Pix Abdul Raai Osman

KUALA LUMPUR, 23 June 2014 – Collaboration between The National University of Malaysia (UKM) and Niigata University Japan (NUJ) in medical research formalised five years ago has been further extended.

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed here today to promote, develop and strengthen their cooperation in undertaking field research and facilitate exchanges of their students and staff to enable both universities to benefit from their strengths.

The memorandum was signed by UKM Vice Chancellor Professor Datuk Dr Noor Azlan Ghazali and Dean of NUJ Medical Faculty and Dental Sciences Professor Dr Tatsuo Ushiki here today.

Prof Noor Azlan said the previous collaboration had produced notable results including two research projects studying Typhoid Endemicity in Kelantan and Influenza Surveillance Study now ongoing.

Two journal papers have also been published with more in the pipeline arising from the collaboration, Prof Noor Azlan said.

Dr Tatsuo Ushiki said NUJ wants to replicate the success of the ongoing collaborations to more areas of medical research. UKM will benefit from NUJ’s expertise in Geographical Information System (GIS) for health.

GIS is a method of computerised (digital) mapping that can show where selected people, events, matters or conditions are by linking data to its geographic location.

NUJ hopes to benefit from UKM’s expertise in managing Community Health and improving health awareness among the community both in rural and urban areas.

Both universities will join hands to trade and transfer their expertise to students and relevant staff in those areas.

Present at the signing ceremony was Dean of UKM Medical Faculty Prof Datuk Dr Raymond Azman Ali and the NUJ delegation.