International Collaboration

NICM Health Research Institute (NICM HRI) has been highly successful in building relationships with lead international researchers and research agencies.

Australia China Free Trade Agreement

On November 17, 2014 the Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott and People's Republic of China President Xi Jinping attended the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in Canberra between University of Western Sydney and Beijing University of Chinese Medicine (BUCM).

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 a 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," said Professor Glover.

Member for Macarthur, Mr. Matheson, asked that the House of Representatives note the importance of Complementary Medicines in Australia, and spoke highly of NICM HRI and its partnership with BUCM.

Read the Hansard Report (PDF, 2314.33 KB) (opens in a new window)

Read the ChAFTA Fact Sheet Movement of Natural Persons ( PDF, 342.08 KB) (opens in a new window)

Read the ChAFTA Fact Sheet Trade in Services (PDF, 126.93 KB) (opens in a new window)

MoU with China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences

As early as 2008 (NICM HRI's first full year of operations) the scientific study of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) in Australia received a major boost with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between NICM HRI and the China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences (CACMS).

The agreement between NICM HRI and CACMS focuses on the enhancement of scientific understanding of Chinese medicine through the facilitation of collaborative research projects and academic exchanges. This event also marked the official launch of the NICM HRI Collaborative Centre for Traditional Chinese Medicine.

Since that time, additional agreements have been signed with Xiyuan Hospital, Shineway Pharmaceuticals (China), the SOHO Group (Indonesia), to name a few.

MoU with the Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine

A formal Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Western Sydney University and the Korean Institute of Oriental Medicine (KIOM) was signed in 2014. The MoU was established to enhance academic knowledge between the two institutions, providing a mechanism for increased academic and research collaboration. The KIOM, under the Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning, is the national hub of research and development of Traditional Korean Medicine (TKM) and has been in operation since 1994.It is vitally interested in introducing well-evidenced TKM to western clinical practice.

Recognition by the Chinese Government as a National Level International Joint Research Centre

In late 2013, the strength of NICM HRI's partnership with Xiyuan Hospital and CACMS has been recognised by the Chinese Government through its recognition as a National Level International Joint Research Centre. Only 38 International Centres across all disciplines have been provided with this recognition, and only two other international collaborations fall within the area of traditional Chinese medicine. These Centres are selected through a rigorous and comprehensive evaluation process based on recommendations of the provincial and municipal governments in China.

Official recognition of National level International Joint Research Centres is part of the MOST strategies to implement the Chinese 12th Five Year Plan aiming to promote international cooperation in science and technology. Although there won't be significant seed funding from MOST in the first instance, future grant applications from the centres will be treated favourably. Plaque unveiling ceremonies will be held for the Chinese hosts and their relevant international partners in due course.

Other international collaborations include:

• Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, China
• China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences
• Harvard Medical School
• Sun Yat-Sen University, China
• The School of Chinese Medicine, University of Hong Kong
• The University of Manchester
• The University of Mississippi
• World Health Organization
• Xiyuan Hospital