Hiroshima, Japan — New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy, joined by Dr. Mitsuo Ochi, President of Hiroshima University, witnessed the signing of a historic Letter of Intent (LOI) between Rutgers University, the oldest, largest, and top-ranked public university in the New York/New Jersey metropolitan area, RWJBarnabas Health, the largest and most comprehensive academic health system in New Jersey, and Hiroshima University, a top public research university in Japan. The LOI signifies the commencement of discussions between Japan and New Jersey to advance cancer research and education through collaborative efforts. A MOU between Rutgers University and Hiroshima University was also signed during the Choose New Jersey Governor-led economic mission to East Asia.

“With today’s ceremony, we will establish a new, cross-continental partnership – one that will enable our leading minds in New Jersey to engage and exchange ideas with researchers here in Hiroshima,” said Governor Murphy. “In the years to come, I am confident that this partnership will lead to significant breakthroughs, especially when it comes to the care of cancer patients in New Jersey, Japan, and around the world.”

“In a world where boundaries are becoming increasingly blurred, collaborations like these remind us of the power of knowledge and the pursuit of innovation are worthy endeavors,” said US Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel, who has been an advocate for improving educational relations between Japan and the United States.

The LOI was signed Sunday, October 15, 2023, by Antonio M. Calcado, Executive Vice President and Chief Operation Officer, Rutgers University, Mark E. Manigan, President and Chief Executive Officer, RWJBarnabas Health, and Mitsu Ochi, M.D., Ph.D., President, Hiroshima University. By signing the LOI, Rutgers Biomedical Health Sciences (RBHS), RWJBarnabas Health, and Hiroshima University Hospital and its Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences agree to explore future collaboration on healthcare and medical research, such as digestive tract cancer clinical trials. The agreement also creates an exchange between top researchers and students, fostering inquiry and innovation by offering access to new technologies, research methods, and opportunities for mutual advancement in New Jersey and Japan’s health sciences industries.

The agreement will encourage researchers and students from RBHS, RWJBarnabas Health, and Hiroshima University to study, conduct, and present research across the respective institutions, creating new academic, and research and development opportunities in New Jersey and Japan.

“This historic collaboration between Rutgers University and RWJBarnabas Health with Hiroshima University’s Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, a leading cancer research institute, among other areas, is part of a broader initiative to expand Rutgers Health’s research and clinical strengths around the world,” said Brian Strom, chancellor, Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences. “This visionary partnership presents a strategic opportunity for both institutions to advance investigator-initiated research in areas including cancer, clinical trials, and epidemiology studies to further our missions to develop new strategies in high-quality patient care, education, and research. We also look forward to exploring opportunities for further collaboration beyond research, such as sharing academic material, organizing symposia, and creating an exchange program for biomedical and health science students.

Since 2018, Rutgers University and RWJBarnabas Health have collaborated to create the largest academic health system in New Jersey, consisting of eight schools with more than 1,500 faculty and 450 clinical trials in any time. RBHS is a top-ranked graduate program in New Jersey and delivers $500 million annually in research activities, standing as one of the largest and most comprehensive university-based centers for study and development. in human health and health care.

“RWJBarnabas Health is very proud to be a part of this unique global academic collaboration,” said Mark E. Manigan, President and Chief Executive Officer for RWJBarnabas Health. “By signing this Letter of Intent, we are breaking traditional academic boundaries to develop and advance clinical research and education with the ultimate goal of improving health outcomes internationally.”

Hiroshima University stands one of the top comprehensive research universities in Japan, covering a wide spectrum of academic disciplines. Hiroshima University is at the forefront of cutting-edge research in diverse fields such as ‘Knotted Chiral Meta Matter’, ‘Genomics’, ‘Brain Sciences’, and ‘Nanodevices’. In the field of medicine, we are committed to advancing medical care and contributing to community medicine. The university achieved notable recognition, securing 10th in Japan in a 2021 ranking of universities based on the total number of clinical medical papers published in Q1 journals.

“Hiroshima University, in conjunction with the 2023 G7 Hiroshima Summit, joined a significant US-Japan collaboration known as UPWARDS. This initiative involves five Japanese and six American universities working together to boost research and development in the semiconductor field, thereby developing human resources.” Mitsuo Ochi, President of Hiroshima University expressed his enthusiasm for deepening cooperation between Japan and the US, not just in semiconductors but also in medicine. He stated, “Following today’s agreements, I envision Hiroshima University actively participating in academic and researcher exchanges in the field of healthcare with Rutgers University and RWJBarnabas Health, making noteworthy contributions to healthcare both locally and beyond.”

“Research is central to New Jersey’s standing as a leading global hub of innovation,” said Wesley Mathews, President and CEO of Choice New Jersey. “Today, we are taking a step to strengthen the innovation ecosystem in our state with a leading research university in Japan.”

Journalists interested in more information on the New Jersey East Asia economic mission can contact Mahen Gunaratna (mahen.gunaratna@nj.gov) and Ingrid Austin (iaustin@choosenj.com), or visit choosenj.com/EastAsiaMission for in more details.

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