On January 23rd, 2025, Professor David Kerr from the University of Oxford
visited West China Hospital (WCH) for an exchange. Vice President Zhao
Changsheng of Sichuan University, President Luo Fengming of WCH, and
representatives from the Departments of Gastroenterology, Radiology, Abdominal
Oncology, Pathology, International Office, Academic Affairs Office, and other
departments attended the meeting in the third conference room of the
administrative building.
Vice President Zhao Changsheng extended a warm welcome to Professor David
Kerr. He highly praised the academic reputation of the University of Oxford,
emphasizing that the professor's visit was an honor for Sichuan University and
an important opportunity to deepen Sino-British cooperation. Vice President
Zhao also introduced the university's disciplinary advantages and international
cooperation achievements, looking forward to the relationship between the two
universities reaching a new level with the impetus of Professor David Kerr.
President Luo Fengming affectionately referred to Professor David Kerr as
an "old friend" and thanked him for his warm reception of the Sichuan
University delegation when they visited the University of Oxford last year. He
congratulated Professor David Kerr on receiving the Friendship Award of the
Chinese Government, praising his outstanding contributions to Sino-British
friendship and the health cause. President Luo hoped that in the future, both
sides would deepen cooperation in the fields of gastrointestinal tumors,
neuroimaging, infectious diseases, and become a model of cooperation among
global health institutions.
Professor David Kerr expressed his honor at receiving the Tianfu
Friendship Award and the Friendship Award of the Chinese Government. He spoke
highly of the recent developments in the construction of the Sichuan
University-Oxford University Huaxi Gastrointestinal Joint Research Center,
noting that this initiative has laid a solid foundation for long-term
collaboration between the two institutions. He emphasized that the joint
research center has not only provided a crucial platform for scientific
collaboration between the two universities in the field of gastrointestinal
tumors but also created significant opportunities for expanding cooperation into
other disciplines. Professor David Kerr expressed his hope for further
strengthening the collaboration between the two institutions in terms of depth,
quality, and synergy. By sharing resources, exchanging talent, and fostering
collaborative innovation, the two sides could jointly tackle major global
health challenges and advance the translation and application of scientific
research outcomes.
At the meeting, Director Yang Li from the Department of Gastroenterology
and others reported on the work achievements of the joint research center.
After the meeting, Professor David Kerr visited the Department of Radiology,
Gastrointestinal Endoscopy Center, the Department of Abdominal Oncology, and
other departments for exchanges and academic lectures. Professor David Kerr
will attend an event held by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social
Security in Beijing on January 26 and will be one of the foreign expert
speakers to offer suggestions on China's reform and development.
Professor David Kerr's visit to WCH holds significant strategic
importance. It not only introduces internationally leading academic
perspectives and research expertise to the hospital but also injects fresh
momentum into future collaboration with the University of Oxford. This visit
will further advance joint innovation between the two institutions in the
fields of gastrointestinal tumors and neuroimaging, contributing to West China
Medicine's progress toward becoming a world-class institution.
Profile of Professor David Kerr
