In July 2025, Shenzhen University Medical School organized an academic‐exchange delegation to Italy, led by Professor Xingzhi Xu, Executive Dean of the Medical School. The team included Professor Ping Yan, Visiting Professor at Shenzhen University and former Vice President of Zhongnan University of Economics and Law, Associate Professor Guangtao Huang from the Department of Burn and Plastic Surgery at the First Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University, and Ruoran Li, International Coordinator. From 8 to 12 July, they visited several institutions and formalized a collaboration with the University of Udine’s Medical School, signing an agreement to establish the joint laboratory called Shenzhen Udine Genomic Instability and Tumorigenicity (SUGIT).

Delegates visited the University of Catania

On the morning of July 9, the delegation met at the President’s Office of the University of Catania alongside representatives from Zhongnan University of Economics and Law. A symposium featuring Professor Francesco Priolo (President, University of Catania), Professor Antonella Agodi (Dean, School of Medicine, Surgery and Advanced Technology), Professor Cristoforo Pomara (Head, School of Forensic Medicine), and other experts explored collaboration in forensic science and medicine. Discussions also covered plans to establish the Shenzhen University Forensic Science Institute and renovate the university’s Forensic Center. In the afternoon, delegates gathered at the University of Catania Law School for a special seminar on “Factors Affecting the Psychological State of Forensic Experts and Intervention Strategies.”

Medical School Delegation Meets with Dr. Enrico Trantino, the mayor of Catania (second from right)

Later that day, the delegation met with Dr. Enrico Trantino, Mayor of Catania, to discuss opportunities for cultural exchange between China and Italy.

Representatives of the Medical School visited the University of Udine

On July 10, the group traveled to the University of Udine, where they officially signed the SUGIT cooperation agreement with the Udine Medical School. Professor Gianluca Tell (Director, Laboratory of Molecular Biology and DNA Repair, and Deputy Director, Medical School at Udine) and members of the Clinical Translational Research Center joined the signing ceremony. This partnership lays a strong foundation for joint research, talent development, and further international collaboration.

Overall, the visit not only reinforced ties between Shenzhen University and leading Italian institutions but also opened new avenues for the internationalization of Shenzhen University’s medical programs.