Gloryren Special Issue - 2026: From Guangzhou to Gießen (I)

Jan. 28th

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospital Giessen and Marburg GmbH, Giessen site

On the afternoon of January 28, the delegation of Gloryren drove from Mainz to Giessen. Snow still covered the ground along the way, and the winter landscape stretched quietly beyond the car windows. At 5:00 p.m., we arrived at the University Hospital Giessen and Marburg, Giessen site, to visit Prof. Meinhold-Heerlein, Director of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. He kindly invited Dr. En-Nosse to join the meeting.

Prof. Meinhold-Heerlein currently serves as Director of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. The department is distinguished by its strengths in gynecologic oncology, obstetrics, and multidisciplinary collaborative care, while also undertaking teaching and research responsibilities. He himself has long been engaged in gynecologic oncology research, maintaining a close integration between clinical practice and scientific research.

At the beginning of the meeting, Gloryren introduced its successful collaborations with the Departments of Urology and Trauma Surgery at the same hospital within the framework of the Sino-German Doctoral program. We also provided a systematic overview of the ongoing Sino-German Doctoral program, clinical observership program, and visiting professorship program. Prof. Meinhold-Heerlein listened attentively, expressed strong interest in the cooperation models, and engaged in in-depth discussions regarding specific project details.

Prof. Meinhold-Heerlein then presented the department’s key technical strengths in three main areas: prenatal ultrasound diagnostics, surgical treatment of vulvar diseases, and interdisciplinary neuromodulation therapy for chronic pelvic pain. He emphasized that these fields have developed mature clinical systems and are supported by stable case volumes. He also introduced the department’s laboratory research directions. Although the laboratory is relatively compact in scale, its resources are highly concentrated, allowing each doctoral candidate to receive intensive and direct supervision, with a clear focus on quality of training.

Regarding talent development, Prof. Meinhold-Heerlein expressed his hope to recruit high-quality doctoral candidates through Gloryren and warmly welcomed Chinese physicians for clinical observerships. He specifically noted that the department performs a high volume of gynecologic surgeries across a broad spectrum of conditions, offering visiting doctors substantial opportunities for clinical observation and learning.

As evening fell over Giessen, the atmosphere outside gradually darkened, yet the discussion remained focused and open. This meeting laid a solid foundation for future cooperation in doctoral training and clinical exchange, and opened the door for further in-depth collaboration between both sides.

Jan. 29th

Department of Trauma, Hand and Reconstructive Surgery, University Hospital Giessen and Marburg GmbH, Giessen Site

On January 29, the delegation of Gloryren visited Prof. Heiss, Director of Trauma, Hand and Reconstructive Surgery, and Prof. El Khassawna from the research team. The two sides engaged in extensive and in-depth discussions on joint doctoral training, future research collaboration, and the expansion of academic exchange.

In Prof. Heiss’s office, an internal meeting lasting over one hour was held. Prof. Heiss spoke highly of the ongoing cooperation with Gloryren. He noted that Mr. Ding, currently being jointly trained, has made steady progress. The overall collaboration process has been clear and efficient, with smooth coordination between both sides. The relevant cooperation agreement has been successfully approved by the university administration, indicating a mature operational mechanism. On this basis, the department hopes to accept two additional doctoral candidates this year to further deepen and expand the scope of cooperation.

Following the meeting, Prof. Heiss personally drove the delegation to one of the best restaurants in Giessen for lunch. The discussion continued for more than two hours in a relaxed yet substantive atmosphere, further exploring doctoral training models, alignment of research directions, and long-term cooperation mechanisms.

Regarding the laboratory, Prof. El Khassawna provided a systematic introduction to its research structure and current development. The laboratory currently involves approximately 40-50 researchers and medical students in ongoing projects. Under his direct supervision alone, there are 22 students, nine of whom work full-time in the lab. The team is organized into multiple subgroups according to research focus and maintains project collaborations with industry partners and other German universities. The working language is English, reflecting a highly internationalized research environment.

In terms of academic output, the laboratory adheres to a “quality-first” principle. While it does not pursue high publication volume, submission standards are strict, typically targeting journals with an impact factor above 5-10. Two years ago, in collaboration with the Heidelberg University Cancer Center, the team published a high-impact paper with an impact factor of approximately 30, representing its academic strength in orthopedic and tumor-related research.

The laboratory’s history dates back to the 1990s and relocated to its current research building in 2017. The total research space now covers approximately 7,500 square meters, with around 5,840 square meters dedicated to core laboratory areas. The total value of laboratory equipment amounts to approximately €7 million, while construction of the research building required an investment of around €45 million. Annual personnel expenditures alone amount to approximately €1.4 million, in addition to ongoing operational and maintenance costs. Notably, the laboratory building, equipment acquisition, and personnel funding are primarily financed through departmental clinical revenue rather than government or university funding, reflecting the team’s long-term strategic commitment to sustained research investment.

In terms of research philosophy, the team emphasizes a clinically driven approach - transforming real surgical challenges encountered in practice into research questions and applying research findings back into clinical care, thereby forming a complete translational medicine loop. This “problem-driven research” model has been a core developmental principle of the laboratory for many years.

Regarding future collaboration, both sides explored several concrete directions, including delegation visits from Chinese hospitals, sharing of laboratory organizational and management experience, and customized workshop design. The laboratory has previously hosted delegations from countries such as Turkey and has mature experience in organizing structured visits and thematic academic presentations. Prof. El Khassawna also introduced workshop collaborations conducted with Jordan, covering fracture fixation demonstrations, surgical procedures on animal bone models, and biomechanical testing, all of which can be modularly tailored to the needs of Chinese surgeons.

The two sides further discussed the possibility of combining online and onsite continuing education programs, including structured course systems, phased assessments with certification, and integration with academic events. These ideas remain open for further development.

Prof. Heiss confirmed that he will travel to China this year to attend the 6th Sino-Euro Global Forum on Hospital Management, Specialty Construction and Talent Cultivation 2026. He expressed recognition of the Sino-German exchange platform established by Gloryren and looks forward to expanding the dimensions of future cooperation.

During the discussion, the global ranking position of Justus Liebig University Giessen was also addressed. Prof. El Khassawna noted candidly that the executives of the university does not place high emphasis on international commercial ranking systems. Most ranking frameworks are based on relatively fixed evaluation parameters; while targeted structural adjustments could theoretically improve ranking positions within a short period, the university believes that allocating substantial resources to optimize ranking indicators would come at the expense of investments in teaching quality and substantive research development. As a result, the university adopts a restrained approach toward ranking strategies. Nevertheless, the University of Giessen consistently remains within the global top 500 and holds a stable position within Germany’s medical education system.

Prof. Heiss further added that although Giessen is not among Germany’s top-ranked universities, it hosts the country’s only privately operated university hospital and is the third-largest university medical center in Germany, with a history spanning more than 400 years and a well-established clinical and research system. Located only about 30 minutes from Frankfurt, Giessen offers a lower cost of living compared to cities such as Munich or Berlin, making it a practical and attractive option for international students.

This visit not only further consolidated the foundation for joint doctoral training but also clarified future directions in scientific exchange, delegation visits, and continuing education initiatives. Both sides agreed that the core objective of future cooperation extends beyond obtaining doctoral degrees. It lies in cultivating individuals with genuine research competence and team-building capacity, capable of sustaining international collaboration after returning to China, thereby establishing long-term, stable, bidirectional academic connections.