MU officials announced Tuesday a five-year agreement with KSR Educational Institutions of India, a group of educational institutions run by KSR Educational & Charitable Trust in Tamil Nadu, India.

The KSR Group of Institutions provides education for approximately 23,000 students from kindergarten to doctoral degrees in arts, science, business management, technical education, teaching, engineering, technology and dental medicine. Its new arrangement with MU will promote advanced research and training in nanomedicine and nanotechnology.

“This agreement between MU and KSR provides a platform for the two institutions to work together in the mutual fields of interest,” assistant professor of radiology Raghuraman Kannan said.

MU and KSR have agreed on having a joint facility in India and exchanging scientists for joint teaching, training and research programs. Students who are eligible and qualified will have the chance to enroll in the other institution’s academic programs.

Collaborations between the two institutions include research funding opportunities and joint hosting of national and international nanotechnology and nanomedicine conferences.

“We are very excited about the opportunities with KSR, an affiliation of 16 institutions of higher education in Tamil Nadu, India,” Vice Chancellor for Research Rob Duncan said in a news release. “KSR has the same commitment to deliver quality education to people committed to advancing their quality of life. By expanding our mutual effort into nanomedicine, technology and other disciplines, we will strengthen the collaboration between two of the great democracies of the world.”

Nanomedicine includes the development of nanosensors that can detect harmful bacteria or microbes.

“Nanotechnology is the future of treating illness,” Kannan said. “While we have very good capabilities here at MU, KSR has an excellent facility for the development of new research materials. In turn, KSR does not have a medical school, so they can send their best students here to learn about our nanomedicine discovery and application efforts.”

Officials from both institutions look forward to collaborating.

“On behalf of KSR, I am sure that with the guidance of the University of Missouri, we will be able to explore our mutual areas of interest,” KSR Vice Chancellor of Research V. Rajendran said.