From May 21st to 22nd, the 1st HUST-Marburg University Day was held at Tongji Medical College. A 12-member delegation headed by Prof. Dr. Renz, Dean of the Medical School of Marburg University, attended the activity.

As one of the largest activities organized by Marburg University in Chinese universities this year, a series of activities were held in the two days including interscholastic strategic dialogues, Intercollegiate Agreement Signing Ceremony and Nameplate Unveil Ceremony for the Joint Sino-German Research Lab for Natural Drugs, Awarding Ceremony of visiting professor, alumni reporting, Faculty Bridge & Scientific Symposium and Marburg Promotion Lecture, etc. More than 1,000 teachers and students participated in these activities.

On the morning of May 21, the opening ceremony of the University Day was held in the Academic Reporting Hall of Tongji Medical College. Prof. An Rui, Vice Dean of Tongji Medical College chaired the opening ceremony

In his welcome speech, Prof. Chen Jianguo, the Vice President of HUST, expressed his hearty appreciations to the delegation. After reviewing the cooperation history between the two universities, he pointed out that the University of Marburg is one of the most important partners to HUST. He hoped both sides could make full use of this opportunity to push the bilateral cooperation to a new height.

Prof. Renz recalled that the friendship between the two parts could be traced back to 20 years ago. He was looking forward to expand the future cooperation to scientific research and other fields of common interest. Prof. Renz also made a brief introduction on the medical school of the University of Marburg, and Prof. Keusgen, Dean of the School of Pharmacy of the University of Marburg introduced the general situation of the School of Pharmacy.

Afterwards, both sides held the interscholastic strategic dialogues. Prof. Hu Yu, Dean of the Union Hospital, Prof. Zhang Yonghui, Dean of the School of Pharmacy, Prof. Liao Xiaofei, Director of the International Exchange Center, and Mr. Dong Weiguo, Director of the Graduate Office, all delivered constructive suggestion for promoting the bilateral exchanges.

Then Prof. Zhang Yonghui and Prof. Keusgen signed the Letter of Intent for the Joint Sino-German Research Lab for Natural Drugs. The two schools of pharmacy were willing to conduct comprehensive cooperation and build world-class drug R&D laboratory on the premise of mutual benefits. Later Prof. Chen Jianguo and Prof. Renz unveiled the nameplate of the lab together.

Prof. Diethard Gemasa, the famous immunology professor from University of Marburg, was awarded the title of Guest Professor by Dean Prof. Chen Jianguo on behalf of Tongji Medical College.

In the alumni reporting section, Prof. Feng Xinwei, 95 years old, played ‘Beethoven Symphony No.9’and ‘Minuet’ with harmonica on site.

The 2018 International Conference on Synthetic Biology was also held as part of the activity by the school of pharmacy. Prof. Chen Jianguo and Prof. Keusgen delivered opening speeches for the Conference.

At the Marburg University Promotion Lecture, Prof. Gemasa introduced academic characteristics and campus culture of UMR. Prof. LI Shuming and his colleagues from foreign affairs office of Marburg University also interacted with students and presented them special gifts.

In the afternoon, two academic seminars were held in Union Hospital and Tongji Hospital respectively. Experts of both sides exchange their views on respiratory, infection, internal medicine, nephropathy and other professional fields.

University of Marburg was founded in 1527. It hosts 11 Nobel Prize Winners with 4 of them majored in medicine. Marburg University is one of the earlier German universities cooperating with Tongji Medical College, and three intercollegiate agreements were signed since 1998.