IMSUT receives delegation from Romania led by Presidential Advisor on Health, Dr Loreta Diana Păun
On September 6, 2023, seven visitors from Romania visited IMSUT. The delegation was led by Presidential Advisor on Health, Dr. Loreta Diana Păun, and included Ms. Geta Medeleanu (Minister Counsellor, Embassy of Romania), Ms. Roxana Hainagiu (Personal Advisor for the Presidential Advisor for Health/Head of the International Relations Department of the National Order of Nurses and Midwives), Dr. Valentin-Veron Toma (Member of the Romanian Academy/an active member of the working group for the development of the Cancer National Plan in Romania with focus on long-term care), Dr. Oana Cristina Voinea (Founding President of the Romanian Society for Lynch Syndrome, Dr. Cristina Bertean (Member of the working group for the development of the Cancer National Plan in Romania/Medical Director of Neolife Romania), and Dr. Constantin Poiană (Manager of Prof. Dr. Eduard Apetrei Hospital Buhuși, Bacău County).
The meeting was attended by IMSUT faculty members Dean Makoto Nakanishi and Project Prof. Koichi Matsuda, Visiting Prof. Takayuki Morisaki, and Prof. Yukinori Okada (Graduate School of Medicine, the University of Tokyo).
As it was the visitors’ first time at IMSUT, Dean Nakanishi gave them a brief overview of the organization, which was followed by introductions by each professor regarding the mechanism of BioBank Japan (BBJ) and its operation system.
In March of this year, Japan and Romania signed the "Joint Statement on the Establishment of the Strategic Partnership between Japan and Romania” in order to promote cooperation in the fields of science, technology, and innovation. In Romania, the target is to establish a facility like BBJ as a national project in the future.
The participants were impressed by the facilities and functions of BBJ and asked lively and detailed questions about its operation and security. We also received an offer to continue our exchange and hold a joint symposium in the future. After a meeting in the dean’s office, the group toured the DNA and serum storage facilities before returning to Romania.
IMSUT receives delegation from Chinese Academy of Sciences Institute of Microbiology led by Director-General Qian
On Friday, July 28, 2023, five visitors from the Chinese Academy of Sciences Institute of Microbiology (IMCAS) visited IMSUT. The delegation was led by IMCAS Director-General Wei Qian, and included Prof. Juncai Ma (Director of World Data Center for Microorganisms), Prof. Kaixia Mi, Ms. Yajing Yu (Director, Division of Scientific Strategic Planning and Major Programs) and Ms. Xiaochen Ma (Manager, Division of Scientific Strategic Planning and Major Programs). The meeting was attended by IMSUT faculty members Dean Makoto Nakanishi, Vice Dean Yasushi Kawaguchi, Project Prof. Mitsue Hayashi, Visiting Associate Prof. Jin Gohda, Project Senior Assistant Prof. Mizuki Yamamoto, and Project Prof. Jun-ichiro Inoue. As this was the first visit to IMSUT by several members of the delegation, Dean Nakanishi gave a brief overview of the organization. Afterwards, the two parties exchanged views on the future of joint research between the two institutions at the China-Japan Joint Laboratory in Beijing.
Visitors from Croatia
On Friday, July 28, 2023, five visitors from Croatia visited IMSUT, including Mr. Zvonko Pesic (Owner and Director, Sibenik Private Gymnasium and Centre of Excellence Sveti Lovre), Ms. Mirjana Grabar Kruljac (Principal Head, Medical High School Varazdin Regional Centre of Competence for Innovative Health Technologies), Ms. Patricija Jakop (Nursing Vocational Teacher, Medical High School Varazdin and Educational Programs Improvement and Implementation Coordinator), Ms. Sonja Veir Labas (Psychologist and Teacher, Medical High School Varazdin), and Mr. Edouard Katayama Tripkovic (Japan Croatia Society).
The meeting was attended by IMSUT faculty members Dean Makoto Nakanishi and Vice Dean Atsushi Iwama. As it was the visitors’ first time to IMSUT, Dean Nakanishi gave a brief overview of the organization. The visitors showed great interest in the Japanese health care system and in IMSUT’s initiatives in translational research. The two parties had a lively exchange of views on the current state of the health care system in Croatia and on the possibility of collaboration with Japanese organizations. It is hoped that this visit will contribute to the promotion of international exchange between Japan and Croatia.
