From January 11 to 15, a delegation from Shanghai Sixth People’s Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, led by Party Secretary Zheng Yuanyi, visited the United Kingdom, conducting official visits to King’s College London, the University of Glasgow, and the University of Edinburgh. The delegation included Ren Tao, Director of the Department of Respiratory Medicine; Chen Xiaohua, Director of the Department of Infectious Diseases; Chen Hao, Acting Deputy Director of the Department of Neurosurgery; and Lu Yaohong, Director of the Teaching Office.

The visit focused on strengthening scientific research collaboration, expanding international talent development channels, and learning from advanced global experience. It further promoted cooperation in medical education, research innovation, and health data governance, laying a solid foundation for sustained and in-depth China–UK collaboration.

King’s College London: Advancing Medical Education and Research Collaboration

At King’s College London, the delegation met with Professor Nicki Cohen, Dean of Medical Education, and Professor Michael Malim, Senior Vice Dean for Academic Strategy & Partnerships in the Faculty of Life Sciences & Medicine. Following in-depth discussions, the two institutions formally signed an Undergraduate Medical Student Electives Activity Schedule, marking the hospital’s first independently implemented short-term student exchange program and opening a new chapter in international medical education cooperation.

Delegation meeting with Professor Nicki Cohen, King’s College London

Signing of the Undergraduate Medical Student Electives Activity Schedule

During research exchanges, the delegation introduced the hospital’s representative achievements in ultrasound medical–engineering integration, including radiation-free ultrasound tomography, visualized acupuncture research, wearable ultrasound devices applied in the China Space Station program, and transcranial ultrasound technologies for neurological diseases. These achievements were highly recognized by the King’s team.

In respiratory medicine, Professor Richard Russell and Professor Ren Tao discussed collaborative research in interstitial lung disease and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, integrating the hospital’s strengths in stem-cell therapy, non-invasive drug delivery, and drug development with King’s expertise in airway disease and cellular modeling.

Delegation with King’s College London team on research collaboration

In neurosurgery, Professor Keyoumars Ashkan and Professor Chen Hao agreed to prioritize collaboration in deep brain stimulation, as well as research on traumatic brain injury and post-stroke coma recovery.

University of Glasgow: Learning from Advanced Health Data and AI Practices

At the University of Glasgow, the delegation held discussions with senior leadership from the School of Health and Wellbeing on data science and artificial intelligence strategies, trusted research environments, and Scotland’s CHI-based lifetime health data management system under the NHS. The model’s effective balance between data security and research accessibility provided valuable reference for future cooperation.

Both sides also explored collaboration on summer school programs, particularly in medical artificial intelligence, offering students opportunities to engage with international research frontiers and interdisciplinary learning.

Delegation with the University of Glasgow team

University of Edinburgh: Deepening Collaboration in Neuroscience and Translational Research

At the University of Edinburgh, the delegation visited advanced medical imaging facilities and held in-depth discussions with Professor Joanna Wardlaw and Professor Paul Brennan. The two sides identified complementary strengths in brain tumor research, traumatic brain injury, cerebrovascular imaging, and liquid biopsy technologies, and agreed to advance joint research, shared training, and translational cooperation.

Delegation with Professor Joanna Wardlaw

In meetings with Professor Dave Newby and the leadership of the Institute for Neuroscience and Cardiovascular Research, the delegation presented the hospital’s latest advances in ultrasound medicine and stem-cell research, further consolidating consensus on deepening collaboration.

Meeting with the Institute for Neuroscience and Cardiovascular Research, University of Edinburgh

Secretary Zheng Yuanyi presenting ultrasound research achievements

Delegation with the University of Edinburgh team

During the visit, the delegation established strong partnerships with three leading UK universities, achieving concrete outcomes in student exchange, research collaboration, data management, and talent development. The hospital will continue to advance these initiatives, leverage high-quality international resources, and strengthen discipline development and talent cultivation to further enhance medical research and public health services.