Delegates from University of Bonn visit the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences for further collaboration
An executive delegation from the University of Bonn, in Germany, visited the University of Melbourne to strengthen ties between the two Universities early this month.
The Universities of Bonn and Melbourne renewed the Memorandum of Understanding during the visit, to enhance academic and research collaboration. Melbourne and Bonn collaborate on various research and joint-PhD programs, including the joint-PhD Immunology program and the Decision Neuroscience PhD program. New areas for planned collaboration include digital health, robotics and digitalisation of surgery and surgical training, innovation in understanding teaching and learning, muscle physiology and cardiometabolic disorders and care of cancer patients and cancer research.
Members of the University of Melbourne and Bonn University gather outside University House.
The delegation consisted of: Rector, Professor Michael Hoch; Medical Faculty Dean Professor Bernd Weber; Chair & Medical Director of University Hospital Bonn, Professor Wolfgang Holzgreve; Vice Rector for International Affairs, Professor Birgit Ulrike Münch, and Vice Rector for Learning, Teaching and University Development, Professor Klaus Sandmann, and other senior staff from throughout the University of Bonn.
A key part of the Faculty’s work with the University of Bonn is through a joint PhD Immunology program, co-funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG) that has seen a total of 33 joint PhD candidates graduate since 2016 with 49 currently enrolled. All candidates in the program must spend at least 12 months at each institution and meet the requirements of both institutions. They are also co-supervised by at least 1 supervisor at each institution.
The University of Bonn and University of Melbourne also collaborate through a growing University-wide joint PhD program, including a cohort of four candidates recruited in Decision Neuroscience, with two close to submitting their theses.
The delegation toured the Digital Health Validitron and met with senior members of the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Heath Sciences (MDHS) to discuss areas of mutual interest and collaboration, spanning infectious diseases, clinical trials and innovation in clinical training. This was followed by a meeting with MDHS Dean Professor Jane Gunn, Professor Mike McGuckin, Professor Justin Zobel (Pro Vice-Chancellor Graduate and International Research), Professor Sharon Lewin and other members of the Faculty.
Professor Jane Gunn said, “It was wonderful to be able to connect again with the delegates from the University of Bonn and share our strategy and plans for collaborations between our two Universities. We look forward to continuing this partnership with the University of Bonn, as one of University of Melbourne’s longest standing, deepest and most trusted international research partners.”
Vice Chancellor, Professor Duncan Maskell with University of Bonn Rector, Professor Michael Hoch following the signing of the Memorandum of understanding.
Professor Sharon Lewin, Director of The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity said, “Our partnership with the University of Bonn continues to be a mutually beneficial relationship for both universities and the wider healthcare community both locally and globally. Their visit with us focused on joint collaborative programs for the future, building on our deep partnership in immunology.”
The Rector from the University of Bonn also visited the Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute; a flagship University of Melbourne interdisciplinary institute focused on molecular life sciences. The institute hosts more than 800 members from all STEM Faculties and hosts some of the biggest and most successful platforms of scientific equipment in Australia.
His visit to the Bio21 Institute also included meeting Research Excellence Fund awardee Dr Debnath Ghosal who received funding for his Bacterial nanomachine laboratory. The Bonn-Melbourne Research Excellence Fund is a joint fund that fosters the development of high-quality research initiatives that include Early Career Researchers in a significant role.
The visit from Bonn delegates was highly successful and helped to deepen their understanding of the important projects and programs taking place at the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences and more broadly across the University of Melbourne.