The University of California San Diego (UC San Diego) Center for Microbiome Innovation (CMI) is proud to announce the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to establish a new collaboration with the Chiba University Synergy Institute for Futuristic Mucosal Vaccine Research and Development (cSIMVa). The partnership will focus on research and development of medical countermeasures, including vaccines, diagnostic tools, and treatments.
Today’s MOU builds on nearly a decade of collaboration between UC San Diego and Chiba University. The seeds of the partnership were sown with the 2016 establishment of the CU-UC San Diego Center for Mucosal Immunology, Allergy and Vaccine Development and the bonds were reinforced in 2025 when the universities convened the 2025 cSIMVa-KIC-LJI-UC San Diego Strategic International Joint Symposium: Human Immunology for Vaccines.
Bringing together the two universities’ collective resources and expertise, the agreement calls for a wide array of joint activities. Plans are already being developed to expand the exchange of data and research materials, pursue intercontinental grant applications and fundraising opportunities, and produce workshops to share share and refine their work.
One of the key aspects of the collaboration is the opportunity to increase access to researchers across both institutions. Building on joint research projects, the two universities will exchange faculty and staff, embedding personnel in each other’s ecosystem to accelerate the pace of research. The agreement also contains provisions to jointy recruit junior faculty into the collaboration, with primary appointments at Chiba University and adjunct affiliations with UC San Diego and CMI.
“This agreement combines UC San Diego’s strength in cutting-edge microbiome technologies with Chiba University’s strength in mucosal immunology to create a platform for better understanding the host-microbe interface,” said CMI Faculty Director Rob Knight, PhD. “This agreement is the first step towards international and multidisciplinary collaboration that will have important implications for a wide range of infectious and chronic diseases.”
Turning research and exploration into applied solutions is one of CMI’s strengths, and leveraging that expertise is another pillar of the collaborative agreement in the form of a planned Simultaneous International Clinical Trial System. The initial focus will be on mucosal vaccine and therapy candidates, but it represents a framework that can be used for other diseases, such as gastrointestinal cancers.
“This partnership brings together a shared conviction: the microbiome is a frontier for human health and progress depends on impactful collaboration,” commented CMI Executive Director Andy Bartko, PhD. “By joining the Center for Microbiome Innovation’s translational capabilities with the research strengths of Chiba University, we can move discoveries into real-world solutions faster than either of us could achieve alone. The opportunities to advance human health don’t stop at international boundaries and the science that addresses them shouldn’t either.”
About the UC San Diego Center for Microbiome Innovation (CMI): CMI inspires and sustains vibrant collaborations between industry leaders and interdisciplinary teams of UC San Diego researchers to fuel discovery and innovation in the world of microbiome science. The Center encompasses a diverse range of expertise in microbiome sampling, -omics technologies and data analysis, using high-performance computing environments, statistical frameworks and AI methodologies. If you are interested in discussing potential partnership opportunities with the CMI team, contact cmiinfo@ucsd.edu for more information.
About the Chiba University Synergy Institute for Futuristic Mucosal Vaccine Research and Development (cSIMVa): cSIMVa has secured a seamless cooperative system with academia, industry and clinical institutes aiming to achieve practical results and facilitate the creation of the research program, “Japan Initiative for World-leading Vaccine Research and Development Centers,” promoted by the Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development (AMED). To promote sustainable mucosal vaccine development, we have established international development structures with the University of California, San Diego, the La Jolla Institute of Immunology and the National Vaccine Institute of Ghana, as well as domestic research institutes. In addition, we have partnered with 13 companies and 6 research institutes to create effective, safe and secure mucosal vaccines.
Media Contact: Cassidy Symons – csymons@ucsd.edu
