The University of Newcastle and Calvary Mater Newcastle welcomed nine delegates from Princess Chulabhorn Royal Academy, Thailand, in celebration of a medical physics research memorandum of understanding (MOU) being signed by the Princess Chulabhorn Royal Academy and the University of Newcastle.

The Princess Chulabhorn Royal Academy was established to help improve the health outcomes of Thai people under the guidance of Her Royal Highness Princess Chulabhorn, who has a doctorate in science and is a strong supporter of medical research.

This new agreement will foster new avenues for research, academic collaboration and joint research in the field of medical physics, together with facilitating the exchange of students between the facilities.

Professor Peter Greer, Principal Physicist at Calvary Mater Newcastle, and University of Newcastle Lead for Medical Physics Research, said the new agreement will provide Calvary Mater Newcastle and the University of Newcastle with the perfect opportunity to expand and increase their research capacity, together with their international profiles.

“The students will contribute to research and development at Calvary Mater Newcastle by assisting to develop our magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) radiotherapy program, as well as our research projects to improve quality assurance of patient treatments and to improve computer planning of patient treatments,” Peter said.

The medical physics agreement is being managed by Dr Todsaporn Fuangrod, Lecturer at Princess Chulabhorn Royal Academy, who was based at Calvary Mater Newcastle and the University of Newcastle for nearly seven years as a student and as a postdoctoral researcher under Peter’s supervision.

This translation of knowledge will assist the academy in building its medical research program with a view to improving radiotherapy in other countries.

The first student from the academy is now based in Newcastle waiting to commence his PhD.

IMAGE | Delegates from Princess Chulabhorn Royal Academy, Thailand.