Memorandum of Understanding with the University of Trieste, Italy

Shinshu University has established a new international partnership with the University of Trieste (UniTS), an institution highly regarded for its achievements in both research and education. The MoU, conveyed in person by the Dean of the School of Medicine, Professor Eiji Tanaka, representing Shinshu University (SU), had been signed by Dr. Kunihiro Hamada, the President of Shinshu University, and was countersigned by Professor Maurizio Fermeglia, the Rector of the University of Trieste, on December 3rd, 2018.

The origins of the partnership lie in a collaborative research project set up by Professor Katsunori Sasaki, working at both the Institute for Biomedical Sciences and SU School of Medicine's Department of Histology and Embryology, and Professor Gabriele Stocco at the UniTS Department of Life Sciences. The delegation from the SU School of Medicine visited UniTS on December 3rd and 4th, where they had the honour of participating in the signing ceremony. The Dean, Professor Eiji Tanaka, also presented the student exchange agreement, which had been signed by Professor Kiyoshi Tanaka, the Vice-President for International Exchange and the Director of the Global Education Center, SU, for countersigning by Professor Jose Francisco Medina, the UniTS' Vice-Rector. The School of Medicine was honoured to be able to conclude the student exchange agreement and also the agreement for cooperation and exchange in research both with the Department of Life Sciences and with the Department of Medicine, UniTS, respectively, on this occasion.

The Rector, Professor Maurizio Fermeglia, Professor Mauro Tretiach, the Director of the Department of Life Sciences, and Professor Michela Zanetti, representing the Department of Medicine, UniTS, gave introductory talks about their institutions and research activities, while the Dean, Professor Eiji Tanaka, and Associate Professor Naoki Tanaka (Vice-Director of the International Relations Office, SU School of Medicine) introduced a number of examples of important research currently being conducted at the School. During their two-day sojourn in the beautiful city of Trieste, Professor Keiichi Higuchi (Director of the International Relations Office) and Dr. Jun-ichiro Mori (Vice-Manager of the Center for Medical Education and Clinical Training) along with the other members of the delegation, held discussions with their Italian counterparts, including Professor Giuliana Decorti of UniTS and Professor Fabio Barbone of Burlo Hospital, about future collaboration. All those who participated in these meetings expressed their commitment to expand research collaboration and student mobility. The Shinshu delegation members all feel that these face-to-face discussions, not only between the professors but also with the UniTS staff, including Dottoressa Agata Mannino, have laid the ground for smooth and productive communication in the future.

Shinshu University School of Medicine aims to contribute to global society through the pursuit of advanced research and medical practices, and the promotion of sustainable growth.

The SU School of Medicine delegation members:
- Eiji TANAKA, M.D., Ph.D.,
Dean, Professor and Chairman of the Department of Medicine (Gastroenterology and Hematology)
- Kei-ichi HIGUCHI, Ph.D.
Director of the International Relations Office, Professor and Chairman of the Department of Aging Biology
- Naoki TANAKA, M.D., Ph.D.
Vice-Director of the International Relations Office, Assoc. Prof. of the Department of Metabolic Regulation
- Jun-Ichirou MORI, M.D., Ph.D.
Vice-Manager of the Center for Medical Education and Clinical Training
- Mayumi HIRASAWA
Coordinator of the International Relations Office