Flinders University and collaborative partner Shandong Academy of Sciences (SDAS) launched the China-Australia International Laboratory for Health Technologies (ILHT) in Jinan, Shandong Province, on July 18.
Flinders University’s Vice President and Pro-Vice Chancellor (International) Mr Sebastian Raneskold and SDAS’ President, Professor Wang Yinglong officially unveiled the ILHT in Jinan, witnessed by the Hon. David Ridgeway, South Australia’s Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment and Shandong Province’s Vice Governor, Madam Ren Ai Rong.
The ILHT will support the development of novel, internationally competitive medical devices, along with assisting traditional industries to develop and globalise medical equipment and digital health technology.
Co-funded by the South Australian Government, SDAS and Flinders University, the ILHT spans two locations, in Jinan and Adelaide, with researchers from both institutions working across both sites. The International Laboratory for Health Technologies (Australia) is led by Flinders’ Professor Karen Reynolds as Director, with Flinders’ Associate Professor Youhong Tang as Deputy Director.
Bringing together the complementary expertise of Flinders University and SDAS’ Shandong Centre for Computer Science, the first research project announced through the ILHT will focus on cardiac health. Led by Flinders’ Professor Anthony Maeder, the project will analyse routinely collected health data in an effort to provide earlier and more informative risk prediction for cardio vascular disease.
A second ILHT project, led by Australian Deputy Director of the ILHT and Flinders Associate Professor Youhong Tang, is to design a new device to assist with the earlier detection and appropriate management of chronic kidney disease, a condition characterised by a progressive loss of kidney function over time.
Following the official launch, Mr Raneskold and President Wang Yinglong signed a Memorandum of Understanding that will enable SDAS PhD candidates to undertake research at Flinders University’s ILHT in Adelaide.
Mr Raneskold said the joint laboratory provides mutual benefit to both organisations and will span teaching, research and technology development.
“The joint laboratory will lead to the development of new, advanced medical technologies with commercial opportunity. It will facilitate training of students and provide industry exposure and generate clear benefits to the economy and community” said Mr Raneskold. “Research will be driven in areas of priority and the primary focus of the ILHT is to deliver health technologies with global impact”.
The two institutions have complementary expertise to deliver real benefit. Shandong Centre for Computer Science specialises in cloud computing, big data, information security and intelligent manufacturing expertise. Flinders University was the first university in Australia to offer an accredited biomedical engineering program, and has since built a national reputation of excellence in biomedical engineering recognised with both state and national accolades. Flinders University has also connected the South Australian medtech ecosystem through ten years of the Medical Device Partnering Program.
The ILHT is the second Flinders-Shandong Academy of Sciences joint laboratory to be supported by the South Australian State Government, further cementing the SA-Shandong Province sister state/province relationship.