Indian Delegation under the JST Sakura Science Program Paid a Courtesy Visit to President Otani

On Thursday, February 12, 2026, eight faculty members and students from Manipal Academy of Higher Education and SRM University, Andhra Pradesh, India, paid a courtesy visit to President Otani. Their visit was made possible through the invitation extended under the Sakura Science Program of the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST), following the selection of a program proposed by Dr. Hemanth Noothalapati of the Faculty of Life and Environmental Science.

The delegation is staying in Japan for 15 days, from February 6 to 20, engaging in research exchange under the theme “Development of an AI-assisted multimodal platform for early detection of cervical cancer using SERS and QPI.”

At the beginning of the courtesy visit, President Otani welcomed the visitors and expressed his hope that “this stay will serve as an opportunity to foster new collaborative research at Shimane University in the future.” This was followed by remarks from the faculty members, Dr. Ajeetkumar Patil (Manipal Academy of Higher Education) and Dr. Rajapandiyan Paneerselvam (SRM University, Andhra Pradesh), who conveyed their gratitude for the warm reception and introduced the features of their respective institutions.

Students then shared their impressions of Japan—many visiting for the first time—as well as the research activities they had taken part in during the first half of their stay. Their enthusiastic expressions clearly reflected how meaningful and fulfilling their experience has been so far.

Although Shimane University has not yet concluded an official exchange agreement with the two institutions, ongoing academic interaction led by Dr. Nootarapati has continued over the years. Building on this visit, the universities plan to move forward with concrete discussions toward establishing a formal partnership.

Despite some schedule adjustments due to heavy snowfall, the program has been progressing smoothly. The exchange is expected to provide valuable opportunities for both the visiting participants and Shimane University students, contributing to the enhancement of research skills and the development of a broader international perspective.

　
Courtesy Visit

　
Dr. Ajeetkumar Patil　　　　　　　　　        Dr. Rajapandiyan Paneerselvam
(Manipal Academy of Higher Education)       (SRM University, Andhra Pradesh)


Front row from left : Dr. Hemanth Noothalapati, Vice President Yoshimi Kataoka, President Hiroki Otani, Dr. Ajeetkumar Patil, Dr. Rajapandiyan Paneerselvam
Back row : Students from Manipal Academy of Higher Education and SRM University, Andhra Pradesh