Okayama University, the Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine (China) and Wonkwang University (Korea) concluded a collaborative research agreement for the drug development research of intractable infectious diseases on December 13, 2010 at the Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Intractable infectious diseases include drug- resistant pathogens, such as Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), hepatitis C virus, and tropical diseases including malaria parasites.

　Capitalizing on their respective strengths, the three partners will join efforts for new drug development. The Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine has a wealth of natural materials used in traditional medicine, Wonkwang University is active in zoonotic disease research and Okayama University has comprehensive drug development systems from the new drug seeds to clinical trials through its research and development of new drugs for malaria. Alone, this agreement would be notable but in addition the Japanese, Chinese and South Korean universities have also agreed on protocols regarding research outcomes, including a well defined intellectual property agreement showing a remarkable level of international cooperation.

　Vice-President Tatsuo Katsura of Okayama University, Vice-President Jian-qun Xie of Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Vice-President Hak-Kwon Kim of Wonkwang University signed the collaborative research agreement at the conclusion ceremony. Dr. Hye-Sook Kim, Associate Professor of the Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, she attended the ceremony enthusiastically expressed “Okayama University will take the initiative in East Asia to invent new drugs for the eradication of intractable infectious diseases.”

Photo: Vice-President Kim (right), Vice-President Xie (center) and Vice-President Katsura (left)

Contact: International Students Office Phone: 086-251-7044