From 23 February to 1 March 2025, Nagasaki University hosted seven graduate students and one faculty member from the Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Malaya (University of Malaya). This scientific exchange program, focused on ‘Field-based Tropical Medicine Research for Young Scientists from Malaysia and Japan,’ strengthened the academic partnership established through an MOU and Student Exchange Program Agreement signed in September 2024.

Universiti Malaya has been leading research in mosquito-borne diseases such as malaria and dengue fever. In addition to these important diseases, tick-born diseases represent an emerging research frontier with growing global significance. As one participant noted, ‘In Malaysia, tick collection is very limited, making it difficult to identify the species.’

This program provided valuable exposure to advanced tick research techniques developed by Assistant Professor Dr Tomonori Hoshi at the Institute of Tropical Medicine in Nagasaki University, who has been conducting extensive tick surveys across Nagasaki Prefecture since 2019 The knowledge and technical exchanges are particularly timely as tick-borne diseases are gaining research attention not only in developing countries but also in advanced nations across Europe.

Activity Report of the Sakura Science Program:

‘Scientific Exchange Between Universiti Malaya and Nagasaki University: Advancing Tropical Medicine Research’ has been published.　

URL: https://ssp.jst.go.jp/en/report/2024/k_vol026.html

Field work to sample ticks. Participants showed serious faces.