The National Institute of Nursing Research and the Fogarty International Center recently hosted a delegation of academic leaders from Sun Yat-sen University School of Nursing, in Guangzhou, China. The group's visit marks the final leg of a 5-year journey to develop a doctoral program at the university's School of Nursing. The program is expected to accept applicants soon.

One goal of the visit was to learn about research grants — their development, administration and the responsibilities of grant recipients. Another goal was to observe how nursing research is taught within doctoral programs in the U.S. The program will also allow the people of China to benefit from research and advanced-practice nurses. The visitors hope to apply what they learned to the new doctoral program at Sun Yat-sen University.

On hand for the visit were (from l) Dr. Anthony Demsey, Liu Ke, Dr. Martha Hare, Dr. Patricia Grady, Dr. Katherine Hill Chavigny, Dean You Li Ming, Wong Zong Fang and Greg Davis.

The program included presentations from the HRSA division of nursing and the Association of American Colleges of Nursing.

Dr. Patricia Grady, director of NINR, welcomed the visitors and expressed her hopes that the information presented over the 2 days would provide a useful framework for the university in administering its forthcoming doctoral program.

Dr. Martha Hare, a program director at NINR, provided a brief overview of NINR research initiatives. Dr. Anthony Demsey, senior advisor in the Office of Extramural Research, presented an introduction to NIH grant fundamentals; and Dr. Brent Stanfield, acting director, Center for Scientific Review, spoke on peer review of research grant applications.

You Li Ming, dean of the nursing school at Sun Yat-sen University, said the information made available to them "will be useful to begin the doctoral program." Sun Yat-sen University is one of the top 10 universities in China. Dean You added, "A doctoral program in the School of Nursing will be a substantial benefit to the nurses in China who want more advanced education."