11-06-2025
Dundalk Institute of Technology signs memorandum of agreement with Japanese university
The agreement with Nagoya City University Graduate Medical School was spearheaded by Dr. Bernard T. Drumm from the Smooth Muscle Research Centre at DkIT and Professor Hikaru Hashitani.
Both their departments studiescells and tissues of smooth muscle organs in the urogenital tract (bladder, urethra, reproductive tracts) and gastrointestinal system, with a view to understanding the physiology of how these organs work and how diseases such as urinary incontinence, erectile dysfunction and motility disorders can be treated.
The MOA was signed in Nagoya City University in March and was followed by an invited seminar from Dr. Drumm to the Japanese research team on ongoing research underway at the DkIT. This was followed by a symposium organised by Professor Hashitani the following week in Makuhari, Japan, during which Dr. Drumm and Professor Hashitani presented recent findings from their research groups along with colleagues from Oxford University, UK and University of Fukui, Japan.
'This significant MOA represents a link between two of the most active smooth muscle physiology research groups in Europe and Asia,' Dr Drumm said. ' Our shared research interests make this a natural evolution of our collaborative efforts, and we seek to expand our activities further in the future. Together, DkIT and NCU seek to extend each institutes international reach, providing research opportunities and knowledge exchange of mutual benefit to DkIT and Nagoya City University.'
Professor Hikaru Hashitani of Nagoya City University said he was was delighted to welcome Dr Bernard Drumm to Nagoya City University Medical School. Following the establishment of a MOA between DKIT and our medical school during Dr Drumm's visit, I am sincerely looking forward to extending academic exchange between the two institutes.'
