China - bilateral cooperation in heart failure research

We hereby apply for project establishment support for bilateral research cooperation with groups in Beijing, China.The planned bilateral research cooperation is an integral part of the international strategy of our institute and the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Oslo (UoO). Our institute is a part of a larger scientific effort in the Oslo region called Center for Heart Failure Research, which is financially supported by Faculty of Medicine and Eastern Norway Regional Health Authority and headed by the project leader (Geir Christensen). It is also basis for an application in the final round to the Research Council to become Center of Excellence (Center for Integrated Cardiac Research; CICARE). We have established contact and plan scientific coop eration with scientists located at The General Hospital of the Chinese Peoples Liberation Army and Peking University. Heart research in those institutions and in China in general is in rapid development and has comparative strong background within the fie lds of molecular biology, signal transduction and genetic profiling. Along with the rapid development both in general medicine and economy, China will become a strong partner within the field of heart research in the near future. It should also be noted t hat China has a huge number of patients with heart failure. If financial support for the proposed bilateral cooperation is provided by the Research Council, we will further develop the scientific plans outlined in the attached project plan to establish ne w projects together with our Chinese partners that will result in project applications to the Research Councils other programmes or to other funding sources. The main scientific aim is to unravel the molecular mechanisms of heart failure for integration w ith clinical research and provide a scientific basis for future management of patients. Exchange of doctoral and post-doctoral research fellows will be an important part of the future cooperation.