Nagoya University President Naoshi Sugiyama met with the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Chancellor Lee H. Roberts on September 24, 2025, to discuss expanding the growing partnership between the two institutions during a visit to North Carolina’s Research Triangle Park.
The meeting brought together senior leaders from both universities. Nagoya’s delegation included Vice President Norimi Mizutani for International Affairs, Vice Dean Hideki Kasuya of the Graduate School of Medicine, and NU Tech Director Tomohisa Koyama. Interim Provost Jim Dean, Vice Provost for Global Affairs Barbara Stephenson, and Associate Provost for Global Affairs Heather Ward represented UNC-Chapel Hill.
The visit marked President Sugiyama’s first meeting with Chancellor Roberts, who took office in August 2024. UNC-Chapel Hill, one of America’s oldest state universities and a member of the prestigious “Public Ivy” group, has become one of Nagoya University’s key North American partners. With nearly half of UNC-Chapel Hill’s research funding devoted to medical fields, the universities have built their collaboration primarily around their medical schools through student exchanges and research cooperation.
Medical collaboration takes center stage
Discussions at the meeting emphasized collaboration in medicine and healthcare. The two universities are hosting an academic symposium series title “Aging and the Family,” which will gather experts in medicine, nursing, public health, and social work for interdisciplinary dialogue on how families and societies can support aging populations. Supported by the Japan Foundation, the first event was held on October 14-16 at UNC-Chapel Hill and the second will be held at Nagoya University in March 2026.
In addition, President Sugiyama highlighted the success of student exchanges under the universities’ Cybersecurity Joint Program, now in its third iteration this academic year, and proposed broadening cooperation into additional fields beyond medicine and healthcare. Chancellor Roberts welcomed the proposal and suggested specific areas for potential collaboration.
The leaders also exchanged perspectives on American higher education, discussing federal and state funding mechanisms and the relationship between the UNC system and its flagship Chapel Hill campus.
“It is a great honor for Nagoya University to have this partnership with UNC-Chapel Hill,” President Sugiyama said. “Currently, concrete research and student exchanges centered on our medical schools are taking place and have been well received at our university. I believe that developing a more multifaceted relationship will lead to the advancement of both institutions.”
Expanding research horizons
A working lunch following the meeting with Chancellor Roberts brought together additional university leaders, including UNC-Chapel Hill Vice Chancellor for Research Penny Gordon-Larsen, School of Medicine Executive Dean Samantha Meltzer-Brody, and Center for Aging and Health Director Jan Busby-Whitehead.
The expanded group discussed priority research areas and compared educational and research structures within their medical institutions. They explored possibilities for researcher matching to identify new collaboration opportunities and discussed potential joint applications for public research funding.
The visit underscored the firm foundation of cooperation between Nagoya University and UNC-Chapel Hill and set the stage for deeper collaboration and international partnership in the years ahead.
Related links
- Japan Foundation New York: Information on the “Aging and the Family” symposium
- UNC Global Affairs: “Nagoya president visits Carolina, reinforces commitment to research” (October 15, 2025)
- UNC Global Affairs: ‘Aging and the Family’ Faculty Symposium
- Nagoya University: “UNC Chapel Hill students visit Nagoya University for Women’s Cybersecurity Engagement Program” (December 22, 2023)
