On 31 October, the VNUHCM Scientific and Technological Project Evaluation Council convened at VNUHCM–Â鶹´«Ã½ (HCMUS) to review the outcomes of a VNUHCM-level applied research and technology development project entitled “Research into Developing Small-Diameter Vascular Grafts Using a Bioreactor System for Application in Vascular Grafting.â€� The project is led by Assoc. Prof. Trần Lê Bảo Hà, a lecturer at HCMUS.

This project falls under the Programme for Fundamental Science Development in Chemistry, Life Sciences, Earth Sciences, and Marine Sciences for the 2017–2025 period (Programme 562), with HCMUS as the primary implementing institution.

During the implementation process, the research team achieved significant results. The project identified porcine carotid arteries and human umbilical arteries as two potential raw materials for fabricating small-diameter vascular grafts, simultaneously optimising the bioreactor system to regenerate vascular cells under near-physiological conditions. By combining physical and chemical agents in the decellularisation process, the team successfully created suitable acellular vascular scaffolds for mechanical reinforcement. Surface treatment steps using heparin bonding significantly improved anti-coagulation capability and cell adhesion. Notably, the project established a standard evaluation framework for vascular grafts comprising 18 criteria. Testing on animal models showed that the grafts maintained stable blood flow and did not form thrombi after three months, confirming the feasibility and potential application of this research direction.

Beyond the specialised results, the project yielded substantial outcomes in scientific publications and training: four international SCIE articles and four domestic articles were published; three Type I products, two procedures, and two reports (Type II products) were completed; the project fully trained three Master’s students and supported two PhD research students (Type III products); and one intellectual property registration application was formally accepted.

The VNUHCM Scientific and Technological Project Evaluation Council concluded that the project fully completed all contents and products as specified in the proposal. The quality and quantity of registered products, as well as the applicability, met the requirements, with the publication and postgraduate training results being rated excellent. The Council unanimously recommended that the research team continue to finalise the documentation and report for submission for evaluation and acceptance at the higher, national level in the near future. This marks an important step forward in the study of biomaterials for regenerative medicine, contributing to affirming the scientific and technological capacity of HCMUS in the interdisciplinary research field spanning biology, materials science, and biomedical technology.

On 24 October, VNUHCM-Â鶹´«Ã½ (HCMUS) convened a strategic meeting with a delegation from National Chung Hsing University (NCHU, Taiwan) to fortify academic cooperation, focusing specifically upon agriculture, biology, and environmental engineering.

The visiting delegation comprised Mr Wei-Chih Lin – Director of the Education Division at the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Ho Chi Minh City (TECO), alongside distinguished faculty members from NCHU. Representing HCMUS were Dr Võ Hồng Hải – Deputy Head of the Office of External Relations, and senior academic staff from the Faculties of Biology – Biotechnology, Chemistry, and Physics – Engineering Physics.

During the proceedings, HCMUS representatives presented an overview of the university’s academic curricula and research infrastructure, underscoring key competencies in biotechnology, notably plant physiology and biochemistry, microbial technology, cell technology, and biosensing. Reciprocally, representatives from NCHU delineated academic initiatives and technological priorities, encompassing smart agriculture, bio-industrial mechatronics, veterinary science, and animal science. The parties identified the application of artificial intelligence in crop management and livestock health diagnostics as a primary domain for potential collaboration.

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Representatives from VNUHCM-Â鶹´«Ã½ and National Chung Hsing University (Taiwan) engaging in substantive dialogue regarding collaboration in biotechnology, smart agriculture, and applied research innovation.

The two institutions explored avenues for strategic partnership regarding sustainable agricultural biotechnology, the development of climate-resilient crops, plant-based biotherapeutics, and automation technologies for modern farming systems. Participants advanced proposals to facilitate academic exchanges for researchers, lecturers, and students, and to interconnect laboratory facilities in support of large-scale joint research initiatives.

This meeting underscored the synergistic potential between the foundational scientific strengths of HCMUS and the applied technological expertise held by NCHU. Both parties reached a consensus to establish a long-term cooperative framework aimed at advancing international academic engagement, developing high-quality human capital, and fostering innovation within biotechnology and high-tech agriculture.