2016-11-22

On the morning of November 11, the feasibility study meeting for the International Joint Laboratory on Virology and Emerging Infectious Diseases Research was convened at SUMC by the Department of Education of Guangdong Province, commissioned by the Science and Technology Division, Ministry of Education.

This International Joint Laboratory is based upon the long-term cooperation between the Virology Institute at SUMC and the State Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases at The University of Hong Kong. It will contribute to promoting international cooperation, strengthening fundamental and frontier research, nurturing global talents and driving forward the development of key disciplines in Chinese high-end universities.

The meeting started with a report delivered by Professor Yi Guan, Director of the Laboratory. Afterwards, the expert panel conducted a site inspection on the laboratory environment and facilities. As the panel noted, the two parties of this cooperation project, with complementary advantages, a solid foundation for cooperation, and a clear and stable research orientation, and manpowered by excellent leading talents and research teams, have jointly earned a number of outstanding research achievements during the past decade. The panel unanimously agreed that both sides have architectural space and research platforms for international research collaboration, academic exchanges, discipline construction and talents training. Meanwhile, the panel suggested that the laboratory make more efforts to recruit more high-end talents, make full use of domestic resources and set a pioneering example to other similar laboratories.

In the end, it was concluded that this Joint Laboratory meets the initiation and construction standards for international joint laboratories. The panel suggested that it be approved to initiate the construction of this Joint Laboratory.