Tarena International, Inc. Signs Strategic Partnership Agreement with Adobe

BEIJING, March 25, 2015 /PRNewswire/ — Tarena International, Inc. (NASDAQ: TEDU) (“Tarena” or the “Company”), a leading provider of professional education services in China, today announced that it has signed a strategic partnership agreement with Adobe Creative University (“Adobe”), the global leader in digital marketing and digital media solutions, and is now an authorized Adobe training and certification partner in China of Adobe Creative University.

Through the partnership with Adobe, Tarena will continue to refine and optimize its digital art course. Pursuant to the partnership agreement, Adobe will provide Tarena with standardized learning materials, whereas Tarena will launch Adobe certification programs at Tarena’s existing learning centers to improve teaching quality in digital art education.

“As the demand for digital art designing talent intensifies across numerous industries and fields, we endeavor to increase our efforts of training more digital designers in China,” said Shaoyun Han, Founder, CEO and Chairman of Tarena. “Through our strategic partnership with Adobe, Tarena students can receive world class digital art training and earn the official validation from the industry leader to help achieve their career aspirations.”

“Tarena is a leading professional education services provider in China with high quality education and respected brand in the industry,” said Ng Yew Hwee, Managing Director of Adobe Greater China. “Given Tarena’s large student enrollment, national network of learning centers and elite instructor team, we hope to further promote Adobe in China and train more world class digital designers together with Tarena through our partnership.”

Safe Harbor Statement

This press release contains forward-looking statements made under the “safe harbor” provisions of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as “will,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “future,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “estimates,” “confident” and similar statements. Tarena may also make written or oral forward-looking statements in its reports filed with or furnished to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, in its annual report to shareholders, in press releases and other written materials and in oral statements made by its officers, directors or employees to third parties. Any statements that are not historical facts, including the statements about Tarena’s beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Many factors, risks and uncertainties could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Such factors and risks include, but not limited to the following: Tarena’s goals and strategies; its future business development, financial condition and results of operations; its ability to continue to attract students to enroll in its courses; its ability to continue to recruit, train and retain qualified instructors and teaching assistants; its ability to continually tailor its curriculum to market demand and enhance its courses to adequately and promptly respond to developments in the professional job market; its ability to maintain or enhance its brand recognition, its ability to maintain high job placement rate for its students, and its ability to maintain cooperative relationships with financing service providers for student loans. Further information regarding these and other risks, uncertainties or factors is included in Tarena’s filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. All information provided in this press release is current as of the date of the press release, and Tarena does not undertake any obligation to update such information, except as required under applicable law.

About Tarena International, Inc.

Tarena International, Inc. (NASDAQ: TEDU) is a leading provider of professional education services in China. Through its innovative education platform combining live distance instruction, classroom-based tutoring and online learning modules, Tarena offers courses in nine IT subjects and three non-IT subjects. Its courses provide students with practical education to prepare them for jobs in industries with significant growth potential and strong hiring demand. Since its inception in 2002, Tarena has trained over 188,000 students, cooperated with more than 550 universities and colleges and placed students with approximately 50,000 corporate employers in a variety of industries. For further information, please visit http://ir.tarena.com.cn.

For investor and media inquiries, please contact:

Tarena International, Inc.
Christina Zhu
Tel: +86-10-6211-4840 ext. 8155
Email: ir@tarena.com.cn

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Three More Research Organizations Earn AAHRPP Accreditation

List includes first historically black university medical school

WASHINGTON, March 20, 2015 /PRNewswire/ — The Association for the Accreditation of Human Research Protection Programs today announced that it has accredited three more organizations, including the first historically black college and university medical school and a fourth hospital in Taiwan.

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The newly accredited organizations are:

  • Changhua Christian Hospital, Changhua City, Taiwan.
  • Jaeb Center for Health Research Foundation, Tampa, Florida 
  • Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia

“These accreditations are the latest indications of the universal value of AAHRPP accreditation—for hospitals and health systems, research foundations, academic institutions, and any other organization engaged in research involving human participants,” AAHRPP President and CEO Elyse I. Summers said. “Those who adopt AAHRPP standards enhance the quality of their research, strengthen protections for participants, and command the respect of colleagues and partners throughout the global research enterprise.”

