A Memorandum of Understanding has been exchanged between the University of Arizona Health Sciences (UAHS) and The University of Western Australia's Medical School. 

The Memorandum of Understanding formalises a framework for developing academic and cultural interchanges in teaching, research and other activities at UAHS.

A delegation of representatives from the WA Government and UWA were in Tucson, Arizona, for the ceremony and to tour key facilities and projects at the university. 

Representatives from WA included Professor Grant Waterer, from UWA’s Medical School and Chief Medical Officer of East Metropolitan Health Service, Professor Kevin Pfleger, Director of Biomedical and Health Innovation at UWA and the MTPConnect WA Life Sciences Innovation Hub, and Hon Stephen Dawson MLC, Minister for Emergency Services; Innovation and ICT; Medical Research and Volunteering. 

Image: The delegation toured key facilities.

At a presentation earlier in the day, Professor Pfleger described many of the projects and partnerships in biodesign and biomedical innovation that he oversees, and that could be areas of interest within the framework of the new MOU. 

“Biodesign Australia has strong relationships with Stanford and the Texas Medical Center,” Professor Pfleger said.

“This new MOU is primarily focused on transnational medical education and joint research activities, and as a consequence of our discussions, I am also keen to extend Biodesign collaborations to our friends in Arizona.”

The two universities already have research collaborations in the areas of astronomy, space science and physics. 

In April 2021, the University of Arizona and UWA signed an agreement establishing a framework for research and collaboration between the two universities, and formalising the intentions to offer two dual degree programs: a dual J.D. and a global M.D., are in development and would open the door for students to earn advanced degrees in medicine and law.

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