KYOTO: Prime Minister Narendra Modi Sunday discussed cooperation with Japan to combat sickle cell anaemia that is prevalent in India's tribal regions, an official said. Modi met Shinya Yamanaka, Japan's stem cell pioneer and 2012 Nobel Prize winner, at Kyoto University and discussed treatment of the disease. They discussed the "possibilities of sickle cell anaemia cure" and "prospects of cooperation among Indian and Japanese institutes", tweeted an external affairs ministry spokesman. "The prime minister expressed concern over the prevalence of sickle cell anaemia, especially among tribal communities across India," a statement by the Indian government said. Sickling decreases the cells' flexibility and results in a risk of various life threatening complications. It mostly occurs in regions where malaria is rampant. "The prime minister urged Yamanaka to work towards a cure for this," the statement said. Yamanaka said there were currently no Indian researchers at his institute, the Centre for iPS Cell Research and Application, and "he would like Indian scientists to conduct research at the institute". Stay updated on the go with The Times of Indias mobile apps. Click here to download it for your device. Originally posted here: PM Modi meets Nobel prize winner Yamanaka, discusses treatment of sickle … Continue reading →

Modi talks with Nobel Laureate Prof Yamanaka about treatment of sickle cell anaemia. Photograph: MEA/Facebook Japan on Sunday agreed to work with India in developing a treatment for the sickle cell anaemia after Prime Minister Narendra Modi sought help for finding remedy to the deadly disease commonly found among tribals in India. Modi, who has been keenly looking for a remedy to the disease since his days as the chief minister of Gujarat, discussed the issue with Nobel Prize winner for Medicine (2012) S Yamanaka when he visited the Kyoto University. The PM, on the second day of his tour, raised the issue during his visit to the stem cell research facility and discussed whether Japan could be of help in this regard. Yamanaka is the director of the university. "I wanted to understand stem cell research because cultural heritage matters as much to me as scientific heritage. I want to integrate both to make India a developed country. It was a good opportunity for me," Modi said. The PM discussed the possibility of cooperation in finding a treatment for the disease, said External Affairs Ministry spokesman Syed Akbaruddin. Sources said the Japanese side said it would work with India … Continue reading →