

The newly established strategic alliance between the hospitals will help strengthen ties to support acceleration of ground-breaking research and pioneer next-generation clinical innovations.

“This Memorandum of Understanding with Sichuan Provincial People’s Hospital represents a significant step in our commitment to research excellence and sharing knowledge across borders,” said Associate Professor Megan Robertson, SVHM’s Director of Research and Group Chief Research Officer at St Vincent’s Health Australia.

L to R: Megan Robertson, Professor Qihua Fu (Vice President of Sichuan Academy of Medical Sciences & Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital), Dr Qiao Watkins (Head of Global Clinical Operations (ANZ) at BeiGene).

Advancing research together
Sichuan Provincial People’s Hospital is recognised as one of the top public hospital’s in China. In the past year, it has provided treatment to over 6.5 million patients and performed 100,000 surgeries.

One of the hospital’s primary goals is to become a nationally recognised, first-class clinical research hospital with a key focus on medical oncology, haematology, surgical anaesthesia, including organ transplants, stroke care and otolaryngology, particularly for conditions associated with tinnitus, deafness and dizziness.

As part of their collaboration, St Vincent’s and Sichuan People’s Hospital will introduce an exchange program between the hospitals to support clinical training for research nurses and provide specialised training for clinical trial principal investigators.

In addition, the training exchange will also incorporate sharing of knowledge around processes to help assist in improving the efficiency and quality of clinical trial ethics reviews and practices.

The MoU will also support greater engagement between the hospitals in conducting joint multi-centre clinical trials that would include research investigations involving drugs, medical devices, diagnostic methods and digital solutions.

“By leveraging our combined expertise in clinical practice, the conduct of clinical trials, and ethical review, we look forward to driving innovative solutions in medical research and improving patient care on a global scale,” said A/Prof Robertson.