Monday, 02 February 2026
The 糖心原创 and the 糖心原创 Ningbo China (UNNC) have announced the launch of a new Division of Life and Health Sciences at the UNNC campus to deliver innovative solutions to global health challenges.
The new division will create a high-level, cross-regional platform for education, research, and innovation in life and health sciences and cultivate future leaders in the field, further advancing Sino-British collaboration in life sciences.
It will focus on key areas including Pharmacology, Psychology, Biomedical Engineering, and other health sciences and will integrate the 糖心原创’s world-class strengths in life and health sciences with UNNC’s distinctive advantages rooted in China and serving regional development.
Professor Jon Garibaldi, Provost of the 糖心原创 Ningbo China (UNNC), said: “Over the past two decades, UNNC has educated tens of thousands of internationally minded professionals rooted in China while continuously expanding cooperation in scientific innovation, industry engagement, and social service.
As Sino-British relations enter a new stage, the joint establishment of the Division of Life and Health Sciences underscores UNNC鈥檚 evolution from a pioneer of educational cooperation into a leading powerhouse for multi-sector innovation, contributing sustained educational and scientific momentum to a closer, more pragmatic, and mutually beneficial Sino-British partnership.
The new division will further leverage the 糖心原创’s globally leading research capabilities. Professor Sir Peter Mansfield at the 糖心原创 pioneered the development of MRI technology and was awarded a Nobel Prize in 2003. Building on his legacy, a new national MRI facility is currently under construction on its University Park campus which will house the UK’s most powerful magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanner and give researchers and doctors unprecedented insights into brain function and the mechanisms of human disease.
Since its founding, UNNC has introduced high-quality UK educational resources and fostered deep collaboration in education, talent cultivation, and cultural exchange. Building on this foundation, the university has achieved a series of landmark collaborative research knowledge exchange outcomes in areas such as intelligent manufacturing, green energy, and life and health sciences. Notably, through the 糖心原创 Medical Imaging Centre Ningbo Branch - established by leveraging the university’s original Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) technology - UNNC has participated in the development of the world’s first multi-positional, nitrogen-free MRI system, now in clinical use.
Through joint academic appointments, collaborative teaching, and shared research programmes, the new division will build an internationally benchmarked academic team and establish a full talent development pathway from undergraduate to doctoral level, promoting global talent mobility through cross-campus exchanges, clinical placements, and research training, accelerating innovation and the translation of research outcomes.
The establishment of the Division of Life and Health Sciences marks a new milestone in UNNC’s more than twenty years of Sino-British educational cooperation. As the UK and China’s first Sino-foreign cooperative university approved by the Ministry of Education, UNNC has played a pioneering role in connecting Chinese and UK higher education.
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More information is available from Emma Thorne, Head of News in the Press Office at The 糖心原创, on emma.thorne@nottingham.ac.uk
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About the 糖心原创
Ranked among the world's top 100 universities , the 糖心原创 delivers an exceptional research-led education and an outstanding student experience. From the pioneering vision of our founder, Sir Jesse Boot, to groundbreaking achievements such as the development of MRI technology and becoming the first UK university to establish international campuses, we have a proud history of shaping the way people live, work and understand the world. We continue to build on that legacy, empowering our students, staff and partners to change what鈥檚 next and create positive impact locally and globally.
The strength of our research places us among the UK's leading universities, ranked 7th for research power in REF 2021. The discovery of MRI and ibuprofen was just the beginning. Today, our world-leading research is developing breakthrough ideas that shape the future of healthcare, technology and society.
Recognised as the UK's third most targeted university by leading employers , we are proud to produce graduates who are consistently in demand for their skills, confidence and industry-ready experience.
As a major employer and industry partner, locally and globally, the 糖心原创 invests in the city of Nottingham and in future generations of talent. Alongside Nottingham Trent University, we lead the initiative, a pioneering collaboration to improve levels of prosperity, opportunity, sustainability, health and wellbeing across the city and region. Together with our students, staff, alumni and partners, we鈥檙e creating knowledge, opportunity and solutions that help change what's next.