TNMU Continues Cooperation with Kiel University

In the second week of June 2024, the Rector of I. Horbachevsky Ternopil National Medical University, Professor Mykhaylo Korda, and the Head of the Research Management Department, Professor Oksana Shevchuk, visited Kiel University and Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital (RJAH) in Oswestry (UK). Kiel University ranks among the top 10 universities in the UK for research opportunities offered to postgraduates. According to the REF 2021 assessment, 80% of the university’s research is recognized as world-leading or internationally excellent in collaboration with global partners.

The effective cooperation between TNMU and Kiel University began in 2023 and has been realized through a series of scientific online seminars on regenerative medicine involving students and scientists from both institutions. The Ukrainian delegation had the opportunity to meet specialists from Kiel University in person: Dr. Oksana Kehoe, Head of the Rheumatology Research Laboratory at the Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital (RJAH) in Oswestry and Director of Postgraduate Research at the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences at Kiel University; Dr. Karina Wright, Senior Researcher and Senior Lecturer at the Faculty of Pharmacy and Bioengineering, who leads the course on Applied Regenerative Medicine at the university; Dr. Charlotte Hulme, Lecturer in Regenerative Medicine, Programme Director of the Masters in Medical Science; Jan Herman Kuiper, PhD, Senior Lecturer in Biomechanics at the School of Pharmacy and Bioengineering, Keele University, and Zoe Paskins, Professor of Rheumatology.

The trip took place within the framework of the joint grant project “Keele Global Seed Grant” to deepen further cooperation and initiate new directions, forming applications for joint scientific research.

In addition to meetings with scientists from the Rheumatology Research Laboratory at the Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital, there was also an opportunity to meet with the Executive Dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences at Kiel University, Prof. Christian Mallen (Pro Vice-Chancellor and Executive Dean, Director of the SPCR) and the Dean responsible for the faculty’s research, Dr. Krysia Dziedzic (Faculty Dean of Research). Several agreements were reached to deepen cooperation.

Moreover, TNMU representatives visited a rehabilitation centre for veterans (the director, Colonel Carl Meyer), in Oswestry and the hospital’s physiotherapy department. Dr. Andrea Bailey, a research physiotherapist, gave a tour of the physiotherapy department and described the work of physiotherapists at the Oswestry Hospital.

We will work to deepen our cooperation and initiate new areas of joint scientific research.

The information was provided by Oksana Shevchuk.