Prof. Ita is visiting Japan - Global Communication Report #3
November 29, 2022
Global Communication Report #3
Prof. Ita is visiting Japan
<Interviewer: Keishi Tada (undergraduate)>
In this issue, I would like to introduce Professor Itabajara da Silva Vaz Junior (Prof. Ita), who is staying at our laboratory for collaborative research from this October to January 2023.
<Prof. Ita>
Prof. Ita belongs to the University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Brazil. His research group has conducted a number of research projects on ticks, including "Isolation and characterization of tick proteins in different metabolic pathways," with a strong connection with our laboratory which has also conducted the tick research.
He had spent two years as a postdoctoral researcher in our laboratory from 2002 to 2003.
The second photo shows Prof. Ohashi and Prof. Konnai in their younger days (very young!). In the photo, there are Dr. Usui of Tottori University, Dr. Ozawa of Kagoshima University, Dr. Imamura and Dr. Kozasa of MAFF, Dr. Hagiya (Minase) of Hokkaido Government, Dr. Yamada of Kaketsuken, Dr. Witter of Illinois University, and Dr. Okada (Tsuda).
In his research at that time, he conducted comparative studies on ticks living in South America, Africa, and Asia, and identified target proteins for the development of tick control methods.
<With lab members in 2003>
Our laboratory has been collaborating with Prof. Ita since 2001 through research projects. In 2013, we finally signed a cooperation agreement with the University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS). The data obtained from our joint researches have been published in 32 papers and three patents have also been filed in Brazil.
The exchange program between two laboratories is very active, and many graduate students and young researchers visited and stayed at each university. It was very interesting to learn about the history of our collaboration.
<Prof. Ita is teaching tick dissection>
Prof. Ita says "What is important in my daily life is to make a clear distinction between "work Ita" and "personal Ita”". Although Japan and Brazil are on opposite sides of the globe, he says "I have important research partners and many friends in Japan. It is a wonderful environment where I can enjoy both my work and private life".
Although four months is a little short for a joint research project, I hope to learn a lot of things from Prof. Ita. I look forward to working with you! I would like to visit Brazil in the near future!!