To earn AAHRPP accreditation, organizations must demonstrate that they have built extensive safeguards into every level of their research operation and that they adhere to high standards for research. In today’s global, collaborative research enterprise, organizations increasingly rely on AAHRPP accreditation status to help identify trusted research partners.

To date, AAHRPP has accredited more than 200 organizations in 46 states, Canada, mainland China, India, Mexico, Republic of Korea, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Taiwan, and Thailand. All major U.S. independent institutional review boards have earned AAHRPP accreditation. In addition, more than 60 percent of U.S. research-intensive universities and over 65 percent of U.S. medical schools are either AAHRPP accredited or have begun the accreditation process. The National Institutes of Health, the world’s largest public funder of research, has earned accreditation, as has Pfizer, Inc., the largest industry sponsor of clinical research.

About AAHRPP: A nonprofit organization, AAHRPP provides accreditation for organizations that conduct or review human research and can demonstrate that their protections exceed the safeguards required by the U.S. government. To learn more, visit www.aahrpp.org.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Sarah Kiskaddon
Director, Global Business Development and Public Affairs
skiskaddon@aahrpp.org
+1-202-783-1112

To Make People Laugh, Attack Them, PolyU Study Says

Laughter is flip side of fear, research indicates

HONG KONG, March 9, 2015 /PRNewswire/ — THE SUREST WAY TO MAKE someone laugh is to attack them, researchers said this week. Humor is rooted in fear, and laughter is a type of screaming.

The widespread belief that surprise is the basic unit of joke delivery is wrong, according to entertainment researchers at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University School of Design. Unpredictability is a common but optional element of the process of making people laugh out loud, while the creation of emotional tension is far more significant.

“People create laughter by attacking others,” said lead researcher Nury Vittachi, Teaching Fellow of the School. “Parents nibble their infants. Comedians verbally abuse audiences. Successful TV sketch-writers create material which threatens violence to our conventional moral assumptions.”

To test the hypothesis, researchers studied live and recorded incidents in which people laughed out loud at material which lacked the traditional structure of a set-up line followed by a surprise punch-line. Rather than laughter being missing, audiences were more amused.

AMUSEMENT DELIVERY CONTEXTS

Laughter was studied in various “amusement delivery” contexts, including storyteller and child, comedian and audience, parent and baby, and so on.

Audiences of children heard a repetitive folk tale about an “impolite” worm who eats members of his family, one by one — and they laughed out loud even though the progress of the story was so obvious that they could finish it themselves. “There were no surprises. What made them laugh was the attack on their basic assumptions, which is that children should never eat their siblings and parents,” said Vittachi.

The investigators also reviewed the acts of professional comedians, noting that punch-line-driven jokes had been overtaken on TV by deliberately repetitive skits, such as Catherine Tate’s “I’m not bovvered” sketches, focused on personal conflicts. They also noted the deliberately hostile relationship between stand-up comedians and their audiences, characterized by Bernie Mac, whose opening-line is “I ain’t scared of you m***********s.” They noted that comedy club live shows regularly featured comedians taking a highly combative stance against the audience.

Researchers found that parents, observed in public spaces, physically attacked babies, toddlers and small children to make them laugh. They nibbled their children’s arms and necks, threw them in the air, or pretended to drop them. In all cases, the reaction was laughter, with the children typically saying: “Again! Again!” This indicated that the cause of the laughter was not surprise, but the attack itself.

WHY YOU CAN’T TICKLE YOURSELF

The study, called “How to be funny,” sheds light on long-running laughter-related puzzles. Why can we not tickle ourselves? Answer: because you can’t attack yourself. Why is embarrassment sometimes expressed by laughter? Answer: Gross emotional discomfort is the root of involuntary laughter. The hypothesis also gives a new understanding of human utterances sometimes defined as “courtesy laughter,” reclassifying them as “discomfort laughter.” If a sufficiently scary boss is speaking, subordinates will laugh even if the leader makes no jokes at all.

The study shares anecdotal evidence of an experiment in which an individual says to a child in a classroom setting that he can make her laugh with a single word. The researcher then waits for a period of about 10 seconds for tension to build up, before saying a random word. The laughter that inevitably follows is not caused by the word, but by the tension that has been allowed to build up.

