Monash visit to Vietnam opens research collaboration opportunities

Professor Liem Nguyen, Professor Graham Jenkin
with delegates 

Last week, Professor Graham Jenkin, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, was the guest of honour and Plenary Speaker at the Vinmec inaugural "Workshop on application of stem cell and gene technology in cerebral palsy and severe diseases diagnosis and treatment" held in Nhin Binh, Vietnam.

Professor Jenkin was hosted by Professor Nguyen Thanh Liem, Director of the Vinmec Research Institute of Stem Cell and Gene Technology at Vinmec International Hospital in Hanoi. Vinmec is the Hospital arm of the VinGroup, comprising six major hospitals in Vietnam and voted by the Hospital Management Association of Asia as Vietnam's most progressive hospital. 

The Flagship hospital is located in Vinmec Times City in Hanoi, which also houses their state of the art research laboratories. 

"These laboratories include the Stem Cell and Gene Technology Centre and the Vinmec Assisted Reproductive Technologies Centre," Professor Jenkin said. 

"Professor Nguyen, the Director, already has a long term collaboration with Associate Professor Chris Kimber, Head of Paediatric Surgery at Monash Children's Hospital."

As a result of a visit to the Monash Health Translation Precinct (MHTP) in December last year, Professor Nguyen and Professor Jenkin recognised there was significant potential for interaction and collaboration between the two Centres, as well as with the recently opened Monash Children’s Hospital.

Around 80 Vinmec staff and research professionals attended Professor Jenkin's presentations, which included an overview of the MHTP Translational Research Facility and talks about the research being undertaken by the Cell Therapy and Regenerative Medicine Group, headed by Professor Jenkin, and the Fetal and Neonatal Health Neuroprotection Group, headed by Associate Professor Suzie Miller.

"The Vinmec Institute presented on their clinical translation research and trials on use of stem cells in the treatment of cerebral palsy, broncho pulmonary displasia, autism and liver fibrosis after biliary atrophy surgery; as well as on gene mutations in autistic children and gene therapy for RETT syndrome," Professor Jenkin said.

Professor Nguyen will pay a reciprocal visit to the MHTP in November this year. Anyone interested in meeting with Professor Nguyen should contact Professor Graham Jenkin.