UNIVERSITY of Limerick is to establish a strategic partnership with the University of Pittsburgh and the University of Pittsburgh Medical Centre to promote interdisciplinary research in medical and technology sciences.
The partnership will explore several areas of mutual interest, including academic programme development. The trilateral partnership will seek to link academics and innovation with excellence in clinical care to impact care delivery in the Mid-West Region.
University of Pittsburgh Vice Chancellor Dr Maggie McDondald visited UL in May to meet with Health Science counterparts and research teams in ageing and digital oncology to progress the partnership.
A Memorandum of Understanding incorporates a programme to facilitate clinical and academic rotations amongst the parties and identify work placement opportunities for clinicians from various disciplines to engage in this collaboration.
Research mentorships, research collaborations, and the exchange of knowledge and best practice between the parties is a key focus of the agreement.
Remarking on the wide-ranging possibilities of the new partnership, UL Executive Dean Professor Rachel Msfeti, said the new relationship aligns with the University’s commitment to creating synergies with partners that can optimise societal impact, particularly in the area of healthcare.”
“We intend to deepen our engagement with the healthcare sector by exploring learning and technologies to deliver innovative solutions for health issues, such as innovative ways keep elderly healthier at home longer and also in digital cancer patient development,” she explained.
UPMC International senior vice president David Beirne said they were changing how healthcare is delivered in Ireland, and were excited to partner with UL and the University of Pittsburgh to benefit communities in the Mid-West and across Ireland.
“This means that Ireland will get access of the most advanced medical technologies, innovation, research and information technology for the benefit of Irish patients.”
The parties agree that academic collaboration and research partnerships are essential to improving patient centred-care that will benefit Limerick and the broader Mid-West Region.
