Chinese Life Sciences conference

Sponsored by the Education and Science and Technology sections of the Chinese Embassy, GlaxoSmithKline, Invitrogen, Syngenta and UCL, the event exemplified UCL's strong relations with China.

Professor Lu Xin, Director of the UCL Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research and Dr Wang Baoqing, Minister Counsellor for Science and Technology at the Chinese Embassy provided the opening address.

Professor David Norse, UCL Pro-Provost for China said: "Although UCL has, for example, the largest group of biomedical teachers and researchers in Europe, life science research at UCL is small when set against the large research challenges facing the UK and the global community. These challenges have to be addressed through national, regional and global partnerships, which this meeting will help to advance."

The programme featured talks from leading figures in the cancer research, cardiovascular biology, neurobiology, immunology and plan biology fields, who covered topical subjects such as tumour suppression, cardio stem cells, immune response to SARS virus and organic farming.

"As Pro-Provost responsible for fostering research and teaching links with China I was pleased to welcome the leading life scientists in China - including Professor Cao Xue-Tao, Vice president of the Second Military Medical University, and Xuelian Feng, Deputy Director of the National Natural Science Foundation of China - who attended the conference and to see that many UCL scientists contributed to the conference," said Professor Norse. "As a member of the Prime Minister's Task Force on China I am particularly concerned with developing Sino-UK research collaboration, and I am sure this conference will make a positive contribution."

Links:

• UCL & China
• Professor Norse