A strategic partnership between The University of Western Australia's Marshall Centre for Infectious Diseases Research and Training and VinMec Healthcare System is set to transform how gastric cancer is detected and prevented across Vietnam.
Formalised during a visit to UWA by a senior VinMec delegation led by CEO Professor Tran Trung Dung, the Strategic Partnership Commitment was signed by Professor Charlene Kahler, Director of the Marshall Centre, and Dr Vu Thi My Hanh, VinMec's Director of Clinical Training and Strategic Partnerships, in the presence of Nobel Laureate Professor Barry Marshall.
The agreement builds on the tripartite Memorandum of Understanding signed in Hanoi in February 2026 between UWA, VinMec and the College of Health Sciences at VinUniversity, advancing to a defined program of collaboration in infectious disease research, diagnostics and clinical translation.
The Vietnam Gastric Health Initiative is the flagship initiative of the partnership, a national program dedicated to the early detection, treatment and prevention of Helicobacter pylori infection, the leading cause of gastric cancer in Vietnam and responsible for approximately 13,500 deaths each year.
Anchored in Professor Marshall's Nobel Prize-winning discovery of H. pylori, the initiative brings together VinMec's clinical leadership and infrastructure with the Marshall Centre's internationally recognised research expertise to deliver across VinMec's network of 10 hospitals and seven clinics.
The collaboration also spans gut health, respiratory health, reproductive health, health security and emerging infectious diseases.
The partnership creates significant opportunities for UWA researchers to translate world-leading scientific discovery into population-scale health impact.
For VinMec, it supports a new model of prevention-led healthcare in Vietnam, backed by internationally validated diagnostic approaches, clinical training and strategic guidance aligned with global best practice.
Professor Charlene Kahler, Director of the Marshall Centre, said the partnership brought together complementary strengths to address a major regional health challenge.
“This partnership combines VinMec's clinical reach with the Marshall Centre's expertise in infectious diseases research and translational science,” Professor Kahler said.
“It creates a clear pathway for our researchers to contribute to a national initiative with the potential to set a new benchmark for gastric cancer prevention.”
Professor Marshall said the agreement was a significant step in applying the science at scale.
“Gastric cancer is one of the most preventable cancers when detected early, and seeing this science applied at a national scale in Vietnam is a meaningful step,” he said.
“The combination of VinMec's clinical reach and the Marshall Centre's research expertise builds a foundation with relevance well beyond Vietnam.”
Professor Tran Trung Dung, CEO of VinMec Healthcare System, said the partnership reinforced VinMec's commitment to prevention-led healthcare.
“Gastric cancer is one of Vietnam's most significant health challenges, and prevention is where we can make the biggest difference,” Professor Dung said.
“Partnering with the Marshall Centre gives us the scientific foundation and shared ambition to lead a coordinated national response.”
The partnership supports UWA's broader strategic priority of building research, education and health-sector connections across Southeast Asia, and marks a new chapter in UWA's growing engagement with Vietnam.