As part of the collaborations between Keele's Research Institute for Science & Technology in Medicine and several Chinese universities, Professor Alicia El Haj visited the School of Life Science in Guangzhou University last week. She was welcomed by the head of the School, Professor Tian (pictured on the right) and associate professor Dr Chen (left).

Professor El Haj had discussions with the Chinese scientists about future collaborations in education and research, building on the joint undergraduate-postgraduate course established between Guangzhou and Keele this year. Guangzhou undergraduate students take their fourth year of study in Keele, and after obtaining their first degree, these students can directly enrol onto Keele Medical School MSc courses, specifically the MScs in Biomedical Engineering and Cell & Tissue Engineering based in ISTM's facilities at the Guy Hilton Research Centre

Professor El Haj and her colleagues in ISTM have been regular visitors to China as part of collaborative projects funded by the European Commission over the last five years, and together they are planning further links in 2014 under the Horizon 2020 Programme.