Lithuania and Japan strengthen and expand ties in medical research and innovation
On 10-13th October Lithuanian delegation of medical sciences professionals, headed by Healthcare Minister Prof. Aurelijus Veryga, visited Japan. For Lithuania Japan is the most important scientific partner in overall Asia and Oceania.
On 10th October already the fourth joint Lithuanian-Japanese scientific symposium on natural and life sciences, co-organized by Lithuanian Embassy in Tokyo, Japan Society for Promotion of Science (JSPS) and Research Council of Lithuania (RCL), was held at Tokyo University of Science. Previous symposiums have so far granted an excellent opportunity for more than 50 prominent Lithuanian scientists to present their research achievements and expand cooperation possibilities with Japanese counterparts. Since 2014, Lithuanian and Japanese scientists implement together ten research projects in life, social, physical and other sciences. This cooperation scheme is jointly funded by JSPS and RCL.
On 11th October, Minister Veryga had an honor to present Lithuanian medical innovation policy, current scientific research tendencies, and strengths of Lithuanian life sciences sector in “Life-Innovation Forum: Current Status and Issues on Policies for Medical Innovation” during BioJapan 2017.
On 12th of October, Minister Veryga met Ms. Mizuho Onuma, Japanese Parliamentary Vice-Minister of Health, Labor and Welfare, and discussed current challenges to Lithuanian and Japanese healthcare systems, public health issues, collaboration in rare and undiagnosed diseases. In the field of rare and undiagnosed diseases, especially important is cooperation between Keio University Hospital and Hospital of Lithuanian University of Health Sciences “Kauno klinikos“, which started last year. Thanks to engagement and professionalism of Keio scientists, two Lithuanian patients were finally diagnosed with extremely rare diseases, whereas one patient was assigned to special treatment. Earlier this year Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development (AMED) invited Lithuania to join the international project “Construction of a comprehensive genetic diagnosis system for diseases associated with chromosomal or genetic changes“, led by Japan. Collaboration expansion into new areas, such as genome editing and oncology, are foreseen for the next year.
Lithuanian delegation also visited various medical schools, research institutes and hospitals in Tokyo, Osaka and Kobe.
