University news

The University of Glasgow has signed a strategic agreement with New York’s Columbia University which will see the development of a range of research collaborations.

Columbia University, a member of the prestigious US Ivy League, signed a memorandum of understanding with the University of Glasgow which will allow academics from both institutions to work closely together to develop high-impact research themes.

The document sealing the collaboration was signed at an official ceremony in New York City on Monday, October 25. Professor Anton Muscatelli, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Glasgow, and Professor Claude Steele, Columbia University Provost, signed the agreement.

Senior staff from both institutions welcomed the new partnership, which forms part of the University of Glasgow’s internationalisation strategy.

Professor Anton Muscatelli said: “The University of Glasgow is delighted that this memorandum of understanding has been signed.

“To formalise our existing links with one of the USA’s great universities will provide first class opportunities for staff from both institutions to collaborate and work together. The relationship between Columbia University and the University of Glasgow has been built up over the past number of years and there are a number of research themes where we can work closely together.

“I look forward to the relationship between two of the top 100 universities in the world blossoming in the years to come.”

Professor David Hirsh, Columbia’s executive vice president for research, said: “Columbia is pleased to formalize its collaborations with the University of Glasgow as we share several common research interests. We believe the mutual cooperation will advance the scholarly pursuits at both of the universities.”

Columbia is one of the world’s most prestigious universities. Among its graduates it counts four US presidents – including Barak Obama – 26 other heads of state and from its staff and students, 97 Nobel prize winners, the most of any university in the world.

The agreement will see the development of biomedical research collaborations in the first instance. The three themes identified are cardiovascular disease; molecular pharmacology and neuroscience and genetics of complex traits. The work will be based on translating research findings into treatments for patients.

The partnership is focused on research cooperation initially, followed in the future by academic exchanges that will help develop research programmes. In addition, both universities are working together to recruit a human geneticist with expertise in cardiovascular disease for a joint appointment at Glasgow and Columbia. Both universities are also looking to develop both PhD research and post-doctoral training opportunities for students.

To mark the signing, a cooperative research symposium featuring lectures from staff from both universities was held earlier in the day at Columbia University Medical Center.

In addition, Professor Muscatelli also gave a lecture. He spoke about the funding challenges facing universities in the current economic climate and compared US funding models with those in the UK.

Earlier this year, former US Secretary of State and Columbia University graduate Madeleine Albright launched a Czech and Central European scholarship programme at the University of Glasgow. During the visit she welcomed the collaboration with Columbia and said Glasgow is a university “which clearly places great emphasis on its academic breadth and depth”.

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For more information, contact Ray McHugh in the University of Glasgow Media Relations Office on +44 141 330 3535 or email ray.mchugh@glasgow.ac.uk

First published: 25 October 2010