Students in the Wayne State University School of Medicine's Cancer Biology Graduate Program now have the opportunity to study abroad at Okayama University in Japan through a scientific exchange agreement between the universities.
Larry Matherly, Ph.D., Cancer Biology Graduate Program director and professor of oncology and pharmacology, traveled to Japan in early February to meet with Okayama University President Kiyoshi Morita and sign an agreement that would also allow Japanese students to train in laboratories at WSU and the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute and WSU students to study at OU. Okayama is located in the southwestern part of the main island of Japan.
"It is increasingly important to view cancer research as a global effort which draws from the expertise of researchers throughout the world," Dr. Matherly said. "Further, today's research is best accomplished as a multi-disciplinary effort involving scientists in different labs with distinct expertise. The exchange with Okayama University is entirely consistent with this."
While in Japan, Dr. Matherly also participated in a cancer research symposium and gave a keynote address on novel approaches for tumor targeting and therapy.
A possible partnership between WSU and Okayama was first explored in the last six months of 2013, when an Okayama student worked in the lab of WSU Professor of Oncology Manohar Ratnam, Ph.D., who was collaborating with two Okayama researchers on therapeutic strategies for prostate cancer.
"Plans are to have another Okayama University student come over later this year, and discussions are still underway on how to move this forward," he added.
In addition, Ahmad Ezzeddine, WSU's associate vice president for Educational Outreach and International Programs, will visit Okayama University as part of Ezzeddine's Fulbright Fellowship this summer in Japan, Dr. Matherly said.
The School of Medicine's Cancer Biology Graduate Program at Karmanos includes opportunities for training in cancer therapeutics, cancer genetics, tumor imaging, tumor immunology, tumor microenvironment and metastasis, and cancer population studies.