From February 3rd to 4th, 2025, Dr. Yuba Nidhi Basaula, Director of Sukraraj Tropical and Infectious Disease Hospital (STIDH),
Dr. Bimal Sharma Chalise, Senior Physician, STIDH as well as Mr. Badri Raj Dhakal and Suresh Chaulagai from Ministry of Health and Population, Nepal,
visited the Infectious Disease Research and Development Center (DIDA) and the Tropical Medicine Research Center (NEKKEN) in Nagasaki, Japan.
This visit aimed to strengthen research collaboration in tropical and infectious diseases between Japan and Nepal, serving as an important opportunity
to deepen the partnership between research institutions from both countries.
Discussion with DIDA Professor Kouichi Morita (February 3, 2025)
The STIDH team discussed the current infectious and tropical diseases pattern in both Nepal and Japan, as well as the ongoing collaboration
on dengue virus research between STIDH and the DIDA/NEKKEN virology department. As a result, both institutions agreed to strengthen their partnership,
with plans for exchange visits and the preparation of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)
Discussion with DIDA Professor Basu Dev Pandey (February 3, 2025)
Professor Pandey presented the structure, aims, and functions of SCARDA, DIDA, and VRDC. Discussions also focused on the available dengue vaccines
and the research and development efforts of DIDA. The team from STIDH and Nepal’s Ministry of Health expressed their interest in serving as a support center for DIDA’s vaccine R&D.
Discussion with NEKKEN Professors Osamu Kaneko and Satoshi Kaneko (February 3, 2025)
Following presentations by Professor Osamu Kaneko on the Introduction of Nagasaki University, tropical medicines, and collaborative research opportunities
and by STIDH Director Dr. YN Basuala on the hospital’s activities and research, an agreement was made to establish collaborative research between NEKKEN and STIDH in the field of tropical medicine.
Discussion with Nagasaki University Hospital Professors Koichi Izumikawa and Takeshi Tanaka (February 4, 2025)
Discussions on the health systems of both Nepal and Japan, including services at STIDH and Nagasaki University Hospital,
as well as observations of infectious disease wards, triage systems during outbreaks, and ICU systems, were held.
Plans for further collaboration between Nagasaki University Hospital and STIDH were discussed,
with coordination for a visit from the Nagasaki team to STIDH to be arranged by Dr. Tanaka and Dr. Pandey.
Discussion with Dr. Yuki Takamatsu and Dr. Myat (February 4, 2025)
Ongoing dengue research and the possibility of collaboration on diagnostics for SFTS and other emerging viral diseases were discussed.
Both institutions are committed to strengthening their research efforts on these topics, and the preparation of an MoU between STIDH and DIDA will proceed.
This visit marked a significant step in deepening the collaboration between STIDH and Japanese research institutions,
laying the groundwork for future joint research and cooperative efforts.