TMU Delegation Visits Tohoku University to Strengthen International Collaboration

In September 2024, Taipei Medical University (TMU) Chairman Dr. Jui-Chieh Chen and President Dr. Max Wu led a delegation of over 50 members, including deans, vice deans, and faculty from the Colleges of Medicine, Oral Medicine, Pharmacy, Nutrition, and Humanities and Social Sciences, to visit Tohoku University in Japan. This marked the largest bilateral, multidisciplinary symposium in TMU’s history. The visit aimed to deepen the partnership between the two institutions, enhance academic and research cooperation, and bolster international competitiveness through direct engagement and alliance formation. ​

College of Medicine: Pioneering New Chapters in Medical Collaboration

Vice Dean for International Affairs Dr. Hsu-Pin Fang, Vice Dean for Education and Chair of the Department of Medicine Dr. Chien-Chih Wu, and Associate Director for International Affairs of the Department of Medicine Dr. Jui-Hsiang Sung visited Tohoku University’s School of Medicine and Hospital. The delegation participated in a bilateral gastroenterology mini-symposium and discussed student exchanges and graduate admissions to further deepen future collaborations. ​

Tohoku University emphasizes research excellence, adhering to the principles of “Research First,” “Respect for Practical Science,” and “Open Doors.” It has consistently ranked among Japan’s top three universities in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings, earning recognition as a leading institution in Japanese higher education. ​

In June 2012, TMU visited Tohoku University to discuss the details of the collaboration, which led to the signing of a cooperation agreement in May 2013. In 2015, both institutions co-hosted an international cancer academic exchange symposium. In February 2024, Associate Professor Yuriko Saiki and Assistant Professor Mariko Saito-Obata from Tohoku University’s Medical Education Office visited TMU to exchange ideas on student exchange programs. ​

On September 19, the TMU delegation met with Professor Hitoshi Oshitani, Director of the International Exchange Office at Tohoku University’s Seiryo Campus, along with Associate Professor Yosuke Kakisaka and Assistant Professor Mariko Saito-Obata. Discussions focused on 2024 admissions for Tohoku Universi

ty’s Graduate School of Medicine and student exchange programs. The delegation toured clinical departments, including radiology, psychiatry, and the Clinical Skills Laboratory (SIMSTAR), where TMU professors and physicians experienced advanced laparoscopic simulation equipment, enhancing training in minimally invasive surgery. ​

A joint gastroenterology symposium followed, with Vice Dean Fang presenting on pathogenic genes and antibiotic resistance of Salmonella, Associate Director Sung discussing advancements in minimally invasive surgery at TMU, and Vice Superintendent Tsung-Cheng Li sharing on innovative medical topics. Both sides explored future research and collaboration opportunities. ​

 

College of Pharmacy: Exploring Future Cooperation

Led by Dean Wei-Chiao Chang, the College of Pharmacy engaged in academic exchanges with Tohoku University’s Graduate School of Life Sciences and Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences. The delegation also visited the renowned Tohoku Medical Megabank (TMM) to understand its current operations. ​

On September 19, under the guidance of Professors Satoshi Takahashi and Yoshikazu Tanaka, the TMU delegation visited the Graduate School of Life Sciences. Dean Chang noted that this was his second visit to Professor Takahashi, who is esteemed for his work in single-molecule functional analysis of DNA-protein interactions. Discussions covered educational systems, international faculty, and research achievements, with prospects for online co-teaching, short-term student exchanges, and collaborative research projects in proteomics and high-speed drug screening. ​

On September 20, the delegation participated in an academic symposium with Tohoku University’s Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, visited the university hospital’s Department of Pharmacy, and toured the TMM. The symposium included presentations from both sides, sharing research interests and discussing future international collaborations and dual-degree programs. The visit to the hospital’s Department of Pharmacy provided insights into pharmaceutical services and student internships, offering references for enhancing TMU’s pharmacy education. ​

The TMM, established in 2012, houses a biobank, supercomputer, genomic sequencing facilities, health check-up stations, and MRI facilities. It has collected data from over 157,000 volunteers, including valuable three-generation cohort data, attracting global attention. The biobank stores over 5 million samples, facilitating genome and omics analyses, and aims to provide significant references for future disease prevention through extensive research. ​

Dean Chang expressed that both TMU and Tohoku University are actively developing in areas such as AI, big data, and genomic medicine. The visit yielded substantial gains, with both sides reaching a preliminary consensus on future cooperation projects, including international co-teaching, research collaborations, and mutual visits between hospital pharmacy departments. ​

This visit not only deepened academic exchanges and collaborations between the two universities but also laid a solid foundation for future joint research and teaching endeavors. The in-depth discussions and exchanges across multiple fields are expected to enhance the level of medical education and clinical practice, thereby promoting the influence of both universities in the international medical community. TMU and Tohoku University look forward to continuing their partnership, jointly advancing innovation and development in the medical field. ​