Visitors from the United Kingdom
On Thursday, March 2, 2023, four visitors from the United Kingdom led by Prof. Lynn Cox of the University of Oxford visited IMSUT, including Dr. Richard Show (King’s College London) and Dr. Alexander Henzing (Medicines Discovery Catapult). The meeting was attended by IMSUT faculty members Dean Yuji Yamanashi, Vice Dean Makoto Nakanishi, Vice Dean Atsushi Iwama, and Professor Emi Nishimura. As it was the visitors’ first time at IMSUT, Dean Yamanashi gave them a brief overview of the organization, which was followed by presentations by each of the IMSUT professors on developments in their research fields at the organization. The visitors described current research activity in the U.K. and at their respective institutions, exchanged opinions on the possibility of joint research with Japanese scientists, and discussed other topics with the IMSUT faculty members. They later visited the Serum Bank of Biobank Japan, where they received a brief introduction to the operations of the facility from Project Prof. Takayuki Morisaki. It is hoped that this visit will contribute to the promotion of international exchange and research collaboration between Japan and the UK.
IMSUT NY Seminar 2023 meeting held in New York City
The IMSUT NY Seminar 2023 meeting hosted by the Institute of Medical Science, the University of Tokyo (IMSUT) was held on Friday, February 17, 2023, at the New York office of the University of Tokyo (UTokyoNY) under the theme of "Frontiers in Medical Sciences and their Exploding Clinical Applications”. The seminar was attended by about 20 participants from universities and research institutes in the U.S., as well as companies and organizations in various fields.
The event was the first time in four years that IMSUT held a completely on-site event in New York.
The first half of the seminar began with a video message from Prof. Yuji Yamanashi, Dean of IMSUT, introducing the history of UTokyoNY. After that, lectures were given by Prof. Tomoji Mashimo, Dr. Samuel Sternberg (Columbia University), and Ms. Mariko Kanai, recipient of the 5th New York Hideyo Noguchi Memorial Scholarship (currently a doctoral student at Columbia University).
In the second half, Prof. Makoto Nakanishi and Prof. Yoichi Furukawa gave lectures, and the seminar concluded with a talk by Dr. Scott Lowe of the Sloan Kettering Institute.
This year's seminar was facilitated by Dr. Yuichiro Kuwama, Vice President of UTokyoNY. Dr. Kuwama’s opinions and questions stemming from his perspective as a physician made the seminar very easy for the public to understand. The participants were so interested in the lectures that time ran out during the lively Q&A sessions after each lecture. The seminar concluded with closing remarks by Vice Dean of IMSUT, Prof. Makoto Nakanishi.
IMSUT faculty members visited the grave of Dr. Hideyo Noguchi in New York
On Thursday, February 16, 2023, a delegation from IMSUT visiting New York for the IMSUT NY Seminar 2023 meeting visited the graves of Dr. Hideyo Noguchi and Dr. Jokichi Takamine at Woodlawn Cemetery in the Bronx, a suburb of New York City. The visit was led by Mr. Yoshio Kano, Vice President of the New York Hideyo Noguchi Memorial Society, Inc. (HNMS).
The cemetery staff provided interesting information about Dr. Noguchi, including the circumstances of his burial. The visit was a valuable experience that brought to mind the great impact that Dr. Noguchi has had on the world.
<An offering of flowers from IMSUT <IMSUT members with Mr. Kano (HNMS)>
and the grave of Dr. Noguchi>
Prof. Patrick Tan of Duke-NUS Medical School visited IMSUT
On Friday, February 17, 2023, Prof. Patrick Tan of Duke-NUS Medical School paid a courtesy visit to IMSUT. As it was Prof. Tan’s first visit, Prof. Yuji Yamanashi, Dean of IMSUT, gave an overview of the organization, which was followed by a discussion with Prof. Atsushi Iwama, Vice Dean of IMSUT, and Prof. Tatsuhiro Shibata on the activities of the two institutions and their future prospects for exchange.
UTokyoNY President Masaharu Masuyama visited IMSUT
On Wednesday, December 14, 2022, Mr. Masaharu Masuyama, President of The University of Tokyo, New York Office, Inc., visited IMSUT. Dean Yamanashi and Vice Dean Nakanishi reported on the current activities of IMSUT. They also discussed IMSUT’s future activities, including those of the New York Office and its outreach in the U.S.
President Masuyama later visited BioBank Japan, where he received a brief introduction to the operations of the facility from Project Prof. Takayuki Morisaki, then visited the facility’s Tissue Storage and Serum Storage divisions.
