From June 23 to 25, 2025, EVP Asako Sugimoto, EVP Toshiya Ueki, and Associate EVP Atsuhiro Nakagawa visited the University of California San Diego (UCSD).
This visit followed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the two universities in June 2025, and the aim was to discuss the planning and conducting of concrete activities, mainly in the fields of materials science, semiconductors, life sciences, and disaster prevention, with a view to expanding into other fields.
The two parties discussed the possibility of cooperation in three specific fields: oceanography (at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography), medical life science industry-university ecosystems (at UCSD Health and the School of Medicine), and collaboration in engineering and bioengineering (at the Jacobs School of Engineering), and looked carefully at the possibility of developing education and research cooperation.
On June 23, Associate EVP Atsuhiro Nakagawa and Prof. Toshio Suga, Director of the Tohoku University & JAMSTEC Advanced Institute for Marine Ecosystem Change (WPI-AIMEC), discussed oceanography-related matters with Dr. Margaret Leinen, the director of the Scripps Institution of Oceanography and Prof. Shang-ping Xie (who received his doctorate from Tohoku University) about the possibility of developing collaborations.
With respect to life sciences, on June 24, Dr. Karandeep Singh, Chief Health AI Officer for UCSD Health, introduced advanced initiatives in the field of data science, and its Chief Clinical & Innovation Officer, Dr. Christopher Longhurst, gave a comprehensive overview of UCSD Health. Tohoku University’s party were treated to a tour of the Center for the Future of Surgery in the UCSD School of Medicine, one of the largest and most comprehensive surgical simulation facilities in the world, and following discussions involving EVP Ueki, both sides gained a better understanding of the vision for future collaboration.
On June 25, Dr. Albert Pisano, Dean of the Jacobs School of Engineering and Special Adviser to UCSD’s Chancellor, introduced the visiting party to Franklin Antonio Hall in the Jacobs School of Engineering, which was built to promote cross-disciplinary collaboration to solve a range of problems which society faces. Dr. Pisano, who was formerly an International Advisor for Tohoku University, explained its functions and organizational structure, and this was followed by a productive discussion about the School of Engineering’s startup support projects and student exchange programs.
This visit to UCSD gave both universities the opportunity to take an important step toward strengthening collaboration between them, and they look forward to reinforcing their collaborative ties.
Furthest back on the left: Prof. Suga of AIMEC
Second furthest back on the left: Associate EVP Nakagawa
First from right: Dr. Margaret Leinen, director of the Scripps Institution of Oceanography
Second from right: Prof. Shang-ping Xie (recipient of a PhD from Tohoku University)
First from the right: Dr. Christopher Longhurst (Chief Clinical & Innovation Officer)
Third from the right: Dr. Karandeep Singh (Chief Health AI Officer)
First from the left: EVP Asako Sugimoto
Second from the left: EVP Toshiya Ueki
A Tour of UCSD Health
The University of California San Diego’s website
Contact:
Global Strategy Office
Tel: 022-217-6311
Email: kokusai-c*grp.tohoku.ac.jp (please replace the * with @)