On 3 September 2018, the Institute for Integrated Cell Material Sciences (iCeMS), a part of Kyoto University Institute for Advanced Study (KUIAS), established a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Switzerland's AO Research Institute Davos (ARI).
ARI is focused on advancing patient care through innovative orthopedic research and development. Its research ranges from basic to translational, and is aimed at developing effective therapies for musculoskeletal, spine, and cranio-maxillo-facial trauma, degenerative musculoskeletal diseases, infections, and congenital disorders.
The exchange between the two institutes began in 2014, when Dr Ganesh Pandian Namasivayam of iCeMS and Professor Martin Stoddart of ARI met each other. The two researchers, and later iCeMS Principal Investigator Hiroshi Sugiyama and his lab members as well, have since exchanged several visits for scientific collaboration, developing a close research partnership.
The MoU signing ceremony was attended by iCeMS' Director Susumu Kitagawa, Dr Pandian, ARI's Director Geoff Richards, Vice-Director Mauro Alini, and Professor Stoddart. Around fifty researchers from both institutes were also in attendance to celebrate the occasion.
The agreement, a first for ARI, is expected to open the doors for collaboration enabling both partners to complement each other's strengths. ARI will aim to advance the materials developed by iCeMS for "high-quality applied preclinical research and development" toward clinical applications/solutions.
ARI and iCeMS representatives at the signing ceremony
Related links
- AO Research Institute Davos
https://www.aofoundation.org/Structure/research/exploratory-applied-research/research-institute/Pages/exploratory-applied-research.aspx - Kyoto University Institute for Advanced Study (KUIAS)
https://kuias.kyoto-u.ac.jp/e/ - Institute for Integrated Cell-Materials Science (iCeMS)
http://www.icems.kyoto-u.ac.jp/en/
