On November 24th delegation of Japanese scientists visited the Vilnius University Life Sciences Center (VU LSC).
The delegation included Dr. Ikumi Katano, Deputy Head of the Immunology Laboratory at the Central Institute for Experimental Medicine and Life Science (CIEM), and CIEM Director Prof. Makoto Suematsu, accompanied by several colleagues.
Upon arrival, the guests were welcomed by VU LSC Director Dr. Arvydas Lubys, Advisor on International Relations Prof. Eglė Lastauskienė, and VU LSC researchers Prof. Daiva Baltriukienė and Dr. Aurelijus Burokas. Discussions centered on potential collaborative projects between VU LSC and CIEM, with both institutions recognizing strong alignment in key research directions.
As part of their program, the Japanese scientists toured several infrastructure hubs at the Life Sciences Center. They were introduced to the CryoEM facility, where Dr. Giedrė Tamulaitienė showcased the center’s advanced microscopy capabilities. The delegation also visited the laboratory of Prof. Linas Mažutis, where PhD student Vincenta Mikulėnaitė presented the team’s ongoing research. Additionally, the guests toured the animal facility, gaining insight into the center’s resources for in vivo studies.
Later in the day, Dr. Katano delivered a seminar to the LSC community, presenting new findings from CIEM. Her talk focused on the characterization of human microglia in humanized NOG-IL-34 transgenic mice under germ-free conditions.
With both CIEM and VU LSC engaged in overlapping scientific fields, the visit served as a promising step toward establishing long-term cooperation. Researchers from both institutions expressed optimism that joint initiatives could accelerate scientific discovery and foster deeper international exchange in the life sciences.
