On the afternoon of September 20th, the signing ceremony of the cooperation agreement between WCH and the Biodesign Institute of Arizona State University (ASU) on joint construction of the biodesign institute was held in No.3 Conference Room of the Administration Building.

Prof. Joshua LaBaer, Executive Director of the Biodesign Research Institute of Arizona State University, Guan Ping, former President of the Confucius Institute, and Prof. Li Weimin, President of WCH, and heads of the International Department, relevant clinical departments and functional departments of WCH, attended the signing ceremony, which was presided over by Executive Vice President Wan Xuehong.

President Li Weimin said that the hospital has always maintained an open and cooperative attitude in jointly carrying out clinical and basic scientific research, innovation and transformation. and ASU is also a highly innovative university. The research team of the Biodesign Research Institute boasts strong strength and a large volume of high-level research results, with high clinical practicability and convertibility. He hoped that the two parties will conduct in-depth cooperation in many fields, and make fruitful results for the benefit of the patients and the mankind.

Prof. Joshua LaBaer said that “the spread of disease has no national boundaries, so does the scientific research.” This cooperation has provided a valuable opportunity for the team of Biodesign Research Institute as well as ASU to learn about and from West China Hospital, he added.

Finally, President Li Weimin and Prof. Joshua LaBaer signed the cooperation agreement on behalf of both sides. In the future, the two parties plan to promote in-depth research and cooperation in more fields under the framework of the research institute, including but not limited to, individualized diagnosis and precision medicine, immunotherapy and viral therapy, synthetic biology and related disciplines, cross-training of postgraduates and postdoctoral students, and joint cultivation of high-level innovative talent.

After the meeting, Prof. Joshua LaBaer visited our Infection and Vaccine Laboratory, Biological Specimen Bank and Public Research Platform, and held small-scale academic exchanges. The two sides agreed on the cooperation contents, forms and research objectives of NAPPA technology in the fields of pulmonary infections and tumors. Detailed exchanges were also conducted on how to promote exchanges and cooperation, the ways of funding for cooperative projects and the methods of students exchange. Prof. Josh LaBaer was also invited to attend the 5th Chengdu International Forum on Precision Medicine and delivered an academic speech.