The UTokyo-KI LINK programme
KI and the University of Tokyo have launched the UTokyo-KI LINK programme to facilitate research and educational collaboration at undergraduate, graduate and postdoctoral levels. At KI, the administrative base of the programme is at the Department of Cell and Molecular Biology (CMB). At the University of Tokyo, the administrative base is at the Institute for Quantitative Biosciences (IQB).
Photo: Yuri NakagawaAbout the UTokyo-KI LINK
The programme aims at supporting investigators interested in research collaborations and recruitment of doctoral and postdoctoral students, and for junior researchers or students looking for postdoctoral positions or training opportunities at the University of Tokyo.
Photo: Yuri NakagawaHow to get started
First steps in establishing a collaboration with the help of the programme.
Photo: PixahiveContact persons
Contact persons at University of Tokyo and KI.
Photo: Yuri NakagawaParticipating groups
Groups affiliated to the programme at University of Tokyo and KI.
Photo: Yuri NakagawaCurrent activities
Current research and education activities within the programme.
Photo: Yuri NakagawaGrants and fellowships
Information about Swedish and Japanese grants relevant to this programme.
How to establish your collaboration at University of Tokyo
Planning your activities within the UTokyo-KI LINK programme.
News and calendar events in the UTokyo-KI LINK programme
Dr. Seitaro Nomura from Tokyo University taught medical students at KI
As part of the teacher and education exchange programme in the UTokyo KI-LINK programme, Dr. Seitaro Nomura from Tokyo University taught the subject of "Genetics of cardiac disease" as part of the Genetics module for the first year medical students at Karolinska Institutet in the end of October 2025. Dr. Nomura first gave a lecture about the research activities of his team at Tokyo University, and then participated in a Team Based Learning Session with the medical students discussing the different treatment options for inherited cardiovascular diseases. Dr. Nomura's presentations inspired many of the students to scout possibilities of conducting their 8th semester reach project in Japan. Dr. Nomura also gave a research seminar at the Biomedicum on Precision Cardiovascular Medicine.
Launch Event of the University of Tokyo - Karolinska Institutet LINK Program
The Stockholm Launch Event and Opening Ceremony of the UTokyo–KI LINK Programme took place on August 25, 2025, in Biomedicum’s auditorium Eva & Georg Klein
This Stockholm based launch event, co-hosted by the University of Tokyo, Karolinska Institutet and the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO), was designed to introduce the LINK programme to key stakeholders across academic, governmental, and industrial sectors in Sweden. The programme included presentations from the hosting organisations and representatives from the biotech sector. The event concluded with a poster and networking session with refreshments at Biomedicum.
News - Children Discover Cell Biology Through Clay at Karolinska Institutet
Biomedicum was transformed into a colourful studio on May 26th 2025 when children rolled up their sleeves for a Science Clay Workshop that turned cell biology into art.
The half‑day workshop was jointly organized by the Institute for Quantitative Biosciences (IQB), The University of Tokyo, and the Department of Cell and Molecular Biology (CMB), Karolinska Institutet, within the UTokyo-KI LINK programme and supported by the ASPIRE programme.
During the event, children had a unique opportunity to meet the Japanese artist, Hitomi Okada. Hitomi, known for her educational work through art, taught the children about the structure and function of cells.
News - Bridging Science and Culture: KI and UTokyo Joint Course for Doctoral Students in Tokyo
Karolinska Institutet (KI) and the University of Tokyo (UTokyo) have continued their tradition of academic collaboration by organizing a joint course for doctoral students once again this year 2025. Held at the UTokyo Hongo Campus in Japan, the course titled "Bioinformatics Analysis and Visualization of Medical Genomics Data (H7F5633)", led by Dr. Carsten Daub, brought together 11 students from KI and 16 from UTokyo.
STINT offered a webinar and report on public research and innovation funders in Japan March 11th 2025
Dr. Laura Barbieri, postdoctoral researcher for the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) and STINT Affiliated Analyst in Japan, guided participants through a recently published STINT Outlook report on navigating Japan’s public research funding system. The aim was to provide Swedish higher education institutions and potential future researchers in Japan with essential insights into current national R&D trends and the public sector’s strategies for research and innovation.
News
August 27, 2024, we were honored by a visit of the UTokyo President Fujii who spent and afternoon discussing with scientists connected to the LINK program.
News
Dr Yukie Kashima, Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, expert in single-cell RNA-seq and spatial omics, arrived at KI first of August, 2024. During the coming year, she will develop already initiated KI collaborations, and aims to start new collaborative investigations within virology, infectious disease, and immunology. Supported by AMED ASPIRE grant.
New UTokyo-KI LINK-initiated recruitments!
Dr Raku Saito was recruited a postdoc to the Institute for Quantitative Biosciences, UTokyo in April 2024 to work on a KI-UTokyo collaborative project. Supported by AMED ASPIRE grant.
Dr Donald Cameron, who just completed his postdoc at the Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, KI, will start as Assistant Professor at the Institute for Quantitative Biosciences, UTokyo in October 2024. Supported by MEXT organizational development expenses.
Dr Yusuke Sakai has been recruited as Lecturer at the Institute for Quantitative Biosciences, the University of Tokyo. From November 2024 onwards, Dr Sakai will be active at KI and affiliated to the Björn Högberg team at the Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics. Supported by MEXT organizational development expenses.
News Archive
News and calendar events from The UTokyo-KI LINK programme.