Singapore, Sep 10,2 009: Upstate Medical University in Syracuse, New York, the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology in Haifa, Israel, and National Cheng Kung University in Tainan City, Taiwan, have announced the creation of the International Institute of Biomedical Sciences and Technology. This is expected to facilitate the collaboration of research across three continents and accelerate the development of novel bioengineering, diagnostic and biomedical products for the treatment and cure of disease.

Presidents from the three institutions signed a wide-ranging MOU that describes how each institution will support the global research initiative and how it will conduct business. The areas highlighted for research collaboration, which are still being discussed, are expected to include cancer, infectious diseases; diabetes and cardiovascular disease; and disorders of the nervous system. But Dr Steven Goodman, Upstate’s Vice President for Research and Dean of the College of Graduate Studies, notes this decision will ultimately be made by faculty from the three institutions.

“For a research university in the 21st century, especially one with a strong bent in life sciences because of our outstanding medical school and affiliated teaching hospitals, it is imperative that we develop sustainable collaborations with medical schools in other continents,” said Mr Michael MC Lai, president of NCKU. “It is for this reason that NCKU is proud to participate in this very important consortium with Upstate and the Technion.”

Technion President Prof. Yitzhak Apeloig stated that “the Technion, with its strong engineering and medical faculties and its global outreach welcomes and appreciates the great potential benefits of this collaboration and enthusiastically supports the creation of the new institute.”

 

Upstate President Dr David R. Smith, hailed the creation of the institute as a new era of research collaboration worldwide. “Three distinct institutions worlds away will now join forces to expedite new discoveries and breakthrough in medical science,” he said. “The relationship opens our laboratories to greater participation from the world’s premier scientists across the globe.”

“The creation of this cross-continent research institute immediately brings all three campuses together in the name of scientific discovery,” Dr Goodman said. “The purpose of the Institute is to bring together top scientists in the biological, physical, mathematical, engineering and computer sciences to form interdisciplinary teams aimed at solving essential issues in human health and society.”