Okayama University signed a University level agreement with Wayne State University of the USA on February 6. The signing ceremony held in the president's office was attended by Professor Larry H. Matherly of the Wayne State University Karmanos Cancer Institute, President Kiyoshi Morita, Dr. Masaru Araki (Executive Director and Vice-President (Social Responsibility and International Affairs)), and Dr. Masaharu Seno (Dean of the Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology). The agreement was signed by Professor Matherly and President Morita.

Wayne State University, located in Detroit, Michigan, has a high reputation as a capital research university, and the Karmanos Cancer Institute adjoining the university is is one of 41 National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer centers in the United States, with 1,200 employees including 300 doctors. It has a Phase 1 program, one of only 14 National Cancer Institute (NCI)-funded Phase 1 programs in the United States. The area surrounding the campus is well suited to education, including as it does historical and academic facilities such as art galleries.

This University level agreement is expected to lead through cooperation between both universities to the development of anti-cancer drugs through both universities' chemical synthesis technologies, biofunction research and biotechnologies, developing to clinical trials, and helping to train students and researchers with a wide international vision.