Strengthening Partnerships in Palau to Advance a Complete Cure for Diabetes

Our team recently visited the Republic of Palau with a clear mission: to establish the nation as a model country for achieving a complete cure for diabetes. The delegation included members from Shiga University of Medical Science, former Minister for IT Policy and former Member of the House of Representatives Mr. Naokazu Takemoto, and Mr. Yoshinori Yokoi from the Faculty of Economics at Kagawa University. During this important trip, we also had the honor of attending the inauguration ceremony of President Surangel Whipps Jr., marking a historic moment in Palau’s leadership. The visit underscored our commitment to combining medical expertise, political experience, and academic insight to develop innovative healthcare solutions that can serve both Palau and the broader global community.

As part of the program, former Minister Takemoto paid a courtesy visit to the Embassy of Japan in Palau, where he held discussions with Ambassador Norihisa Orikasa. The conversation focused on the potential for implementing new projects in Palau, particularly in the field of diabetes treatment and advanced healthcare initiatives. This exchange was joined by former Member of the House of Representatives Atsushi Kumada, Professor Emeritus Hideto Kojima of Shiga University of Medical Science, Mr. Fumihisa Kojima, Director of Biozipcode, Inc., and other key stakeholders. The meeting served as a platform to align perspectives on how Japan and Palau can deepen their cooperation in medical research, technology transfer, and policy support to bring cutting-edge treatments to the people of Palau.

Our delegation also visited the Belau National Hospital, where we held focused discussions on clinical trials and protocol development aimed at achieving a complete cure for diabetes. The hospital leadership and our team reviewed potential trial structures, patient recruitment strategies, and regulatory considerations. This dialogue reinforced the mutual recognition that Palau’s unique demographic profile and manageable population size make it an ideal environment for pioneering clinical studies. By designing and implementing robust protocols, we aim to ensure that future trials are both scientifically rigorous and logistically feasible, ultimately accelerating the path toward a curative treatment for diabetes that could have worldwide implications.

In addition, we engaged in meaningful exchanges with a Taiwanese medical team visiting Palau. These discussions covered a wide range of topics related to healthcare in the island nation, from public health policy and preventive care strategies to the integration of international expertise in local medical services. The sharing of knowledge and experiences from multiple countries highlighted the value of collaborative, multi-national approaches to healthcare challenges. Through these combined efforts — involving medical institutions, government representatives, academic partners, and international collaborators — we are building the foundation for transformative healthcare initiatives in Palau. This visit has further strengthened our belief that by working together across borders, we can create a replicable model for curing diabetes that will benefit not only Palau but communities around the world.