"Visit of Malaysia Youth Delegation (Sakura Science Plan)"

From September 7^th to 13^th , IMSUT welcomed a delegation of 4 young and promising Malaysian researchers, accompanied by an officer of the Academy of Sciences Malaysia. Their trip to Japan was funded through the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST)’s “Japan-Asia Youth Exchange Program in Science (Sakura Science Plan)”, which aims to increase opportunities for young Asian researchers to travel to and learn about Japan, and foster good international relationships in the science field. The researchers were two graduate students from the University of Malaya, one Senior Lecturer from the Universiti Putra Malaysia, and one professor from the Universiti Sains Malaysia.

First, they visited the Medical Science Museum and heard a brief history of the institute from the head of the museum, Prof. Toshio Kitamura. Second, they went to BioBank Japan, and received a brief introduction to the facility and its rules from Prof. Koichi Matsuda. There, they visited the Serum Bank and theTissue Bank. At the Medical Proteomics Laboratory, Associate Prof. Masaaki Oyama explained the facility's mission, and showed them the mass spectrometer. Finally, they visited the supercomputer room, which was explained by Senior Assistant Prof. Rui Yamaguchi.

After they had given presentations on their research the next morning, they attended training over two days in the Laboratory of DNA Information Analysis, the Division of Infectious Genetics, the Division of Molecular Therapy, and the Department of Public Policy. They were very active, raising a wide range of questions and discussing the issues.

Also, they visited the Kazusa DNA Research Institute and the Green Earth Institute in Kazusa Academia Park, a space for world- leading intellectual work in Chiba Prefecture. Here, too, they were able to experience advanced technologies and facilities.

IMSUT will continue to promote international exchange and looks forward to a further expansion of friendly and cooperative ties between Japan and Malaysia.