On October 19, the Institute of Ophthalmology of Nankai University, jointly built by Nankai University and Tianjin Eye Hospital, was inaugurated. Wang Jianguo, secretary of the Party Committee of Tianjin Municipal Health Commission, Cao Xuetao, president of Nankai University, Yan Hua, secretary of the Party Committee of Tianjin Medical University and dean of the School of Medicine of Nankai University, Zhao Kanxing, honorary President of Tianjin Eye Hospital, Wang Chunge, secretary of the Party Committee of Tianjin Eye Hospital affiliated to Nankai University, and Wang Yan, president of Tianjin Eye Hospital attended the ceremony.

Cao Xuetao, Xie Lixin, Wang Chunge and Wang Yan jointly inaugurated the Institute of Ophthalmology of Nankai University. 

Xie Lixin and Wang Yan were appointed respectively as the chair of the academic committee of the Institute and the president of the Institute. Zhao Kanxing, honorary president of Tianjin Eye Hospital, was appointed as special advisor of the Institute.

Wang Jianguo pointed out in his speech that he hoped Nankai University and Tianjin Eye Hospital would give full play to their advantages, strengthen scientific research cooperation, carry out in-depth interdisciplinary research in ophthalmology and visual science, achieve more excellent scientific research and innovation results, and continuously explore new ways to transform scientific research results and apply them into the clinic for the benefit of ophthalmology patients.

Cao Xuetao pointed out that the establishment of the Institute is an important strategic deployment of Nankai University to accelerate the “4211 Seeking Excellence Plan” in terms of biomedicine in the next centennium. The Institute will gradually build an ophthalmology center with international reputation and focus on four aspects, i.e. a first-class medical service center, a highland for scientific research and innovation, a high-level talent training center, and a center for international cooperation and exchange.

According to the level of the discipline and the depth of the interdisciplinary integration, the Institute of Ophthalmology of Nankai University will set up four research centers, namely, Vision Science and Optics Research Center, Artificial Intelligence and Precision Medicine Research Center, Ophthalmic Tissue Engineering and Biomaterials Research Center, and Ophthalmic Genetics and Cell Biology Research Center. It will gradually build a university-hospital innovative research system with the goal of producing first-class academic results and training first-class talents and finally become an internationally renowned and domestic first-class innovative research platform in ophthalmology and vision science.

After the inaugural meeting of the Institute of Ophthalmology of Nankai University, the Academician Summit Forum was held.

Tianjin Eye Hospital is the first national Grade III, Level A hospital specializing in ophthalmology, which was founded in 1924 and ranks among the top in ophthalmology of China, with several subspecialty disciplines leading in national ophthalmology and optometry clinical and research fields. In recent years, Tianjin Eye Hospital has established close teaching and research cooperation with Nankai University.

(Reported by Fu Kun and Wei Chengjin, Photoed by Zong Qiqi, edited and translated by Nankai News Team.)