Singapore: During his recent visit to Japan, the Indian Prime Minister Mr Narendra Modi discussed cooperation with Kyoto University, Japan, to combat sickle cell anemia, prevalent in many parts of India.

An Indian external affairs spokesperson, Mr Syed Akbaruddin said that Tokyo and India are looking at an agreement to find a remedy for the genetic disorder, which causes the red blood cells in the blood to take a sickle shape and contains a defective hemoglobin gene.

Mr Modi discussed medical interventions for the disorder with Nobel Prize winner for Medicine, Mr Shinya Yamanka, the director for Kyoto University. Mr Modi said, "I want to integrate both cultural and scientific heritage to make India a developed country."

Health officials opine that the prospect of cooperation on sickle cell anemia is a step in the right direction towards combating the disease. In India, the disease is most commonly found among tribal groups in parts of Gujarat, Orissa, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Chattisgarh.

Mr Yamanka had received a Nobel Prize for his ground breaking research on pluripotent stem cells. He said that currently there were no Indian researchers at his institute, the Centre for IPS Cell Research and Application. He further stated that he would like to invite Indian scientists to collaborate and conduct research at the institute to promote global wellness.