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Research Collaboration Center on Emerging and Re-emerging Infections
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Research Collaboration Center on Emerging and Re-emerging Infections
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Report of a visit to The Friendship Laboratory of Nagasaki University and National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology in Vietnam
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(Date of visit) June 21 and 22, 2007 (Destination)
The Friendship Laboratory of Nagasaki University and National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology in Vietnam: Professor Yamashiro, Professor Nouchi, and Coordinator Furuya
National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology (NIHE): Director Nguyen Tran Hien and Vice Director Dang Duc Anh
Bach Mai Hospital and the National Institute for Clinical Research in Tropical Medicine: Director/Dr. Tran Quy and Vice Director/Dr. Ha
The research center of the International Medical Center of Japan: Professor Kudo, Professor Izumi, Professor Takasaki, and Mr. Manabe
Hanoi Medical University: Vice President Nguyen Thi Biclien and Professor Pham Duy Tuong
(Visitors)
Center of Research Network for Infectious Diseases, RIKEN: Team Leader Ayato Iwama and Chief Bogo Abe
Director of the Research Collaboration Center on Emerging and Re-emerging Infections (RCC-ERI): Yoshitake Nishimune
Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University: Professor Takeshi Honda, Professor Kazuyoshi Ikuta, Professor Tatsuo Shiota, and Professor Kazunori Oishi
Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University: Administrative Official Head Shuji Takemura
Our visit to Vietnam was to promote cooperation between our research center in Thailand and the Friendship Laboratory of Nagasaki University and National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology in Vietnam. On June 20 (Wednesday), we left for Bangkok at 11:45 a.m. from Kansai International Airport. Professor Nishimune joined us at Bangkok International Airport, and we arrived at Hanoi Airport at 7:40 p.m. local time. We went through immigration relatively easily, but had to wait a long time for our luggage. At last we could meet Professor Yamashiro, Mr. Furuya, and Mr. Abe who welcomed us at the airport around 9:00 p.m., and it was almost 10:00 p.m. when we finally arrived at the hotel. June 21: Destinations on the first day <Nagasaki University Laboratory of NIHE, Bach Mai Hospital, National Institute for Clinical Research in Tropical Medicine, and the research center of the International Medical Center of Japan> At 8:30 a.m., Mr. Furuya joined us in the hotel lobby. It was an approximately ten minute drive for us, Nagasaki University project members in one car and NIHE members in the other, through the city of Hanoi to NIHE. We were so surprised at the sight, completely different from traffic conditions in Japan, of hundreds of motorcycles passing through intersections at astonishing speed, some carrying five people without helmets. Western-style buildings along the streets reminded us that Vietnam had been a French colony. NIHE was in a brown, three-story building with soaring high ceilings, built more than eighty years ago. We were ushered into a visitors room on the second floor, where Professor Yamashiro gave us a briefing on the Friendship Laboratory of Nagasaki University and National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology in Vietnam with MS PowerPoint software, and we exchanged our views. Then, we met with the Director General and Vice Director of NIHE, exchanged views with them, and toured the Nagasaki University laboratory, which was unexpectedly small, on the third floor. We could also see the High-Tech Center building under construction by JICA, to which the Nagasaki University laboratory was scheduled to be relocated. In the afternoon, we visited Bach Mai Hospital, the National Institute for Clinical Research in Tropical Medicine, and the center of the International Medical Center of Japan. In Bach Mai Hospital, after hearing an explanation of panels in the lobby on the first floor, we met the Director of the hospital and exchanged views with him in the meeting room on the sixth floor. Then, we moved to the National Institute for Clinical Research in Tropical Medicine and the International Medical Center of Japan located in a separate building. Professor Kudo guided us through the institute and a laboratory of the International Medical Center of Japan, explained about their research activities, and we again exchanged our opinions. June 22: Destinations on the second day <Hanoi Medical University, NIHE, and Bach Mai Hospital> We gathered in the hotel lobby at 8:30 a.m. again, and enjoyed a thirty-minute drive through the city to Hanoi Medical University. In the meeting room, the Vice President Nguyen Thi Biclien gave us an explanation of the history, administration, and education and research activities of the university, and we shared our thoughts and opinions. Following this, we visited the Department of Public Health to have a short discussion with Professor Pham Duy Tuong. Although the university was closed for the summer vacation and we could not observe experimental procedures, we could see the inside of the laboratory through the window. We visited NIHE again in the afternoon, and Professor Yamashiro showed us around the institute, giving us explanations on three main sections. At 4:00 p.m., we had an opportunity to see a TV conference between Bach Mai Hospital and the International Medical Center of Japan (Tokyo). In the trial, doctors at Bach Mai Hospital sent digital data of clinical cases to Tokyo via TV transmission and attempted to have a conversation. It seemed to me that, different from common television meetings, they did not sense the distance between communicating parties, as if both were in the same room. We thought that this technology might be useful for communication and collaboration between two centers. Although it was a busy schedule, our party and people at the Friendship Laboratory of Nagasaki University and National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology in Vietnam could get to know each other and become friends. We hope that these ties we forged with the Loboratory will become even closer through the exchange and sharing of information. We would like to express our sincere gratitude to people at the Friendship Laboratory of Nagasaki University and National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology in Vietnam, the International Medical Center of Japan, and the support center for their kind hospitality. Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University: Administrative Official Head Shuji Takemura |
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