From June 23 to 25, 2025, Executive Vice President (EVP) Asako Sugimoto, EVP Toshiya Ueki, and Associate EVP Atsuhiro Nakagawa visited the University of California, San Diego (UCSD).

The visit followed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the two universities earlier in June 2025. Its aim was to discuss concrete activities in the fields of materials science, semiconductors, life sciences, and disaster prevention, with the intention of eventually expanding into other areas.

On the first day of the visit, Associate EVP Nakagawa and Professor Toshio Suga, Director of the Tohoku University & JAMSTEC Advanced Institute for Marine Ecosystem Change (WPI-AIMEC), met with Dr. Margaret Leinen, Director of the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, and Professor Shang-Ping Xie (a Tohoku University PhD graduate) to discuss potential collaborations in oceanography.

On June 24, the focus shifted to life sciences. Dr. Karandeep Singh, Chief Health AI Officer at UCSD Health, introduced advanced initiatives in data science, while Dr. Christopher Longhurst, Chief Clinical & Innovation Officer, provided a comprehensive overview of UCSD Health. The delegation was also given a tour of the Center for the Future of Surgery at the UCSD School of Medicine, one of the world's largest and most advanced surgical simulation facilities. Following discussions led by EVP Ueki, both sides gained a clearer understanding of their shared vision for future collaboration.

On the final day of the visit, Dr. Albert Pisano, Dean of the Jacobs School of Engineering and Special Adviser to UCSD's Chancellor, hosted the delegation at Franklin Antonio Hall. The building was designed to foster cross-disciplinary collaboration to address pressing societal challenges. Dr. Pisano--who previously served as an International Advisor to Tohoku University--outlined its functions and organizational structure, after which the parties engaged in productive discussions on startup support projects and student exchange programs.

This visit marked an important step toward deepening collaboration between Tohoku University and UCSD, and both institutions look forward to reinforcing their collaborative ties.