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Delegates at the UK-China Health Education Conference in Hubei

Prof Sigala at Madihol University

UK Medical Education delegation at Wuhan Union Hospital

Delegates visiting Nanjing University

Delegates at Tongji University

Delegation visits to China and Thailand have strengthened the University of Sussex's international engagement in health research and education, opening new opportunities for collaborative research, postgraduate training and student exchange with leading institutions.

In March, Natasha Sigala, Professor of Neuroscience, represented Sussex as part of a 14-institution UK delegation organised by the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) and the British Consulate-General in Wuhan.

The programme began with the inaugural workshop of the UK-China Health Research Alliance (UKCHRA) at Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST) in Wuhan. The Alliance brings together more than 20 leading UK and Chinese universities to address five shared health priorities: healthy ageing, obesity and diabetes, cancer, antimicrobial resistance, and pandemic preparedness.

Prof Sigala also participated in the UK-China Health Education Conference in Hubei, jointly hosted by the British Consulate-General and the Hubei Provincial Department of Education. At the conference, Sussex showcased its strengths across health, life sciences, neuroscience and clinical medicine to an audience of more than 80 senior academic and government representatives.

The visit also included roundtable discussions at Wuhan Union Hospital and meetings with leading institutions in Nanjing and Shanghai, including Nanjing University, Nanjing Medical University and Tongji University.

The delegation strengthened Sussex's links with leading Chinese universities and healthcare institutions, creating opportunities for collaborative research, doctoral training, and student and staff exchange.

Prof Sigala also visited Mahidol University, Thailand's leading medical university, to explore opportunities for joint research and education. Discussions focused on public health, global health and infection, and clinical and experimental medicine, with shared interests identified in postgraduate education, collaborative research and future grant applications.

These visits reflect the Sussex's commitment to developing meaningful, long-term international partnerships with leading health institutions around the world.

Prof Sigala said:  "These engagements have opened important conversations with world-class institutions in China and Thailand. There is genuine appetite on all sides to develop partnerships that will benefit our researchers, our students, and ultimately the patients and communities we serve."