“In live situations, making people laugh has surprisingly little to do with the words used,” said Vittachi. “It’s all about the spiky, dynamic relationship between the speaker and listener.”

The full report in PDF form of “How to be funny” is available free of charge through the web-based journal Science 2.0, and through nextext.org from March 2, 2015.

A copy of the report in PDF form is available at http://bit.ly/1Fc6COE.

University of Tubingen and Mediso Enter Into a Collaboration to Develop a Preclinical PET Insert for Simultaneous Acquisition in High Field MRI Systems

TUBINGEN, Germany, Feb. 23, 2015 /PRNewswire/ — University of Tubingen and Mediso Ltd announced today at the 4th Tubingen PET/MR Workshop to enter into a collaboration to develop a whole body preclinical PET insert based on silicon photomultiplier sensor technology. This system can be inserted into a high field (7T) preclinical MRI scanner to enable simultaneous PET/MR imaging.

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Without a doubt, combination of these non-invasive imaging techniques, positron emission tomography (PET) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is advancing the field of molecular imaging and it is entering as a standard research tool in oncology, neurology, inflammation, and drug development. Although several PET/MRI prototype systems have been developed for preclinical imaging, commercial systems for simultaneous PET/MRI are not yet available.

“This new sensor technology allows to move the PET ring inside a high field MRI machine and acquire PET data during MRI scans simultaneously, while minimising any compromise on PET sensitivity and overall image quality,” says Professor Bernd Pichler, head of the Department of Preclinical Imaging and Radiopharmacy.

“This new PET detector module is optimized for whole body preclinical imaging with sub-millimeter spatial resolution,” says Istvan Bagamery, managing director of Mediso Ltd. Although the new detector debuts as an insert, it will also replace the conventional PET detectors in the nanoScan products. “In addition, the new detector complements very well our new range of MRI products based on cryogen-free technology, therefore it serves as a basis for our next generation pre-clinical PET/MRI and PET/CT products.”

Eberhard Karls Universitat Tubingen is one of Europe’s oldest universities with more than 400 full professors and 4000 academic staff. Within the Department of Preclinical Imaging and Radiopharmacy, the Werner Siemens Imaging Center focuses on the research related to PET and PET/MRI detector development, radiotracer and fluorescence biomarker development as well as imaging research in various biomedical fields such as oncology, neurology, inflammation, infectious disease and cardiology.

Mediso Ltd. works in the field of nuclear and molecular imaging focusing on development, manufacturing, sales and servicing of multi-modality in-vivo imaging systems. It offers complete solutions from hardware design to quantification software, both for clinical patient care and high-level life science research. The nanoScan® family is the first-line choice for preclinical imaging including the world’s first integrated preclinical SPECT/MRI and PET/MRI systems and SPECT/CT and PET/CT combinations.

For further information, please contact:

Dr. Gabor Nemeth, Program Director, Preclinical Imaging
E-mail: gabor.nemeth@mediso.com
Mobile: +36(30)9000-933

Kinex Pharmaceuticals Licenses Patents from Hong Kong Polytechnic University

HONG KONG, Feb. 14, 2015 /PRNewswire/ — Kinex Pharmaceuticals today announces the exclusive licensing of global rights of three patents from The Hong Kong Polytechnic University and McGill University. These three patents covered the inventions by Professor Larry Chow and Professor William Chan including novel new chemical compounds that have nanomolar potency against a molecular target named Breast Cancer Resistance Protein (BCRP). BCRP is a protein pump known to pump drugs, including anticancer drugs, from cancer cells that can lead to drug resistance; and also to pump drugs back into gastrointestinal tract, which prevent some useful drugs to be delivered to their target.

The development of this technology, if successful, will expand the current Kinex oral drug absorption development platform. That platform currently includes the inhibition of P-glycoprotein that Kinex licensed from Hanmi in 2011. The lead molecule, HM30181A, has been shown in clinical studies to enhance the absorption of anticancer drugs including paclitaxel and irinotecan into orally available drugs. The lead program, Oraxol (an oral form of paclitaxel), has demonstrated clinical efficacy and an excellent safety profile in patient studies. Kinex is also actively developing other proprietary oral drug delivery platforms. The addition of another oral absorption delivery technology platform will further strengthen Kinex’s arsenal of converting greater classes of intravenous drugs into oral versions.

