Inaugural China-UK International Biomedical Frontier Forum Convened at Exeter College
Biomedicine stands as one of the core arenas in global scientific and technological competition, encompassing multiple facets such as disease treatment and public health. Innovation and international collaboration in biomedicine have emerged as focal points for the development of nations worldwide.
Building on the long-standing cooperative history between China and the UK in the field of biomedicine, and with the aim of further strengthening bilateral cooperation and exchanges in this domain, the first China-UK International Biomedical Frontier Forum was successfully convened recently at Exeter College. The forum brought together leaders and experts from over 20 institutions, including the University of Oxford, the University of Cambridge, Tianjin Medical University, Fudan University, the University of Macau, and the Hong Kong Polytechnic University.
The opening ceremony was presided over by Professor Wu Xiaohui from Tianjin Medical University, Chair of the conference. Zhong Nanshan of the Chinese Academy of Engineering delivered the first speech, emphasising the critical significance of enhancing China-UK and international cooperation. He called for driving global health governance through scientific and technological innovation. Subsequently, Yan Hua, Party Secretary of Tianjin Medical University, Chen Fen’er of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, Professor Denis Noble, Fellow of the Royal Society (FRS) and Emeritus Professor of Cardiovascular Physiology at Oxford, and Professor Chris Schofield, FRS, Professor of Chemistry at Oxford, delivered addresses, all recognising the forum as a model for global collaboration in the biomedicine industry.
During the academic report session, experts including Professor Noble, Professor Schofield, Hao Haiping (President of China Pharmaceutical University), Zhang Yonghui (Vice President of Huazhong University of Science and Technology), Professor Antony Galione (FRS) (University of Oxford), Professor Daniel C. Anthony (University of Oxford), Professor Yu Xiyong (Fellow of the European Academy of Natural Sciences), and Chen Xiang (Executive Vice President of Central South University) delivered presentations. They reported on the latest research advancements in life sciences and international cooperation opportunities in fields such as ‘gene prediction and bionic target recognition’ and ‘cell signaling and neuroinflammation treatment’.
In the academic discussion session, experts from academia, industry, and the legal sector engaged in in-depth exchanges and reached the following consensus: China-UK cooperation represents a mutually beneficial situation across multiple domains, including the economy and public health. ‘Cultural exchange’ should serve as a bond to consolidate transnational academic friendships and industrial trust. A pragmatic model ‘starting from the grassroots’ is advocated, which involves promoting the implementation of cooperation outcomes through precise investments in small-scale joint conferences, academic exchanges, and pilot projects. Additionally, a cross-border data-sharing and regulatory coordination mechanism should be established to provide compliance guarantees for transnational research.
Participating experts expressed their expectation that this forum will serve as an opportunity to deepen mutually beneficial cooperation in biomedicine between China, the UK, and the global community, jointly address human health challenges, and inject new vitality into the construction of a global community of health for all.
