Dundalk IT signs memorandum of agreement with Japanese university
New agreement unites Irish and Japanese researchers in smooth muscle science
Dundalk IT has recently signed a significant memorandum of agreement (MOA) with Nagoya City University (NCU) Graduate Medical School, Japan. The initiative behind this MOA was spearheaded by Professor Hikaru Hashitani, NCU and Dr. Bernard T. Drumm from the Smooth Muscle Research Centre (SMRC) at DkIT.
The group at NCU, led by Professor Hashitani and the DkIT SMRC, in which Dr. Drumm is a principal investigator, studies cells and tissues of smooth muscle organs in the urogenital tract (bladder, urethra, reproductive tracts) and gastrointestinal system, with a view to understanding the physiology of how these organs work and how we can treat diseases such as urinary incontinence, erectile dysfunction and motility disorders.
The MOA was signed in Nagoya City University in March and was followed by an invited seminar from Dr. Drumm to the NCU research team on ongoing research underway at the DkIT SMRC. This was followed by a symposium organised by Professor Hashitani the following week in Makuhari, Japan, during which Dr. Drumm and Professor Hashitani presented recent findings from their research groups along with colleagues from Oxford University, UK and University of Fukui, Japan.
Dr. Bernard Drumm, DkIT said: “This significant MOA represents a link between two of the most active smooth muscle physiology research groups in Europe and Asia. Our shared research interests make this a natural evolution of our collaborative efforts, and we seek to expand our activities further in the future. Together, DkIT and NCU seek to extend each institutes international reach, providing research opportunities and knowledge exchange of mutual benefit to DkIT and NCU.”
Professor Hikaru Hashitani of NCU said: “I was delighted to welcome Dr Bernard Drumm to Nagoya City University Medical School. Following the establishment of a MOA between DKIT and our medical school during Dr Drumm’s visit, I am sincerely looking forward to extending academic exchange between the two institutes.”
Find out more about the research taking place at the SMRC at DkIT here: https://www.dkit.ie/research/research-centres-and-groups/smooth-muscle-research-centre.html