The terms of this exclusive license include upfront payments, milestones and royalties. Kinex is also committing to support research programs in Professor Larry Chow’s laboratory to further develop this platform collaboratively with Kinex.

Johnson YN Lau, MBBS, MD, FRCP, Chairman and CEO of Kinex Pharmaceuticals, stated, “The research of Professor Larry Chow complements Kinex’s drug development efforts. Kinex is a leader in the development of proprietary oral drug formulation and dosing for some of the important anticancer drugs including paclitaxel and irinotecan which currently have to be given intravenously.  Oral versions of these drugs can be more efficacious and have fewer side effects for the patients. The discovery of lead molecules against another target such as BCRP that can enhance oral drug absorption by Professor Larry Chow and William Chan, if successfully developed clinically, will add to the arsenal of tools for Kinex. We are excited to collaborate with Professor Larry Chow to further develop this drug delivery platform and to convert more current intravenous drugs into oral form.”

Flint Besecker, COO of Kinex, said, “We have learned in the clinic that converting existing intravenous drugs into oral forms opens the door to a wide array of proprietary formulation and titrated patient dosing regimens that are not possible through IV delivery systems. Oral forms of dosing allow the patients to be exposed over a longer period of time to the active pharmaceutical ingredients with less adverse side effects. This drug development strategy has less inherent risks and we are excited of the possibilities to make a difference in helping more patients. Such an effort, if successful, will have the potential to impact healthcare delivery globally and substantially.”

Larry Chow, PhD, Professor and Associate Head of the Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, commented, “I was impressed by Kinex in their ability to work with Hanmi Pharmaceuticals to advance the research program using a P-glycoprotein inhibitor to enhance the oral absorption of important drugs like paclitaxel and irinotecan and demonstrated its clinical utility. We are delighted that they will partner with us to help optimize our lead compound into a potentially useful molecule in the clinic for other drugs that are not absorbed orally because of this biologic pump system. Working with this wonderful group of industry veterans will allow us to tap into their expertise and to develop this platform further. I am excited with this collaboration.”

Nick Yang, Executive Vice President of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, stated, “To be able to establish successful collaborations between academia and industry is the mission of our University in transferring novel discoveries into useful applications that can help the community and serve the society. We are confident that the collaboration between PolyU and Kinex will open a new chapter for cancer drug development, bringing new hope to cancer patients globally and taking us one step closer to a revolution in cancer treatments.”

Central Conservatory Preparatory School (CCPS) Chamber Orchestra Performs at the Kennedy Art Center in Washington

WASHINGTON, February 10, 2015 /PRNewswire/ — Teachers and students of “Central Conservatory Preparatory School (CCPS) Chamber Orchestra” from Beijing, China, were invited to hold special performance on February the 9th, 2015 at the Kennedy Art Center in Washington, DC. A youth orchestra founded by Central Conservatory Preparatory School in 2014, CCPS Chamber Orchestra presented the U.S. audience with a chamber music concert. Since its foundation as a newly-emerging orchestra, CCPS Chamber Orchestra has maintained a focus of consistently pursing first-class music and a stellar reputation. CCPS insists on developing tacit cooperation between teachers and students, and the teamwork and collaboration ability of its students. Since the very beginning, the orchestra has been devoting itself to continuously finding and training domestic young players, building a distinctive international youth chamber music orchestra, and is boldly innovating and promoting Chinese youth chamber music orchestra’s march toward the world stage.

The Kennedy Art Center is one of the most famous cultural and arts organizations in the world, a holy place for top world culture and arts activities. It is known as the “National Grand Theater of America.” Every year, many famous performing artists from America and all over the world go to Washington and perform. CCPS Chamber Orchestra is one of the few school orchestras that is invited by the Kennedy Art Center.

