Cardiff University in agreements to help beat cancer in China

For immediate release
25 May 2007

Cardiff University is to help tackle growing problems with cancer in China after agreeing two new joint research projects with leading Chinese universities.

The two agreements were signed on a recent visit to China, by the Vice-Chancellor, Dr David Grant.

The first agreement is a collaboration on lung cancer with the Health Science Centre at Peking University, the leading medical research and teaching institution in China. Although smoking is now declining in China, the country is likely to have a significant lung cancer problem for years to come and the Chinese Government is anxious to tackle the problem. Cardiff will help Peking develop its research in this area, particularly the way lung cancer spreads through the body via the blood system.

Cardiff has also signed an agreement on breast cancer with Capital Medical University, one of China’s largest independent medical universities based in Beijing. Breast cancer has historically been less of a problem in China than in the West, but is now increasing, possibly because of changing diets. The two Universities will work together on how the disease uses the lymphatic system to spread.

Both agreements have scope for collaboration in other areas of healthcare.

Professor Wen Jiang, of Cardiff University School of Medicine, who has developed links with both of these major Chinese universities said: “These are substantial research collaborations. We will be hosting promising young researchers from China here in Cardiff to help them develop their expertise. We are hoping both these projects will lead to new approaches to treat cancers which will have benefits around the world.”

Ends

Notes to editors

Cardiff University

Cardiff University is recognised in independent government assessments as one of Britain’s leading teaching and research universities. Founded by Royal Charter in 1883, the University today combines impressive modern facilities and a dynamic approach to teaching and research. The University’s breadth of expertise in research and research-led teaching encompasses: the humanities; the natural, physical, health, life and social sciences; engineering and technology; preparation for a wide range of professions; and a longstanding commitment to lifelong learning. Cardiff is a member of the Russell Group of Britain’s leading research universities.

Visit the University website at: www.cardiff.ac.uk

Cardiff School of Medicine

Cardiff University’s School of Medicine is a significant contributor to healthcare in Wales, a major provider of professional staff for the National Health Service and an international centre of excellence for research delivering substantial health benefits locally and internationally. The school’s 770 staff include 500 research and academic staff who teach more than 1900 students, including 950 postgraduate students.

The School is an international leader in basic and clinically applied research activities and scored highly in the most recent Government Research Assessment Exercise. School of Medicine researchers annually win tens of millions of pounds in research awards to work with Government, the healthcare industries and the charitable sector on the most pressing issues of human health. The School has six interdisciplinary research groups to draw upon its own strength in depth and the vast range of expertise available across Cardiff University. These groups are addressing cancer; health sciences research; cardiovascular sciences; genomic approaches to health and disease; infection, immunity and inflammation; metabolism repair and regeneration. The School continually invests in facilities, with major developments including the Henry Wellcome Building for Biomedical Research in Wales, the largest enterprise of its kind ever in Wales. This £11M centre contains research laboratories and facilities for patients to participate in investigations of new disease treatments.

For further information please contact:

Stephen Rouse,
Public Relations Office,
Cardiff University.
029 2087 5596
e-mail: RouseS@cardiff.ac.uk