MAYOR NEWSOM ANNOUNCES NEW PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN UCSF AND PEKING UNIVERSITY

From the Mayor's Office of Communications

November 28, 2005

MOU creates a new entity called “The Center of Excellence in Quantitative Biomedical Research” -- a collaborative venture in this emerging field of life sciences research

BEIJING (November 28, 2005) - Mayor Newsom on Sunday announced a groundbreaking new partnership between the University of California San Francisco (UCSF) and Peking University in Beijing. This new partnershipbetween UCSF’s Institute of Quantitative Biology (QB3) and Peking University’s Center for Theoretical Biology (CTB), promises to become a model for international collaboration in the life sciences field.

The Mayor, Senator Dianne Feinstein and University of California Regents George Marcus and Richard Blum presided over the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the two universities on Sunday at Peking University in Beijing. The MOU creates a new entity called “The Center of Excellence in Quantitative Biomedical Research,” which is a collaborative venture in this emerging field of life sciences research. While both QB3
and CTB both already have excellent programs, the new Center of Excellence will enhance each Institute’s work by coupling the strengths of both. The Center will facilitate the exchange of students and faculty, co-sponsor symposia, seek funding for joint projects, and will generally foster greater interaction between UCSF and Peking University.

“This is an example of two of the pre-eminent research universities in the world coming together through a collaboration that will benefit not only San Francisco and Beijing but, ultimately, the entire word,” said Mayor Gavin Newsom. “The Center of Excellence will no doubt lead to scientific breakthroughs in addressing some of the world’s most challenging diseases.”

“I am proud that QB3 is forging new international collaborations such as this,” said UC Regent George Marcus. “The Center of Excellence is a model for the rest of the UC System and other universities around the world to emulate.”

“Peking University provides a fine training environment for superb young physical scientists,” said Regis Kelly, Director of QB3. “QB3 can complement this training by providing excellent facilities to carry out cutting-edge biomedical research. Combining our talents opens up new horizons for both institutions.”

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