In order to further strengthen international exchanges and cooperation, and enhance the medical discipline construction and talent cultivation, scientific research level of Lanzhou University(LZU) and affiliated hospitals, at the invitation of Bournemouth University(BU), Prof. Li Xun, Vice President of LZU and President of the first hospital of Lanzhou University(LZUFH), and his team visited BU on October 13-16 to carry out academic exchanges. Dr. Liu Yatao, Director of Anesthesia and OR Department, Prof. Zhu Xiaoliang, Deputy Director of General Surgery, Prof. Zhao Haiyan, Deputy Director of Orthopaedics, and Dr. Yan Jun, Deputy Director of Health Promotion, accompanied by Mr. Jialan Min, Foreign Affairs Consultant of the hospital.

At the Orthopaedic Resrarch Institute of BU, Prof. Li and his delegation were warmly welcomed by Prof. Robert Middleton, Vice President of the British Orthopaedic Association and Director of the Institute, Prof. Tom Wainwright, President of the British ERAS and Deputy Director of the Institute, and Ms. Elaine Hakes, Deputy Director of the University's Department of International Exchange and Cooperation. Prof. Robert Middleton introduced the latest research results and technological progress of the Institute to Prof. Li and his delegation. Prof. Li introduced the history, discipline construction, talent training, medical education and research characteristics of LZU and LZUFH, as well as international exchanges and cooperation, and shared the hospital’s experience in the field of Enhanced Recovery after Surgery (ERAS) and Enhanced Recovery after Diseases. (ERAD). Based on the existing cooperation foundation, the two sides will take orthopaedic enhanced rehabilitation clinical practice and scientific research as the entry point, and carry out in-depth discussion and reach consensus on scientific research exchange and training of medical and nursing personnel at different levels, joint clinical and basic research, and cooperation in training of medical students. In-depth discussions were held and a consensus was reached. After the meeting, Prof. Li and his team visited the Orthopaedic Research Institute’s simulation training and clinical research platform for robotic surgery.

In the School of Health and Social Sciences at the University’s City Campus, Prof. Jane Murphy, Executive Chair of the School, Dr. Susan Dewhurst, Head of the Department of Rehabilitation, Dr. Angela Turner Wilson, Head of the Department of Medical Sciences and Public Health in the International School, Associate Professor Theo Akuudjedu, Associate Director of the Institute of Medical Imaging and Visualization, and Prof. Yang Song, Associate Director of the National Centre for Computer and Animation, introduced the latest research progress and international cooperation of their respective schools and institutes. Prof. Li and his entourage discussed cooperation in the areas of medicine and artificial intelligence, clinical medicine and nursing, exchange of medical students and healthcare personnel, and capacity building, and discussed with the heads of relevant colleges and departments to clarify the direction of cooperation.

Accompanied by Prof. Robert Middleton and Prof. Tom Wainwright, Mr. Richard Renaut, President of Royal Bournemouth Hospital (including Dorset University Hospital and Poole Hospital), and Dr. Becky Jupp, Vice-President of the British Society of Stroke Medicine and Executive Vice-President of the hospital, exchanged views with the visiting team. The British team shared the advantages of the university hospital’s disciplines and its recent development plans and progress in the treatment of acute and critical patients, training of medical talents at different levels, in-depth practice of ERAS, construction of a large regional informatization platform and related research, etc. The British team also cited the example of orthopaedic hip and knee replacements and the highly efficient treatment of stroke patients in the whole process to illustrate the importance of ERAS in the high-quality recovery of patients and other important roles. Prof. Li said that LZU and LZUFH have been committed to relying on high-quality international exchanges and cooperation, and establishing extensive cooperation with internationally renowned teams and institutions, and working in many areas such as standardized practice of ERAS, which has achieved significant progress and results, and hoped to follow up and establish further cooperation with the Bournemouth University Hospital, and work together to promote the exchange of high-level personnel and joint training, and carry out high-quality clinical cooperation. We hope to establish deep cooperation with Bournemouth University Hospital in the future to promote high-level staff exchanges and joint training, and carry out high-quality clinical cooperation research.

At the University’s Talbot Campus, Prof. Keith Phalp, President of BU, Prof. Sarah Bate, Executive Vice-Chancellor of BU, and Prof. Christos Gatzidis, Dean of the Faculty of Science and Technology of the University, warmly welcomed Prof. Li and his entourage and gave a brief introduction to the development of BU and its faculties and strengths in various disciplines, and expressed the hope of establishing long-term and stable cooperation with LZU and LZUFH, and to make progress to carry out exchanges and cooperation in various fields and aspects. Prof. Li expressed his gratitude to BU for its warm reception, and said that LZU, aiming at cultivating high-quality medical talents with international vision and innovation ability, attaches great importance to the cooperation and exchange with international high-level universities and institutions, and that through this exchange, LZU has been provided with a clearer international vision and thoughts on the development of medical-industrial fusion, medical-technical fusion, and the cross-disciplinary development of various aspects. During the meeting, the two sides reached a consensus on the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding and clarified the main contents of the agreement on the key points and visions of cooperation. At the end of the discussion, Prof. Li and his team were invited to visit several laboratories and research platforms of the university and had discussions with the researchers.

This visit has deepened the cooperative relationship between LZU and LZUFH and BU and its hospital, and laid a solid foundation for future academic cooperation between the two sides. Subsequently, LZUFH, relying on LZU, will actively send outstanding cadres to the UK to exchange and study, carry out research, and the British team lead experts will also collaborate with more high-level experts to LZU and LZUFH to carry out academic exchanges and cooperation, which will further enhance medical teaching and research at LZU, and give a strong boost to the school’s “double first-class” construction.

                                                                                                                      Edited by the Office of Foreign Affairs