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Professor Takarada (MD) was selected for AMED “FY2022 Bridging Research Program (preF)”

April 18, 2022

Professor TAKARADA Takeshi at the Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Department of Tissue Function Repair has received a research grant from the Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development (AMED) for its “2022 Bridging Research Program (preF)”.

Based on the Japanese government's “Strategic Plan for Health and Medical Care” (approved by the Cabinet in March 2020), this program provides research funds and additional support for translational research support centers recognized by the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports and Technology (MEXT) to efficiently bridge the gap between basic research results in academia and clinical research and use in order to create innovative drugs and medical devices.  

Professor Takarada submitted a proposal under the preF category of the program (this category is for projects aiming to formulate a test package necessary for obtaining pre-clinical proof of concept* and to establish an industry-academia collaboration system) and he will lead a research team under the theme of “repairing joint cartilage using human cartilage progenitor cells derived from induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells” from FY2022 to FY2023.

Commenting on his successful application, Professor Takarada remarked, "Our understanding of human cartilage progenitor cells derived from iPS cells has grown in recent years thanks to the work of medical professionals; however, in order for that knowledge to benefit patients, it is important to first conduct quality and safety testing. I am more motivated than ever to apply myself to this research.” Please look forward to reading more about the activities of Professor Takarada’s research team in the near future.

Recognized by MEXT as a core center for translational research, Okayama University has been tasked with the goal of fostering research seeds and supporting translational research along with other universities and research institutions. Okayama University is committed to actively contributing to innovation in the field of health and endeavors to discover promising research seeds for next-generation medical advancement and to support the development of pharmaceuticals and medical devices for clinical use.

You can find more information about the project on the AMED news page (April 5, 2022).

※proof of concept: An early stage of clinical drug development, when the efficacy and safety of a new drug candidate or technology are recognized through animal experiments and human clinical studies.

(Reference)
The Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Certificates Okayama University as a Core Center for Translational Research (News and Events, December 24, 2021).

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