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A three-nation forum hosted by The University of Western Australia aims to develop new health sciences and bioengineering initiatives, in particular for the ageing population.

Thirty world-class researchers from UWA, China's Zhejiang University and Japan's Kobe University, together with more than 80 scientists and clinicians from around the world will share their cutting edge findings in bioengineering, biotherapeutic and health sciences at the Third Australia-China-Japan Symposium.  The event, held for the first time in WA, is co-convened with the 4 ^th Margaret River Region forum and the International Society for Cellular Therapy.  Zhejiang and Hyogo Province, in which Kobe University is based, are sister States to WA.

The trilateral collaboration is based on Western Australia's strength in medical research; China's strengths in regenerative medicine and access to clinical trials; and Japan's strength in bioengineering.  The group has already identified objectives with the potential to improve the lives of people around the world, concentrating on the fields of orthopaedics, rehabilitation and functional foods for good health.

The two-day symposium will be held at UWA and in Dunsborough with an opening ceremony at The University Club from 10am on Wednesday 28 April followed by lectures and discussions at Bunker Bay on Thursday 29 April and Friday 30 April.

Sessions will feature topics such as molecular therapy, scaffolds and organ regeneration, musculoskeletal tissue repair, computation biology and biomechanics, and sport science.

Symposium Chair, Winthrop Professor Minghao Zheng, Director of Research at UWA's Centre for Orthopaedic Research in the School of Surgery, said UWA's ambition to be counted among the world's top universities meant great value was placed on international alliances such as the trilateral agreement with Zhejiang and Kobe Universities.

"Through our joint efforts, the ageing populations of our three nations will benefit," he said.

Media references

Winthrop Professor Minghao Zheng (+61 8)  9346 4050  /  (+61 4) 07 982 570
Janine MacDonald (UWA Public Affairs)  (+61 8)  6488 5563  /  (+61 4) 32 637 716