Nov. 2023

In a recent announcement by the Ministry of Education (MOE) of China, the application for the establishment of the International Joint Laboratory for Respiratory Health, spearheaded by Guangzhou Medical University (GMU), was successfully accepted for the year 2023. This marks a significant milestone as it is the first international joint laboratory initiated by GMU to receive MOE approval.

The International Joint Laboratory for Respiratory Health is a joint effort undertaken by Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Health of GMU and Firestone Institute for Respiratory Health of MacMaster University in Canada, which is a leading research institution for respiratory diseases around the world.

Dr. Zhong Nanshan and Dr. Paul O’Byrne are appointed as the Co-Chairs for the laboratory. Under their guidance, the joint lab is committed to addressing the major national strategic demands in the field of respiratory health. Aiming to attain “first-class" in five aspects, namely, management, team building, talent training, scientific research and international influence.

The collaboration will leverage the strengths of both parties, focusing on four pivotal research areas: major respiratory infectious diseases, lung injury, chronic airway diseases, interstitial lung disease, and lung cancer. The joint lab is dedicated to reinforcing international cooperation in respiratory health and aspires to establish a model platform for international collaboration among colleges and universities.

The goal of the Joint Laboratory is to intensify international cooperation in both clinical and basic research related to respiratory diseases. It also seeks to enhance collaborative innovation and medical education, thereby contributing to the global objective of improving respiratory health for all. This joint laboratory signifies a new era of international collaboration for GMU, promising to deliver groundbreaking research and innovative solutions to global health challenges.