The Queensland Brain Institute (QBI) has established formal research ties with Japan’s most prestigious medical school, the Keio University School of Medicine in Tokyo.
QBI Director Professor Perry Bartlett said the Keio University School of Medicine was recognised around the world for its teaching excellence and leading research into neural stem cells.
“The synergies between Keio University and QBI promise some exciting collaborations,” Professor Bartlett said.
“Like the Queensland Brain Institute, researchers at the Keio University's Department of Physiology are also seeking to elucidate the basic mechanisms of brain function and development.
“Both research groups are seeking to develop new therapeutic strategies for the treatment of neurological diseases and injury,” he said.
Recently the Keio University School of Medicine Department of Physiology – under Professor Hideyuki Okano – has been working to isolate stem cells from bone marrow.
Professor Okano is internationally recognised for his research on the development and regeneration of cells of the nervous system.
A Memorandum of Understanding between QBI and the Keio University School of Medicine was signed at QBI on Wednesday, 26 November.
The agreement will strengthen research cooperation between the QBI and Keio University by paving the way for the exchange of early to mid-career neuroscientists.
The MOU is the fifth strategic research alliance the QBI has made in the Asia–Pacific region during the past three years.
QBI also has research links with the RIKEN Brain Science Institute (Japan), The University of Auckland (NZ), the Chinese Academy of Science – Institute of Neuroscience, the Medical University of South Carolina (USA) and Zeiss Australasia.
Ends
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Notes to the Editor
QUEENSLAND BRAIN INSTITUTE
The Queensland Brain Institute was formed in 2003 as part of the Queensland Government’s Smart State Initiative, building on a long history of neuroscience at The University of Queensland. QBI is dedicated to understanding the molecular basis of brain function and applying this knowledge to the development of new therapeutics to treat brain and mental health disorders.
PROFESSOR HIDEYUKI OKANO
Professor Hideyuki Okano is Chairman of the Department of Physiology at Keio University, School of Medicine, Japan
