International biomedical partnership focuses on fine details
NSW Governor, the Hon Margaret Beazley AO QC. (middle of photo) witnessed MOU signing with SUSTech.
A $10 million international collaboration will develop a new-generation of biomedical imaging nanotechnologies to enable more accurate disease diagnosis.
The University of Technology Sydney (UTS) and China’s Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech) last week signed a five-year co-investment agreement in the Joint Research Centre (JRC) for Biomedical Materials and Devices, in a ceremony in Shenzen witnessed by NSW Governor, the Hon Margaret Beazley AO QC.
Director of the UTS Institute for Biomedical Materials and Devices (IBMD), Distinguished Professor Dayong Jin, is one of Australia’s leading researchers in photonics, nanotechnology and microscopy – and will be leading the JRC.
“Our team focuses on the transformation of advances in photonics and material technologies into biomedical devices,” Professor Jin said.
“This JRC will provide us with the scale we need to develop new technologies and prototype devices for tracking disease progression at the level of single cells.
“Through earlier and more accurate diagnostics, we can develop personalised and targeted interventions for diseases including genetic disorders, infections, foetal abnormalities and cancer progression.
“Bringing together two of the leading regional universities of technology, this partnership will combine cutting-edge Australian innovation with the Chinese R&D resources,” he said.
Professor Jin has also been appointed Chair Professor in the SUSTech Department of Biomedical Engineering. His pioneering work in developing bright luminescence nanoparticles and novel imaging technology have wide-ranging applications across monitoring number of industries, in particular health and medicine.
Work undertaken at the JRC will complement and strengthen the research programs in several other initiatives led by Professor Jin, including the IBMD and the Australian Research Council IDEAL Research Hub.
Thirty PhD students will be recruited internationally to the JRC in specialist disciplines across physics, chemistry, biology, nanotechnology, biotechnology and data science.
