MarSU Expands Its Global Research Network with Partners in Qingdao, China

The Route to Building Trust: From General to Specific

The visit includes a series of sequential meetings, each with its own specific focus and objectives.

On August 24, the negotiations were launched with a seminar involving Jiankang Liu, Dean of the School of Life Science and Health at the University of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences. This meeting set the general tone for the entire visit. The parties did not merely exchange reports but conducted a kind of "scientific inventory," presenting each other with their key research areas and technological capabilities. This approach allows for immediately discarding non-viable options and focusing on areas where the competencies of the universities complement each other.

On August 25, a visit took place to the Ocean University of China (a university ranked in the Shanghai Ranking). During the visit, Konstantin Belosludtsev gave a lecture on the role of mitochondria in the development of diabetes mellitus. A meeting was also held with Professor Hao Jiejie to discuss collaboration on the development of mitochondria-targeted drug molecules, as well as the possibility of internships for MarSU postgraduate and undergraduate students at the Chinese university.

On August 26, the visit program continued at Qingdao University (also a Shanghai-ranked university) with a meeting with Yune Sun, Professor and Scientific Supervisor of the School of Public Health at Qingdao University, and Associate Professor Lei Chen. The meeting discussed potential collaboration on diabetes research.

On August 27, a meeting was held with Likang Xing, President of Qingdao Central Hospital, Xuesong Yu, Chairman of the trade union, and Fang Zhu, Member of the Party Committee. It is important to note that this clinical hospital is part of the University of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences and conducts both fundamental and clinical research on new drug molecules. The meeting discussed opportunities for cooperation between MarSU and Qingdao Central Hospital. For a university developing innovations, collaboration with a major clinical base opens tremendous opportunities: the implementation of new medical technologies, joint clinical trials, exchange of experience in telemedicine and medical data processing. This is an area where scientific developments directly impact people's quality of life.

Three pillars of cooperation: projects, mobility, integration

Konstantin Nikolaevich Belosludtsev

Vice Rector for Innovation:

«The visit was introductory and exploratory. Its main outcome was not the signing of dozens of agreements, but the creation of strong human and professional ties. A process of 'testing' our scientific interests was initiated. The next steps will be to flesh out the agreements: drafting formal cooperation agreements, writing applications for international grants, and developing roadmaps for each of the identified areas. Joint research projects are the core of any academic partnership. Therefore, we are talking about creating joint international research groups. Undergraduate and graduate students from both sides will have the opportunity to work on real international problems.»

The significance of this visit is difficult to overstate. It was more than just a formal courtesy call, but a profound and targeted effort to integrate the university into the global scientific agenda. The scientific bridge built between the Volga region and China promises to become a solid foundation for future discoveries and mutual cultural enrichment. This is a strategic investment in the future, beginning today.