The repertoire set of the concert was splendid. CCPS Chamber Orchestra played a number of classical pieces with which the audience was familiar, including Chinese and foreign movie music from “The Godfather” and “Why Is The Flowers So Red,” world famous repertoires “Las Cuatro Estaciones Portenas- Invierno” and “Czardas,” and a new work, “A Nodding From Her,” in which orchestral music and vocal music are combined.

Before performing at the Kennedy Art Center, CCPS Chamber Orchestra gave an international cultural exchange performance at the Music Hall of Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. The team brought best Chinese wishes to teachers and students there.

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Lilly Announces Diabetes Research Partnership with University of Surrey

– The five-year collaboration with the UK public research university will focus on health outcomes for people with type 2 diabetes

INDIANAPOLIS, Dec. 22, 2014 /PRNewswire/ — Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE: LLY) today announced a five-year research partnership with the University of Surrey to study health outcomes, focusing on the effects of treatment in people with type 2 diabetes, which affects about 95 percent of those with the disease.

Using real-world evidence (routine data gathered from patients undergoing diabetes treatments), Lilly and the University of Surrey will focus on developing answers to commonly asked clinical questions about the continuum of diabetes care, such as the role and timing of injectable therapy, factors impacting adherence to prescribed medicines and the pattern and rationale of therapy following diagnosis.

“Living with diabetes is a long and involved journey for patients and their caregivers,” said Brad Curtis, Ph.D., principal research scientist, Lilly Diabetes medical affairs. “It’s important for clinicians to understand each step of that journey so patients might have a better chance to reach optimal outcomes. We are honored to collaborate with the University of Surrey on this important project.”

“Diabetes is a complex condition to manage, requiring each patient to be treated and supported in a variety of ways,” said Professor Simon de Lusignan of the University of Surrey. “Our research uses routine data to help busy clinicians incorporate innovation into routine practice, focusing on those diseases that pose highest risk. By understanding how effectively individual care plans work we can learn more about how to improve and enhance diabetes care broadly. Our aim is to ensure that those suffering with the disease receive treatments that allow them to continue living their lives in the fullest sense, with effective support in place.”

Initially the Lilly-Surrey collaboration will focus on some key questions:

  • Adherence to therapy: Why do some people follow their diabetes treatment plan while others do not? What role do healthcare providers play in improving adherence rates? What are the barriers and the long-term effects for those who do not adhere to their treatment?
  • Triggers for initiation of injectable therapy: People with type 2 diabetes often transition to different therapies in an effort to gain greater control of the disease. These transitions could include moving from an oral treatment to an injectable medicine, such as a glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonist (GLP-1) or insulin. Which treatment would be best? What factors influence a health-care professional’s decision in choosing an injectable option? What factors influence the patient’s acceptance of that decision?
  • Understanding perspectives of both the patient and healthcare professional: How can health-care providers gain a better understanding of the patient’s journey? What are the key questions they and the patient can ask each other? Can real-world perspectives increase understanding of why some patients accept transition from orals to injectables to insulin, while others are less enthusiastic?

Diabetes remains one of society’s most prevalent diseases. More than 387 million people worldwide have type 1 and type 2 diabetes.1 Type 2 diabetes is the most common, accounting for an estimated 90 to 95 percent of all diabetes cases. Diabetes is a chronic disease that occurs when the body either does not properly produce, or use, the hormone insulin. 1

About the University of Surrey
The University of Surrey is one of the UK’s leading professional, scientific and technological universities with a world class research profile and a reputation for excellence in teaching and research. Ground-breaking research at the University is bringing direct benefit to all spheres of life – helping industry to maintain its competitive edge and creating improvements in the areas of health, medicine, space science, the environment, communications, defense and social policy. Programs in science and technology have gained widespread recognition and it also boasts flourishing programs in dance and music, social sciences, management and languages and law.

About Lilly Diabetes
Lilly has been a global leader in diabetes care since 1923, when we introduced the world’s first commercial insulin. Today we are building upon this heritage by working to meet the diverse needs of people with diabetes and those who care for them. Through research and collaboration, a broad and growing product portfolio and a continued determination to provide real solutions—from medicines to support programs and more—we strive to make life better for all those affected by diabetes around the world. For more information, visit www.lillydiabetes.com.

