July 25, 2011

VCU and University of Dammam to Collaborate on Science, Technology and Health Care Research

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Officials from Virginia Commonwealth University and the University of Dammam in Saudi Arabia have signed a Letter of Interest representing the institutions’ intent to collaborate on basic, clinical and translational research relating to science, technology and health care.

A ceremonial signing of the Letter of Interest took place July 21 at the conclusion of a two-day visit to VCU by Alhusain Alzahrani, Ph.D., professor of microbiology and dean of scientific research at the University of Dammam, who had spent time touring the campus and meeting with key members of the leadership team here.

“This agreement sets the stage for international collaboration in biomedical, basic and clinical research,” said Francis Macrina, Ph.D., VCU’s vice president for research. “This partnership will allow us to share ideas, put our resources together and advance research and innovation in a number of health-related fields.”

Alzahrani said he is excited to begin the first collaboration with a U.S. university. He said, “This is an exchange of ideas – not just from an academic perspective, but cultural too.” He was thankful for the hospitality and friendly atmosphere he experienced during his stay.

The institutions plan to work together to facilitate innovation, conduct research and development projects and commercialize resulting intellectual properties. These projects may involve hepatitis and other infectious diseases, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer and other medical, surgical and dental conditions, or other areas of possible cooperation.

VCU has developed university-wide partnerships with 15 universities, most with academic medical centers, which include universities in the Middle East, Europe, Africa and Asia, South America and Mexico.

The University of Dammam was established in 1975 and began as the Dammam Campus of King Faisal University in Saudi Arabia. At that time, the campus had two colleges – the College of Medicine and Medical Sciences and the College of Architecture and Planning. The University of Dammam now consists of 24 colleges, 123 departments, more than 1,400 faculty members and 24,950 students.