Courtesy calls on university and medical school leadership, and strengthened education and research collaboration

In January 2026, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine visited the University of Freiburg in Germany (19-20 January) and the University of Edinburgh in the United Kingdom (22-23 January). During the visits, our delegation paid courtesy calls on senior leadership--including the Rector, executive members, and medical school leadership--and held discussions aimed at further strengthening student exchange (clinical electives) and research collaboration.

Professor Masahisa Katsuno, Dean of the Graduate School of Medicine, led the delegation together with faculty members from Nagoya University. In addition, eleven PhD candidates from the CIBoG programme (Convolution of Informatics and Biomedical Sciences on Global Alliances) participated in the visit, contributing to discussions that included early-career researcher exchange and networking.

Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine promotes sustained engagement with partner universities to advance global medical education and research excellence. This visit was conducted with four main objectives:

(1) ensuring the stable operation of educational exchange,

(2) strengthening research collaboration in priority areas,

(3) expanding mobility and exchange for researchers, including PhD candidates, and

(4) promoting innovation through technology transfer and industry-academia collaboration.

University of Freiburg (19-20 January): Key Discussions and Outcomes

At the University of Freiburg, our delegation was received by Rector Prof. Dr. Kerstin Krieglstein, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine Prof. Dr. Lutz Hein, and Prof. Dr. Christoph Peters, who has played a leading role in advancing the long-standing partnership between our institutions. Courtesy meetings and discussions were held to reaffirm our shared commitment to further developing collaboration.

In addition, we conducted meetings and research discussions across multiple fields, including immunology, epidemiology, cancer research, neurosciences, and infectious diseases. Nagoya University side also presented ongoing research activities, and we exchanged views on concrete possibilities for joint research and future researcher mobility.

We also discussed the continued implementation of our long-standing clinical elective student exchange, as well as the Jointly Awarded Doctoral Program, with a view toward future operation and development.

University of Edinburgh (22-23 January): Key Discussions and Outcomes

At the University of Edinburgh, our delegation held courtesy meetings and discussions at the BioQuarter (Usher Institute) with representatives of the College of Medicine & Veterinary Medicine (CMVM). Under the kind support of Prof. Mike Shipston, who is responsible for international affairs within CMVM, we exchanged views on educational collaboration--including clinical elective exchanges--as well as future directions for research and innovation collaboration.

The delegation then visited the Institute for Regeneration and Repair (IRR), where we received research briefings and toured facilities related to regeneration and aging research. Subsequently, at King's Buildings (Joseph Black Building), we met with Prof. Neil Robertson, who leads international engagement within the College of Science & Engineering, and held discussions with Prof. Mathew H. Horrocks and other colleagues on interdisciplinary joint research and opportunities for early-career researcher exchange. For the CIBoG PhD candidates, the visit offered meaningful exposure to active research environments and valuable interactions with researchers, helping broaden their perspectives on international collaboration.

In addition, the delegation visited the Edinburgh Futures Institute (EFI), an interdisciplinary hub for co-creation, to learn about approaches to industry engagement and social implementation, as well as innovation promotion--such as technology transfer, entrepreneurship support, and external partnerships. On the final day, we held further discussions with Prof. Mike Shipston, Prof. Neil Robertson, and colleagues to review outcomes and confirm directions for follow-up.

Looking Ahead

Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine will continue to maintain stable educational exchange while concretizing research collaboration in priority areas. Based on the outcomes of this visit, we will organize key contacts, potential themes, and the framework for the next round of discussions, and proceed with practical follow-up actions such as online meetings, reciprocal visits, joint presentations, and collaborative applications.

Participants

• Head of Delegation: Professor Masahisa Katsuno (Dean, Graduate School of Medicine)

• Faculty Members: Professor Hideki Kasuya, Professor Hiroaki Wake, Professor Ryuichi Nishii, and other faculty members of Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine

• CIBoG: 11 PhD candidates