Public release date: 14-Oct-2013 [ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Aeron Haworth aeron.haworth@manchester.ac.uk 44-161-275-8387 University of Manchester

The Manchester Academic Health Science Centre (MAHSC) has formed a partnership with the Peking University Health Sciences Centre to establish an international centre of excellence in genetic medicine.

The new Peking-Manchester Centre for Genomic Medicine, announced by British Chancellor George Osborne in Beijing today (Monday), will comprise three separate but interdependent research facilities the International Centre for Rare Diseases, the Centre for Cancer Genetics, and the Joint Clinical Trials Facility.

MAHSC's involvement is being led by the Manchester Centre for Genomic Medicine, an integrated centre bringing together University of Manchester researchers and Central Manchester NHS Foundation Trust's clinical services, to form a world leader in genetic and genomic medicine for research into inherited diseases and delivery of services to families with inherited disorders.

Speaking at Peking University, the Chancellor, who is in China to promote UK business and encourage Chinese investors to choose Britain, said: "I am delighted to announce here the establishment of a new partnership between Peking University and Manchester University in the UK with the creation of a new joint centre for genomic medicine. Here, in the oldest and most prestigious medical school in China, let us work together on the medicines of tomorrow.

"This partnership will, I hope, give even more of you the chance to come to Britain and to study there. We already have 130,000 Chinese students, like you, studying in Britain I want more of you to come There is no limit to the number of Chinese [students] who can study in Britain."

Dean and Vice-President of the University of Manchester's Faculty of Medical and Human Sciences and Director of MAHSC, Professor Ian Jacobs, who is participating in the government-led visit, said: "This is an exciting partnership between MAHSC and our colleagues in Beijing. It will lead to important health and research benefits in the rapidly developing field of genetics to benefit the people of both countries as well as having a global impact. The planned work will draw on populations of up to 50 million individuals to harness next-generation genetic technology for patient benefit.

"The joint venture will contribute to the further development of the research strength of the Manchester Academic Health Science Centre and advance Manchester's international reputation as a world leader in personalised cancer medicine, while improving care and diagnosis for many people here and in China."

The Peking University Health Sciences Centre (PUHSC) is the oldest Western medical school in China, ranked first in the country for research and training. As part of the collaboration, six senior geneticists from the Manchester Centre for Genomic Medicine will travel to Beijing this week to deliver a training course for more than 300 health professionals and scientists at PUHSC.

Read the original here:
UK Chancellor announces Sino-British health partnership

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