On Nov 23rd, the opening ceremony of Jointed Genetics and Genomics Medical Research Institute of Zhejiang University-University of Toronto was being held in the Administrative Building of Zhejiang University School of Medicine. Shumin Duan, the dean of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Minxin Guan, the head of Zhejiang University Institute of Genetics, Trevor Young, the dean of University of Toronto Medical School as well as Howard Lipshitz, the head of Department of Molecular Genetics from University of Toronto attended the ceremony and signed their names on the memorandum. In addition, Prof. Lizhi Xu, who is a distinguished molecular geneticist, a fellow of US National Academy of Sciences and the head of Zhejiang University Qiushi Advanced Research Institute was also present and witnessed the signing ceremony.

In the recent years, the proposal of the concept of precision medicine as well as its rapid developing speed has brought gospel to the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of genetic diseases; and thus it is considered as the new developing trend of future medicine. To boost the development of precision medicine inside and outside of the country and promote the teaching and scientific research of genetics and molecular medicine, Zhejiang University and University of Toronto were intending to establish the Jointed Research Institute of Genetics and Genomics Medical to hopefully develop cooperation in teaching and scientific research.

On the ceremony, Shumin Duan declared that “Genetics in Zhejiang University has a long history and a solid foundation. Older generations of the alumni, represented by Jiazhen Tan who is a founder of Chinese modern genetics, have made great contribution to the development of genetics in China. This ceremony provides a great opportunity to promote the cooperation between the two universities and disciplines.” Prof. Trevor Young informed that “University of Toronto is ranked as one of the top universities in the world, and it has been keeping a leading position in the area of academy and scientific research. It’s Department of Genetics possesses top teaching and scientific research capability worldwide in the area of cell and molecular structure and function, and computational systems biology, functional genomics and proteomics, development and disease genetic model, molecular medicine and human genetics, molecular microbiology and infectious diseases. Signing the contract with Zhejiang University, a top university in China, has brought great significance to the development of education and scientific research in medicine in the two countries.” Professor Minxin Guan stated that “Genetics is one of the most important disciplines in the field of life sciences. With the development of precision medicine and personalized medicine, genetics and genomic medicine will bring more precise and convenient prevention and treatment methods to the physical wellbeing of the entire human race.

Later on, the scholars from the two universities held a whole day discussion about the development and perspective of genetics and genomic medicine.
Moreover, Prof. Tianhua Zhou who is the director of Department of Discipline Construction from Zhejiang University, Prof. Xiaoming Li who is the associate dean from Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Prof. Shankuan Zhu who is the associate dean from Zhejiang University School of Public Health, Prof. Xiaohang Yang distinguished professor from Zhejiang University Institute of Genetics, Prof. Fan Jin who is the director of Department of Assisted Reproduction from Zhejiang University Affiliated Women’s Hospital, Prof. Jun Zhu who is the head of Institute of Bioinformatics from Zhejiang University and Prof. Xin Chen from Institute of Bioinformatics, Zhejiang University also attended and witnessed the signing ceremony.