AJC Chinese Editor, Director of Oncology, Dr Gong Le with IPP-SHR Program Manager Hamish HolewaThe CQU based International Program of Psycho-Social Health Research (IPP-SHR) has strengthened its international research ties in a recent visit to Beijing, China.

The visit was used to explore research links with paediatric oncologists at the Beijing Children's Hospital interested in psycho-social health issues.

IPP-SHR Program Manager Hamish Holewa also used the visit to establish a Beijing editorial branch of IPP-SHR's international journal, the Austral-Asian Journal of Cancer (AJC).

The opening of a Beijing AJC editorial office represents an exciting step forward for the AJC, raising its profile and activities within China and the central Asian region. This compliments the Journal's current international presence and offices in Australia, India, USA, Greece, Japan and the UK.

According to Mr Holewa, "the AJC, to our knowledge, is the first English language cancer journal to be distributed and promoted from a Chinese editorial office. This represents an exciting step forward for the dissemination of cancer research and for the AJC."

In opening a Chinese AJC editorial office, Mr Holewa consolidated a 3-way link between IPP-SHR, the AJC's Chinese editors based at the General Hospital of Chinese People's Armed Police Forces and the International Research Promotion Council (IRPC), an important partner of the AJC.  These ties were formalised with the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU).

This partnership will be used to enhance international research collaborations, strengthen exchange programs between host country institutions, and support and promote quality peer-reviewed scientific publications within China, Australia and internationally.

"We are pleased to welcome our Chinese colleagues to the AJC and are keen to further scientific and research ties between all countries involved with the AJC," Mr Holewa said.

The AJC is a leader in the provision of open access (OA) journal content to all readers interested in cancer issues throughout the Austral-Asian region. Free online subscription to the journal can be found at http://www.ajcancer.org/ .