Enhancing health research in China

George Institute chairman Dr John Yu and Ke Yang, Executive Vice-President, Peking University unveil the partnership plaque	Australian Ambassador, Geoff Raby and Professor Han Qide, Vice-Chairman of the Standing Committee of the China National People's Congress 'dot the eyes' of the lions before the traditional lion dance

25 May 2007
The George Institute for International Health will today host an official ceremony to mark the opening of The George Institute, China. The new Institute in Beijing is a significant landmark in the development of research and capacity building in support of China’s health priorities. Based in the Haidian District of Beijing, the facility will address major health problems in China such as hypertension, stroke, coronary heart disease, obesity, diabetes and injury.

Special guests and speakers at the launch include Professor Han Qide, Vice-Chairman of the Standing Committee of the China National People’s Congress, Professor Huang Jiefu, the Vice-Minister of Health, China, His Excellency Dr Geoff Raby, Australian Ambassador to People’s Republic of China, Professor Ke Yang, Executive Vice-President of Peking University, and Professor Bruce Robinson, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine at The University of Sydney, Australia. The ceremony will also include the unveiling of the partnership plaque between The George Institute and Peking University Health Science Center.

Through key local partners in China, The George Institute most recently completed a successful road safety intervention in Guangzhou, and a salt substitute study to reduce blood pressure in northern china. The team will now continue research into motorcycle safety, cardiovascular care and also complete a large clinical trial, which will determine the effects of early intensive blood pressure lowering on death and disability in stroke patients.

Host and Co-Principal Director of The George Institute for International Health, Professor Robyn Norton acknowledged that partnerships are an integral part of achieving results in China. "We are working together with academics, healthcare providers, international agencies such as the World Health Organization, corporate partners both locally and internationally, community groups and government departments. The Institute’s work covers a broad spectrum of Chinese health issues, working in partnership with both the government and local experts to prioritise research and deliver better health outcomes for the population," Professor Norton added.

Professor Wu Yangfeng, Director of the new George Institute, China is looking forward to applying national and international expertise to China’s health issues. "The new institute will be working closely with the research and support services of The George Institute in Australia. Our networks will also allow vital research projects to be directed by leading specialists in both China and abroad, in cardiovascular and renal disease, injury and trauma care, neurological and mental health conditions," he said.

Professor Wu is a medical specialist, who has made valuable contributions to reduce the impact of cardiovascular disease in China. "The research program at the George Institute, China aims to improve control and prevention of chronic disease and injury. We are already working towards attaining considerable reductions in these areas, as you will see in our research portfolio," he added.

Recognising that the Institute has had a presence in China for some time, George Institute Chairman, Dr John Yu noted that "The formal opening of the Beijing-based Institute is a significant step in the Institute’s long term commitment to China, and is the key platform for future research opportunities and capabilities in both urban and rural regions. I’m also pleased that today will mark the extension of our Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Peking University Health Science Center."

Professor Bruce Robinson also announced that the University of Sydney will be utilising the new office as a base in Beijing, as well as providing two scholarships for students to work at the Institute in China.

A plaque to commemorate the re-signing of the memorandum of understanding between The George Institute and Peking University Health Science Center will be unveiled by Professor Ke Yang and Dr John Yu. The MOU signifies a joint commitment to postgraduate education, research and clinical services, between both organisations.

Examples of recent research undertaken by the Institute, highlights the range of research undertaken at the Institute. Last month, the Institute released results of a seat belt intervention study in Guangzhou, aimed at increasing seat belt use in China. As China accounts for around 15% of the world’s total number of deaths from traffic injuries each year the project showed the potential to significantly increase the use of seat belts and how cost effective such a strategy is. The project was a co-operation between the Ministry of Public Security, the Ministry of Health, the World Health Organization, Guangzhou Municipal Bureau of Public Security and BP China.

Senior Director at The George Institute and lead investigator of the intervention, Professor Mark Stevenson said, "The risk of death is reduced by up to 60% in drivers using seat belts compared with those not using a seat belt. Prior to the intervention, around half of all drivers and 40% of passengers in Guangzhou used seat belts. Our study shows that, since implementation of the intervention, 62% of drivers and 53% of passengers in Guangzhou are wearing a seat belt. An even greater improvement was seen among taxi drivers; more than 20% increase in seat belt use."

In addition to work enhancing road safety, the Institute also has major research activities in vascular disease, the leading cause of death in China. A recently completed large-scale trial has shown the huge potential for a simple dietary intervention. More widespread use of a salt substitute already manufactured in China could have a huge impact on blood pressure and stroke risk in poor rural populations.

"Cardiovascular diseases have been the main cause of death in China for some time now," said Associate Professor Bruce Neal, Senior Director at The George Institute. "Our goal is to help identify practical new ways of addressing this serious health problem. We are particularly interested in strategies that will work in rural areas where preventive care is currently very limited." The study was a collaboration between The George Institute and Fu Wai Hospital in Beijing. Importantly, this result offers a new low cost strategy for the prevention of stroke and other cardiovascular diseases.

The George Institute is affiliated with, and works closely alongside, The University of Sydney in many of its activities. The Institute's initiatives in China complement those of the University and future projects will reflect these shared objectives.

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