Hokkaido University and the University of Melbourne have strengthened their collaboration in the Health Sciences sector, showcasing a commitment to advancing research and education.

Ongoing Developments in Health Sciences Partnership

The collaboration between Hokkaido University (HU) and the University of Melbourne (UoM) within the Health Sciences domain continues to advance. From September 24 to 27, 2024, a delegation from the Melbourne School of Health Sciences visited HU’s Faculty of Health Sciences. The delegation, led by Associate Professor Dani Tomlin, who heads the Department of Audiology and Speech Pathology, included several other faculty members from UoM.

During the visit, the academics from Melbourne met with Professor Rika Yano, Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences at HU, and engaged with local collaborators. This included discussions with Professor Daisuke Sawamura and Associate Professor Naoya Hasegawa from Rehabilitation Science, who are focused on professional development initiatives aimed at improving Allied Healthcare for older adults. Additionally, Professor Atsuko Ikeda participated in the discussions, contributing insights on the interplay between living environments and health in conjunction with UoM’s Faculty of Architecture, Building and Planning.

This recent visit acted as a continuation of the collaboration that commenced with Dean Yano’s visit to Melbourne the previous year. The agenda included meetings with local industry partners such as Naka Corporation, a firm specializing in equipment designed for vulnerable populations. Furthermore, the agenda aimed to support innovation projects at the HU Health Innovation & Technology Center.

Importantly, the two universities have obtained funding for a project titled “Developing and Implementing Health Promotion Strategies to Extend Healthy Lifespan: A Japan-Australia Collaboration” from the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science. This ongoing partnership is expected to contribute significantly to research and education in Health Sciences at both institutions.

Article attributed to Global Hokkaido University.