Modi seeks Japan's help on sickle cell disease

Indian 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".