A delegation from the Royal College of Surgeons of Ireland visited Soochow University

On May 15, 2023, an 11-member delegation from the Royal College of Surgeons of Ireland (RCSI) visited Soochow University. The delegation was led by Prof. Fergal O'Brien, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (for Research and Innovation) of RCSI. Members include Prof. Darran O'Connor, Head of the Graduate School, Prof. Tracy Robson, Head of the School of Pharmacy and Molecular Biosciences, Prof. Steve Kerrigan, Deputy Head of the School of Pharmacy & Biomolecular Sciences, Prof. Jochen Prehn, Director of the Centre for Systems Medicine, Professor Brian Kirby, Deputy Dean of the International School of Innovative Pharmaceutical Sciences, Dr. Sudipto Das, Deputy Dead of the Graduate School, Dr. Heiko Duessmann, Director of Molecular Imaging, Mr. John O-Brien, Head of Laboratory Operations, Prof. Niamh Moran, and Dr. Jennifer Dowling.

The RCSI delegation first joined the SU-RCSI Symposium on Frontiers of Pharmaceutical Sciences. Prof. Zhiyuan Zhong, Dean of the College of Pharmaceutical Sciences at Soochow University, delivered the opening speech. He warmly welcomed the RCSI delegation, summarized the achievements of bilateral cooperation over the past decade, and hoped that the two sides could further deepen cooperation in education and scientific research. Afterward, Professor Brian Kirby of RCSI introduced the latest achievement of Soochow University's collaboration with RCSI, establishing the International College of Pharmaceutical Innovation. Then, nine RCSI professors and seven SU professors gave 16 excellent presentations, covering topics in pharmacology, pharmaceutics, immunology, vascular biology, tissue engineering, etc. Prof. Fergal O 'Brien said he was delighted to come to Suzhou for a face-to-face meeting. He cherished the partnership between Soochow University and RCSI and hoped to have more academic exchanges.

On May 16, the RCSI delegation visited the Future Campus of Soochow University, exploring the educational environment of the International College of Pharmaceutical Innovation, a Joint Educational Institue (JEI) recently approved by the Ministry of Education. They explored the various laboratories, offices, and lecture rooms inside the International Innovation Center building, where the JEI is located. They also enjoyed a tour of the living and sports facilities on the future campus. The RCSI delegation was full of praise for the school space, hardware facilities, and intelligence level of the future campus and expressed their confidence in the future of the JEI.

On May 17, the professors of RCSI listened to the presentations on the research progress of the first batch of 2+2 SU-RCSI joint Ph.D. students. They had lively discussions with the SU professors and gave students many valuable suggestions.

The visit of the RCSI delegation allows the two sides to share the latest academic progress in the frontier of pharmaceutical sciences and discuss the innovative development of biopharmaceutical and future talent training strategies between China and Ireland, which is of great significance for SU to develop more international exchanges and innovative cooperations in pharmaceutical sciences.