Ulster University has welcomed international health leaders as part of the continued engagement for the pioneering Centre for International Health Innovation & Partnerships (CIHIP), based within the School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences.
Professors Nermine Sabry and Rasha Hussein, both senior academics and cultural attachés representing Cairo and Ain Shams universities respectively – with Professor Sabry serving as the Egyptian Cultural & Education Attaché in Washington D.C., and Professor Hussein in London – visited the University to explore opportunities for collaborative clinical research and global health innovation.
The CIHIP represents the formalisation of over three years of strategic partnership development and is the first centre of its kind on the island of Ireland. It serves as a global hub for health innovation, focusing on research, education, and consultancy to strengthen health systems, translate policy, and deliver solutions to global health challenges.
Led by Dr Ahmed Abuelhana, Lecturer in Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacy Practice and Dr Aaron Courteney, Senior Lecturer in Clinical Pharmacy, the CIHIP is building partnerships to address pressing issues including medication safety and antimicrobial stewardship.
During the three-day visit, Professors Sabry and Hussein toured Ulster University’s Belfast campus and took part in a strategic roundtable and partnership meetings. The second day included a visit to the Coleraine campus to view the University’s clinical and biomedical facilities. Their schedule also included visits to hospital sites across Northern Ireland to understand the local healthcare ecosystem.
Dr Ahmed Abuelhana said:
“It was an absolute pleasure hosting Professors Sabry and Hussein as part of CIHIP`s ongoing international work in health innovation and global partnerships, especially with low- and middle-income countries. This visit marks the continuation and expansion of CIHIP's work in Egypt, building on the existing partnerships and impactful work in Ghana, Jordan, Austria, and other countries, all focused on tackling global health challenges through sustainable collaborative activities.”
Dr Aaron Courteney added:
"It was a privilege to host Professors Sabry and Hussain as part of our vision to co-create impactful, sustainable partnerships rooted in shared global health challenges. CIHIP isn't the beginning – it’s our next chapter."
CIHIP is headquartered on the University’s Coleraine campus and collaborates with institutions and healthcare providers across the UK and internationally. Its vision is to be a trusted global partner, shaping effective policy, delivering high-impact research, and developing sustainable health solutions worldwide.
