Henan University Delegation Visits TU Dublin to Strengthen Research Collaboration
A senior delegation from Henan University, China, visited TU Dublin from 8th – 10th September to strengthen existing collaborations in research, innovation and PhD co-supervision.
The delegation was led by Professor Daxiang Cui, Vice President of Henan University, and included Professor Xiangqian Guo, Deputy Dean of the Henan Medical School, and Professor Yanbo Zhang, Chief of the International Affairs Office.
This visit followed an invitation extended last December when Dr Julie Dunne (Head of the School of Food Science and Environmental Health), Dr Furong Tian (Director of the Nanolab Research Centre and Lecturer in the School of Food Science and Environmental Health), and Professor Christine O’Connor (Head of Research and Innovation, Faculty of Sciences and Health) visited Henan University. The initiative was spearheaded by TU Dublin’s School of Food Science and Environmental Health.
Building on an Existing Partnership
TU Dublin and Henan University signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in 2024 to promote joint supervision of PhD students. The latest visit aimed to deepen collaboration and formalise a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) towards a Joint PhD award.
At TU Dublin’s Central Quad, the delegation was welcomed by Professor John Doran, Dean of the Faculty of Sciences and Health. Together with Prof. O’Connor and Dr Dunne, discussions focused on advancing the PhD joint supervision programme and broadening areas of research collaboration.
Prof. Daxiang Cui, Prof. John Doran, Prof. Xiangqian Guo, Dr Julie Dunne, Dr Furong Tian, Prof. Chrsitine O’Connor, Prof. Yanbo Zhang
Professor Cui also delivered a presentation highlighting the extensive resources of Henan Medical School, which boasts 27 PhD supervisors, 5,000 students, 5,000 staff, and three affiliated hospitals with a combined 5,000 beds.
Exploring TU Dublin’s Research Facilities
During their visit, the Henan University delegation toured several of TU Dublin’s cutting-edge research facilities, including:
- Sustainability & Health Research Hub, led by Professor Jesús Frías
- Microbiology and Biotechnology laboratories within the School of Food Science and Environmental Health, guided by Dr Graham O’Neill
- Physical to Life Sciences Research Hub, where Professor Hugh Byrne met with Professor Cui. Both professors, alumni of the Max Planck Institute in Stuttgart, discussed opportunities for collaboration in cancer diagnostics using spectroscopy.
Prof. Fiona Lyng and Prof. Cui in Radiation and Environmental Science Centre (Left); Prof. Xiangqian Guo, Prof. Daxiang Cui and Prof. Hugh Byrne in Core facility Confocal Microscopy room in Physical to Life science research Hub (Right)
They also visited the Radiation and Environmental Science Centre, where Professor Fiona Lyng shared insights into advanced research in environmental and health sciences, and the MiCRA Technology Gateway, where Dr Baljit Singh presented ongoing collaborations with TU Dublin’s Nanolab Research Centre in sensor development.
Prof. Xiangqian Guo, Dr Furong Tian, Dr Baljit Singh and Prof. Daxiang Cui in front of MiCRA Technology Gateway in Health, Engineering & Materials Science (HEMS) Research Hub
Strengthening Research Ties
Throughout the visit, the Henan delegation engaged with TU Dublin researchers across multiple disciplines, including Dr Bilal Javed, Dr Azza Silotry Naik, Dr Elena Alexa, Dr Shiv Shankar, Dr Tao Zhang, and Dr Therese Murphy, exploring potential joint projects in nanotechnology, biotechnology, health sciences, and diagnostics.
Dr Tao Zhang, Dr Azza Silotry Naik, Dr Julie Dunne, Prof. John Doran, Prof. Daxiang Cui, Prof. Xiangqian Guo, Prof. Chrisitne O’Connor, Dr Furong Tian, Dr Therese Murphy, Dr Elena Alexa, Dr Bilal Javed and Dr Shiv Shankar (from left to right)
The three-day visit concluded with both universities reaffirming their commitment to building a long-term strategic partnership in research and innovation.