UNAIR NEWS – Universitas Airlangga Hospital (RS UNAIR) recently hosted an honorary visit from a delegation of Japanese academics and researchers. The delegation comprised representatives from Kobe University, the National Center for Global Health and Medicine (NCGM), and the National Institute of Infectious Diseases (NIID). The visit took place on Wednesday, February 19, 2025, at UNAIR Hospital, located on UNAIR’s MERR-C Campus.
UNAIR Hospital facility tour
The Japanese delegation included Dr. Mitsuhiro Nishimura and Dr. Rei Takamiya from Kobe University; Tomimasa Sunagawa, Hiroyuki Sugiyama, and Yuko Murakami from NIID; as well as Takako Matsuzaki and Miyako Otsuka from NCGM. They were warmly welcomed by UNAIR Hospital’s director, Prof. Dr. Nasronudin, SpPD K-PTI FINASIM, along with his executive team.
During their visit, the delegation was given a comprehensive tour of UNAIR Hospital’s premier facilities, including the Research and Innovation Room, the Traditional Medicine Unit (Battra), the Stroke Unit, the Airlangga Aesthetic Center and Dermatology Clinic, research laboratories, the Clinical Trial Research Center, and the vaccine facility.
Strengthening collaboration through J-GRID Program
At a press conference during the visit, a Kobe University representative emphasized the visit’s purpose: to reinforce the long-standing collaboration between the two institutions. “Japan has many universities collaborating with Indonesia, and UNAIR is one of our key partners in infectious disease research,” stated Dr. Rei Takamiya.
Dr. Takamiya elaborated that this collaboration is part of the Japan Initiative for Global Research Network on Infectious Diseases (J-GRID) program, which partners with UNAIR’s Institute of Tropical Disease (ITD UA). “We see significant potential in the research being conducted at UNAIR, particularly in tackling various tropical diseases,” he added.
A notable highlight of the visit was the Japanese delegation’s keen interest in UNAIR Hospital’s approach to treating thalassemia. “Thalassemia is extremely rare in Japan, so we have gained valuable insights into UNAIR Hospital’s treatment strategies for patients with this condition,” said Dr. Takamiya.
Future prospects
Prof. Nasronudin, UNAIR Hospital Director, emphasized that research collaboration between Indonesia and Japan continues to strengthen, particularly through the J-GRID program, which has been in place since 2007 and was renewed in 2015.
“This visit is particularly significant as we are not only welcoming representatives from Kobe University but also from NCGM and NIID, expanding the scope for further collaboration,” he noted.
Prof. Nasronudin hopes the partnership can expand beyond research into education and patient care. “We aim for this collaboration to produce academic advancements that benefit society and support the Indonesian government’s core initiative of research downstreaming,” he concluded.
Author: Adinda Aulia Pratiwi
Editor: Khefti Al Mawalia