About Eli Lilly and Company
Lilly is a global healthcare leader that unites caring with discovery to make life better for people around the world. We were founded more than a century ago by a man committed to creating high-quality medicines that meet real needs, and today we remain true to that mission in all our work. Across the globe, Lilly employees work to discover and bring life-changing medicines to those who need them, improve the understanding and management of disease, and give back to communities through philanthropy and volunteerism. To learn more about Lilly, please visit us at www.lilly.com, @LillyHealth on Twitter and newsroom.lilly.com/social-channels. P-LLY

1. International Diabetes Federation. IDF Diabetes Atlas, 6th edn. Brussels, Belgium: International Diabetes Federation, 2013. http://www.idf.org/diabetesatlas .

Refer to: Candace Johnson, +1-317-755-9143, johnson_candace_a@lilly.com
Amy Sutton, +44 (0) 1483 686141, a.sutton@surrey.ac.uk

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PolyU to Open Hong Kong’s First Multi-user Ableton Sound Design Studio

HONG KONG, Dec. 2, 2014 /PRNewswire/ — On December 3rd, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University will unveil a new state-of-the-art sound design classroom. Located in Jockey Club Innovation Tower, the School of Design (PolyU Design) has developed a digital production environment suited to the needs of the burgeoning multimedia industry. Famous Producer, Songwriter and owner of MoFo Music Kelvin Avon will kick off the opening of the new classroom and give a speech.

With new faculty and technical resources, PolyU Design will deliver a well-rounded curriculum for students interested in sound production for industries such as animation or music production; as well as game, mobile application, and multimedia environment design.

Dr. Bryan Rill, faculty in the MSc in Multimedia and Entertainment Technology programme, designed the new facility. Drawing on two decades of experience as a professional DJ and sound producer, Dr. Rill designed the classroom with creative flow in mind. “I wanted to build a unique space where students with can quickly learn the basics and have fun creating and collaborating together.” To do this the room has twelve standing workstations pipelined to each other and to a separate recording room by a Focusrite Dante audio distribution system.  Students can work at one station or bounce audio between stations to work collectively on projects.

While designed for a soft learning curve, the facility is also capable of professional audio engineering to meet industry standards. The classroom is the first in Hong Kong built specifically around Ableton Live, one of the world’s leading software and hardware manufacturers for sound production. PolyU and Ableton are looking to develop joint educational programs for students and outreach to the broader community, with announcements of events forthcoming.

Producer, Songwriter and owner of MoFo Music Kelvin Avon (aka Afreex), a living example of the career potential for sound designers, will kick off the opening of the new classroom. Kelvin has written and produced with a variety of UK Urban artists, artists in Sweden for Warner Chappell as well as songwriters such as Curtis Richardson and Sandra Nordstrum. He has placed original music for Sony Playstation games, commercial advertisements and Hollywood movies. His company MoFo Music Ltd co-founded with Jun Kung signed a worldwide publishing deal with Peer Music. Jun and Kelvin are currently becoming the most in demand production/writing team in Hong Kong and are broadening their reach into Mainland China, Taiwan and South Korea.

The Grand Opening of Sound Studio will begin at 1:00 PM at V322 Lecture Theatre at the 3/F of Jockey Club Innovation Tower, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon. Reserve a seat at http://bit.ly/1uAgvhC    

Photo Download: http://bit.ly/1rqcW3r

About The Hong Kong Polytechnic University School of Design (PolyU Design)

As one of the top design schools in the world, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University School of Design is poised to play a leading role in design education and research by connecting and integrating the east and west cultures. The School provides top-notch programmes in advertising, environment and interior design, product design, communication design, interactive and digital media, at higher diploma, bachelor, master, and PhD levels.

Famous designers who graduated from PolyU Design include Raman Hui (Animation), Vivienne Tam (Fashion), Anthony Lo, (Automotive), Yip Kam-tim (Film), Dennis Chan (Jewelry), among others.

www.polyudesign.com

China Connection to Build Bridge to Better Health in Australia

SYDNEY, Nov. 18, 2014 /PRNewswire/ — A new research-led Chinese medicine clinic in Sydney, better patient outcomes and the potential for Australia to tap into the $170 billion global traditional Chinese medicine market are among the benefits set to flow from an agreement signed today in Canberra.

