ZGT and the University of Twente (UT) will be working even more closely together in the research and development of solutions to personalised, patient-focused healthcare. To formalize this partnership, both parties signed a new cooperation agreement on the 28th of November, the day before the opening of the new UT Technical Medical Centre.
Both organisations are excited about the tremendous advantages associated with the commencement of this intensive cooperation. “A more intensive cooperation between medical professionals and researchers will greatly boost the impact in healthcare that we have been striving for here at the University of Twente”, explains Victor van der Chijs, Executive Board Chairman at the University of Twente. “Naturally, we are very excited to renew this partnership with ZGT. This cooperation is a great example of how the University of Twente works with various partners in the MedTech ecosystem of the region of Twente.” Hilde Dijstelbloem, Chairman of the ZGT Board of Directors, is thrilled about intensifying the relationship with the University of Twente. “We can combine our medical knowledge and connect our scientific worlds and join forces to create technological developments that will allow us to take even better care of our patients. Science already has pride of place at our hospital, a fact that is illustrated by the presence of our very own Research Bureau. But this set-up also significantly boosts our scientific expertise. In this way we also boost the quality of regional care and the continued development of our leading clinical areas of healthcare.“
The UT and ZGT primarily focus on complex diabetes, trauma surgery for the vulnerable elderly, oncology with a focus on breast cancer and prostate cancer, and the optimisation of logistical processes. The institutes are working to find new solutions, for example in the area of medical imaging, in order to detect abnormalities sooner and with greater precision. New solutions are already being applied for vascular disease, foot wounds and tumours. They are also jointly developing smart sensor methods and technology that help healthcare professionals to continuously monitor the health status of patients, both in hospital and at home. This will result in treatment tailored to individuals and their needs and complications or insufficient recovery can be detected faster and more efficiently. UT and ZGT are also working to ensure that patients do not have to undergo more exams than strictly necessary and that hospital stays are as short as possible. Finally, the Twente-based organisations are looking into possibilities for collaborations in the area of education on a regional, national and international level.
