New Collaborations

• School of Molecular & Biomedical Science together with Shanxi College of Traditional Chinese Medicine and the Shanxi Zhendong Group
• University of Adelaide and Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU)

School of Molecular & Biomedical Science together with Shanxi College of Traditional Chinese Medicine and the Shanxi Zhendong Group

The Zhendong Centre was announced at a special event, which will also mark the 40th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Australia and China.

Those present at the event included the Vice Minister of Health and Director of the State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine Wang Guoqiang, Australian Ambassador to China Frances Adamson, Executive Chairman of China Pharmaceutical Industry Research and Development Association Song Ruilin, Shanxi College of Traditional Chinese Medicine President Professor Zhou Ran, Zhendong Pharmaceutical Company Chairman Li Anping and University of Adelaide Vice-Chancellor and President Professor James McWha.

At the University of Adelaide, the Zhendong Centre will be based within the School of Molecular and Biomedical Science. The Centre will investigate the mode of action of Traditional Chinese Medicine using the rapidly growing field of Systems or Network Biology which looks at the regulation of complex biological systems in the body.

"The application of systems biology to Traditional Chinese Medicine is particularly exciting because it explores what effects there may be on the molecular/genetic networks that are altered in sickness," said Director of the Zhendong Centre, Professor David Adelson.

"This not only will provide us with an understanding of how Traditional Chinese Medicine acts - supporting its evidence-based integration into Western medicine - but will also increase our understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying disease."

Professor Adelson has also been appointed Chair for the Molecular Basis of Traditional Chinese Medicine, a new Chair endowed by Zhendong Pharmaceutical Company as part of its investment in this research.

University of Adelaide and Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU)

On 9th May 2012, a delegation from the University of Adelaide met with Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU) Vice President Cai Wei at Minhang Campus. The delegation members included Prof Mike Brooks - Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President (Research), Prof Kent Anderson - Pro Vice-Chancellor (International), Prof Dave Adelson - Head of School of Molecular & Biomedical Science and Ms Sandy McConachy - Director of East Asia Strategy.

After the meeting, Vice President Cai Wei and Vice Chancellor Brooks signed the cooperation agreement on dual master degrees in biotechnology. That day, the delegation also had a face-to-face communication with SJTU students who will be studying in Australia under the exchange program and answered their questions concerningthe project filing. Afterwards, they visited the School of Environmental Science and Engineering and listened to the introduction of environmental monitoing and assessment research by Prof Zhuang Huisheng and his PhD candidates.