President Masuyama, and Vice Dean Nakanishi>
Delegation from Taiwan on Japanese healthcare with the aim of promoting Japan-Taiwan medical cooperation
On the morning of November 30, 2022 (Wednesday), a delegation of 10 people from Medical Excellence TAIWAN and hospital officials in Taiwan, led by Ms. Yu-Ching Liu, Deputy Director-General, Department of Medical Affairs, Ministry of Health and Welfare in Taiwan, visited the Human Genome Center. The delegation was first divided into two groups and connected to each other online, and then both groups were introduced to the Human Genome Center by its Director, Prof. Imoto, in the conference room and briefed on the Center’s involvement in medical treatment. After that, they toured the supercomputer room under the guidance of Prof. Imoto. Everyone was very interested and asked questions enthusiastically during the Q&A session.
The delegation expressed their gratitude for the very meaningful time they spent with us. It is hoped that this visit will contribute to international medical exchange between Japan and Taiwan.
Research introduction by Prof. Imoto Group listening online in a separate room Group photo
Dr. Camilla Björkegren of the Karolinska Institute visited IMSUT
On the afternoon of Wednesday, November 2, 2022, Dr. Camilla Björkegren of the Karolinska Institute, who is visiting Japan as a "Tokyo College Professor" paid a courtesy visit to the Institute of Medical Science. As it was her first visit, Prof. Yamanashi, Dean of IMSUT, gave an overview of IMSUT, followed by a mutual discussion on the current situations of the two institutes and future prospects for exchanges.
Visitors from the Institute of Biological Sciences at The French National Centre for Scientific Research
On the afternoon of Wednesday, October 19, 2022, Dr. André Le Bivic, Director of the Institute of Biological Sciences (INSB) at The French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS) visited IMSUT, together with Dr. Emmanuel Brouillet, Head of Europe & International Affairs at INSB, Mr. Clément Dupuis, International Cooperation Officer of CNRS Tokyo Office, and Mr. Jacques Maleval, Director of CNRS Tokyo Office. Since it was their first visit to IMSUT, Prof. Yamanashi, Dean of IMSUT, gave them an overview of IMSUT, and then the delegation discussed with Dean Yamanashi and Prof. Mashimo regarding the current situation of each institution and future prospects for mutual exchanges.
Visitors from ShanghaiTech University
On the afternoon of January 20, 2020 (Monday), 11 visitors led by ShanghaiTech University Vice President Hao Ding, visited IMSUT. The delegation was ushered into the meeting room where they received a warm welcome from IMSUT Dean and Professor Yuji Yamanashi, Vice-Dean and Professor Makoto Nakanishi, Vice-Dean and Professor Yoichi Furukawa, and Hospital Director and Professor Arinobu Tojo. There they were presented an overview of IMSUT by Dean Yamanashi. The visitors from ShanghaiTech University, who are planning to establish a university affiliated hospital, were very interested in IMSUT hospital since IMSUT hospital remains the only hospital affiliated with a research institution of a national university in Japan. Delegation members actively asked questions, especially about organization, distinctive features, and operation of IMSUT hospital, and also opinions were exchanged on future exchanges and cooperation. After a meeting in the dean's office, the group toured the IMSUT hospital, including the bio-clean ward, under the guidance of Hospital Director Tojo. Finally, the visitors went to BioBank Japan and received a brief introduction to the facility and its operation system by Project Prof. Takayuki Morisaki, and visited the Tissue Storage and Serum Storage. The visitors seemed quite interested in the operation system and eagerly asked questions about it.
Visitors from the headquarter of Chinese Academy of Sciences
On October 21, 2019, nine visitors led by Director-General Pengyun Xie, Bureau of Development Planning, Chinese Academy of Science (CAS) Headquarters visited IMSUT.The group first visited the Medical Science Museum. Next they were ushered into the meeting room where they received a warm welcome from IMSUT Dean Prof. Yuji Yamanashi, Vice-Dean Prof. Makoto Nakanishi, Vice-Dean Prof. Atsushi Iwama, Prof. Yasushi Kawaguchi, and Project Prof. Mitsue Hayashi. There they were presented an overview of IMSUT by Dean Yamanashi, and briefed on China-Japan Joint Research Program on Infectious Diseases by Prof. Kawaguchi. The visitors and their hosts discussed about future exchange and collaborations. After discussions, they went to Biobank Japan and received a brief introduction to the facility and its operation system, and visited the tissue bank. Although the visit to the facility was short, the visitors seemed quite interested in the operation system and eagerly asked questions about it.
