University of Cologne, Cologne (Germany) February 2018
From February 2, to February 6, seven researchers from the Keio University School of Medicine visited the University of Cologne to attend the Keio-Cologne Symposium on Aging & Longevity. The Keio delegation included Professor Masayuki Amagai, Dean of the School of Medicine.
It is hoped to enhance research and educational ties between the two universities with the aim of facilitating a society in which people enjoy longer healthy lifespans through the sharing of research know-how in the medical sciences on illnesses which accompany aging--an issue faced by many people--as well that pertaining to aging mechanisms.
Fourteen researchers and academics engaged in medical research on aging and longevity, in particular the deans of the medical schools at Keio University and the University of Cologne, and members of the CECAD Cluster of Excellence, DZNE (German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases), Max Plank Institute for Biology of Ageing Cologne, and the university hospitals, gathered at the event to report on and discuss the latest research outcomes at their respective institutions.
At the venue, researchers with an interest in longevity research from the University of Cologne and other institutions participated together with students from the Cologne Graduate School of Ageing Research, located within the CECAD, in lively discussions with researchers from the two universities both before and after the presentations.
CECAD at the University of Cologne (Cluster of Excellence Cellular Stress Responses in Aging-Associated Diseases)
It was agreed that this joint symposium would be the launch pad for a joint research program in this field in the impending future. The partners also committed to promoting graduate student and post-doc early career researcher exchanges leveraging the Graduate School of Ageing Research, an international graduate program of the CECAD.
With regards to the ongoing framework of the Global Network Partnership Agreement concluded between the two universities in 2014, it was decided to actively pursue enhanced ties on educational and research fronts going forward.
1. Speech by Keiichi Kodaira, Director, Bonn Office, Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) before the start of the welcome ceremony on the first dayDirector, Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, Bonn
2. Professor Ito's presentation during the first session on Metabolism on February 4, the first day of the symposium, Significance of epigenetic modulation/DNA repair in "cardio-metabolic memory" and metabolic kidney diseases
3. Q&A session following Professor Yasui's presentation "Roles of Aquaporin-4 (AQP4) in neurodegenerative disease" during the second session, Alzheimer's & Neurodegenerative Disorder, on February 5, the second day of the symposium.
4. Group photo session at CECAD following business meetings by representatives of the University of Cologne and Keio University on February 5 (front row from right: Dean Kreag, Vice Rector Mansel, Dean Amagai, and other attendees)
5. Centre for International Relations of the Medical Faculty (ZIB Med) Staff(From right) Dr. Kockemann, Dr. Schrader-Wille, Ms. Schneider
6. Dean Amagai, School of Medicine, Prof. Schumacher (CECAD), and Dean Krieg vow to strengthen ties between Kern and Keio
Professor Yukihiro Ikeda (Dean, Faculty of Economics) and Professor Colin MacKenzie from Keio University visited the University of Cologne and attended a signing ceremony timed to coincide with the current symposium. This marked the conclusion of an agreement on a Double Master's Degree Program and a 5-year BA-MA Double Degree Program to be newly instituted in conjunction between the Faculty and Graduate School of Economics at Keio and the Faculty of Management, Economics and Social Sciences at the University of Cologne.
University of Cologne, The Faculty of Economic and Social Sciences News