VU Medical Science Centre Visited by Iowa University Scientist Prof. Aliasger K. Salem

On March 12, Iowa University (USA) scientist Prof. Aliasger K. Salem visited Vilnius University (VU) Medical Science Centre. The visit was organised as part of the US Department of State Business Exchange Program in cooperation with the biotechnology company „Delta Biosciences“. The guest visited Lithuania together with the founder of this company, Dominykas Milašius. The purpose of the visit is to strengthen cooperation between Lithuania and the United States of America in the field of life sciences.

During the visit, Prof. A. K. Salem met with the Vice-Dean of Postgraduate Studies of the VU Faculty of Medicine, Prof. Vytautas Kasiulevičius, Vice-Dean of Undergraduate Studies, Assoc. Prof. Laura Nedzinskienė, Director of the Biobank of Lithuanian Population and Rare Disorders Dr Giedre Kvedaravičienė, Head of the Pharmacy and Pharmacology Center Assoc. Prof. Kristina Garuoliene and other VU scientists also toured the laboratories operating at the Medical Science Centre.

Prof. A. K. Salem is the Vice Chancellor for Research at the University of Iowa and the Pharmaceutical Sciences professor of the Bighley Department at the University of Iowa, College of Pharmacy. He is an internationally recognised expert in nanotechnology, drug delivery systems, gene therapy, and vaccine development, having published more than 270 peer-reviewed scientific publications. The scientist is an elected member of the National Academy of Inventors, and also belongs to the American Association for Pharmaceutical Scientists, as well as the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and other prestigious international organisations. In addition to academic activities, he actively contributes to the promotion of innovation and entrepreneurship in the pharmaceutical and biomedical fields.

„Lithuania has a strong and rapidly growing life sciences ecosystem. I was very interested in getting acquainted with the research conducted by Vilnius University scientists and their infrastructure. I believe that cooperation between the University of Iowa and Lithuanian institutions can open up new opportunities for both scientific research and exchange of students and young researchers“, said Prof. A. K. Salem.

During his visit to Lithuania, Prof. A. K. Salem aimed to get acquainted with the country’s science and innovation ecosystem, discuss cooperation opportunities with the University of Iowa and its College of Pharmacy, and seek partners for academic exchange. Special attention was paid to cooperation opportunities in the fields of hydrogels and nanoengineering. During the meeting, opportunities for long-term institutional cooperation, scientific research and student exchange were also discussed.

„Such visits are important in strengthening international scientific ties and creating new areas of cooperation. We hope that this meeting will become the basis for further joint projects, academic exchanges and innovative research in the field of life sciences“, says Assoc. Prof. Kristina Garuolienė, Head of the Pharmacy and Pharmacology Center of the VU Faculty of Medicine.