The joint research center of Xi’an Jiaotong University(XJTU)- University College London(UCL) for molecular medicine and endemic diseases was founded in August of 2020, by Professor Guo Xiong from Endemic Disease Institution, Public Health School, Xi’an Jiaotong University and Professor David Abraham from the Rheumatology and Connective Tissue Diseases Centre, University College London.

Established in 1826, University College London (UCL) is the largest comprehensive research university in the UK with the widest range of disciplines. It is ranked 8th worldwide in the QS World University Rankings in 2020, with 29 Nobel laureates coming from here. The Rheumatology and Connective Tissue Diseases Centre was also one of the world leaders in its research field.

The Endemic Disease Institution of Xi’an Jiaotong University has a long research history. Since 1960s, it has started carring out a comprehensive research of Kashin-Beck disease, Keshan disease, and fluorosis on population and environment, etiology and pathology. It has owned a strong research foundation and it is in the leading position in this field.

This research center aims to integrate the research experience and resources of the University College London and Xi’an Jiaotong University in the fields of connective tissue molecular biology research, endemic disease environment and population research, to achieve complementary advantages and strengthen international cooperation. Relying on the Key Laboratory of Trace Elements and Endemic Disease Research of the Health and Health Commission, the center will promote the scientific research of important research topics such as etiology and prevention of endemic diseases, molecular pathogenesis of osteochondral diseases, and tissue engineering of osteochondral diseases. Up to now, the researchers of the center have organized many academic exchange meetings, applied for national-level international cooperation projects, and carried out joint training of graduate students.