The Memorandum of Understanding is between world-leading Beijing University of Chinese Medicine (BUCM) and the University of Western Sydney (UWS), which is the home of the National Institute of Complementary Medicine (NICM). UWS and NICM have a longstanding relationship with BUCM in both research and education.

The focus of the new agreement will be the development of an Australian-first, high quality Chinese medicine integrative clinical service in Sydney, which will have a close connection to both clinical and laboratory-based research. It is hoped that the research will lead to the development of new treatments for unmet medical needs and new medicines for export around the world.

Australia is the only Western nation to have unified national registration of Chinese medicine practitioners and strict regulation of medicines, which delivers safe healthcare to thousands of Australians every year.

UWS Vice-Chancellor Professor Barney Glover says the well-established regulatory framework and the strong international reputation for complementary medicine research at NICM  assessed by the Australian Research Council as ‘well above world standard’ (the highest rating)  provides the ideal environment for the new partnership with BUCM to deliver benefits to patients and the nation’s economy.

“Together UWS and BUCM will conduct the research and clinical trials required to validate and translate Chinese medicines into an integrated healthcare setting in Australia,” says Professor Glover.

“The connections forged with the internationally regarded researchers at BUCM will further enhance the reputation of UWS as a centre of research excellence that delivers practical outcomes for our communities.”

Beijing University of Chinese Medicine President, Professor Xu Anlong, says the educational and research opportunities for students and academics from both nations created by this partnership are extraordinary.

“The establishment of the joint centre for Chinese medicine between BUCM and UWS will provide a world class facility integrating clinical service, education and research, together, to serve the Australian people and promote Chinese medicine to the world, particularly in developed countries like Australia,” says Professor Xu.

Director of NICM, Professor Alan Bensoussan says the close collaboration with BUCM will increase the capacity of scientists and clinicians to research Chinese medicine treatments.

“This agreement is the bridge that brings the research conducted in the laboratory closer to the patient’s beside where it can make a real difference to a person’s health and wellbeing,” says Professor Bensoussan.

“The closer collaboration with colleagues in China and the integration of research into a clinical setting will accelerate the development of more effective treatments for the most pressing and costly chronic health problems facing the world,” says Professor Bensoussan.

Media contacts:

Paul Grocott, UWS Media, +61406 429 304
Amanda Whibley, UWS Media, +61418 438 399

About University of Western Sydney (UWS)

UWS is a vibrant, modern university, located in one of the fastest growing regions in Australia – Greater Western Sydney, home to over 2 million people. UWS has over 40,000 students and 3,000 staff across nine campuses. 70 per cent of the University’s research in the last Excellence in Research for Australia (ERA) assessment was named as “world standard” or above. The University is also recognised for its high calibre teaching – receiving the Prime Minister’s Australian University Teacher of the Year Award for two consecutive years (2011 and 2012).

About National Institute of Complementary Medicine (NICM)

NICM at the University of Western Sydney was established in 2007 by the Australian and NSW Governments. It has over 50 researchers and higher degree research students. NICM’s research program focuses on the quality, safety, and effectiveness of complementary medicine, with a particular emphasis on Chinese medicine. NICM’s comprehensive research spans laboratory analysis, clinical trials and translation into practice. NICM is the only Australian complementary medicine research centre to receive the highest ranking of 5 in the Australian Government’s Excellence in Research for Australia (ERA)  signaling research well above world standard.

About Beijing University of Complementary Medicine

Founded in 1956, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine (BUCM) is one of the longest established higher education institutions for Chinese medicine in the People’s Republic of China. BUCM is the only university of Chinese medicine directly under China’s Ministry of Education with the support of China “211 Project”, a national development project committed to achieving first-class international-level university education. BUCM has 13 schools and offers degree programs at undergraduate, graduate and postdoctoral levels in Chinese medicine. BUCM delivers world-class degree programs, training and research across a wide range of subjects related to Chinese medicine and is committed to offering the best possible educational, cultural and social experience for its students. The University has a vibrant community of 22,308 students from different backgrounds and a wide range of facilities and top-ranked affiliated hospitals in Chinese medicine through which students and faculties may benefit from top-level teaching, research and clinical practice opportunities.