On November 3-4, "Shanghai University-Okayama University Medical Exchange Day & The second Sino-Japanese University Medical Academic Forum " took place hosted by Shanghai University. Attending on behalf of Okayama University were President NASU Yasutomo, Vice Executive Director for New Medical Research Sites, Dean of the Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Director of Neutron Therapy Research Center NARUSE Keiji, Vice-Center Director MICHIUE Hiroyuki of Neutron Therapy Research Center, and Research Associate Professor Peng HUANG.

The forum, aiming to foster cooperation and exchange in the medical field between Japan and China, had its first edition held online last year due to the pandemic. This year marked its first in-person gathering as the pandemic situation allowed for it to be conducted face-to-face.

Participating universities were Okayama University and Shanghai University, which has a cooperative agreement for international exchange, along with The University of Tokyo, Nippon Medical School Foundation, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai Ocean University, Peking University, and more. Approximately 180 professionals, including physicians and young researchers, participated.

President Nasu delivered a keynote lecture titled "Challenge of Okayama University Hospital to solve social issues," introducing various technological developments and business initiatives at Okayama University Hospital aimed at solving societal challenges. He also highlighted the efforts of the Okayama University Hospital's industry-academia collaboration project, the "BIZEN (Business Innovation Zone for Entrepreneurship) Program," which promotes medical innovation creation.

Following the keynote lecture, six sub-sessions were held in areas such as "Tumor Immunology," "Regenerative Medicine & Stem Cells," "Artificial Intelligence," "Marine Biomedical Science & Health Food," "Next-Generation Drug Development," and "Biological Materials." Vice Executive Director Naruse, Vice-Center Director Michiue, and Research Associate Professor Huang presented during these sessions, engaging in lively discussions and exchanges of opinions with participants.

In the post-COVID era, face-to-face interactions among researchers have been taking place worldwide, leading to new developments in research, innovative discoveries, and talent exchanges. The in-person format of this forum, held for the first time, contributes to the strengthening and promotion of research and innovation activities in the future.

The forum ensures strict adherence to research integrity, considering aspects such as the soundness, fairness, and security of internationalization and openness in academia. Clear communication and positive collaboration are emphasized to build relationships based on research integrity. Future projects will involve contracts that consider regulations in both countries, ensuring the safety and success of each specific initiative. The forum, and Okayama University's active participation, is anticipated to contribute to the university's role as a core and distinctive research institution in the region.

About Shanghai University:
Shanghai University, a national university jointly operated by the Chinese Ministry of Education and the Shanghai Municipal Government, is one of the universities participating in the "211 Project" (a national key university). Established in 1922, the current Shanghai University was formed in 1994 through mergers with institutions like Shanghai University of Technology and Shanghai Science and Technology School. It has three vast campuses in Shanghai and offers diverse faculties, including literature, philosophy, economics, law, science, engineering, and art, covering 30 schools and 86 majors. With around 3,100 faculty members and doctoral researchers, the university has approximately 20,500 undergraduate students, 16,500 graduate students, and 16,000 adult education students. International students at Shanghai University have exceeded 15,000 from over 115 countries, with approximately 3,000 students currently enrolled. The university has gained significant recognition in the field of education and research. According to the "World's Top Young Universities Ranking" by the British global university ranking agency Quacquarelli Symonds, Shanghai University holds the top position among universities in mainland China. The university's inaugural president was the renowned scientist Wei-zang Chien (1913–2010), often referred to as the 'father of mechanics in China,' who had a profound influence on solid mechanics and rational mechanics.