Okayama University has been selected to participate in the Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development (AMED) Japan Initiative for Global Research Network on Infectious Diseases for the academic year 2015. An Okayama University Research Core for Control of Infectious Diseases ‘Japan Initiative for Global Research Network on Infectious Diseases’ Kickoff Symposium was held in the Junko Fukutake Hall on the Shikata Campus of Okayama University on July 16 to introduce the activities of and hold an exchange of views on future development of the Initiative.

In his greeting to the symposium, President Kiyoshi Morita stated, “We will further strengthen the Collaborative Research Center of Okayama University for Infectious Diseases, which has been active as a research base for many years in the Indian city of Calcutta, and wish to contribute to the suppression of infectious diseases through a fusion of Okayama University’s basic research prowess and Okayama University Hospital’s fine clinical capabilities.” In the greetings from the guests of honor, AMED Program Supervisor Tadahito Kanda and the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) Director for Advanced Medical Science, Hideyuki Kobayashi, expressed their expectations for Okayama University while introducing the objectives and achievements of the Initiative.

In the speeches, Director of the Collaborative Research Center of Okayama University for Infectious Diseases, Specially Appointed Professor Sumio Shinoda introduced the project to control diarrhea infections, which has been carried out jointly with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). Professor Shinichi Miyoshi of Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences gave a talk on international collaborative research into the prevention, diagnosis and pharmaceutical development for diarrhea infections at the research base in India. Dean Kouichi Morita of the Nagasaki University Institute of Tropical Medicine, gave an explanation of infectious disease control, including infectious diseases mediated by mosquitoes, being carried out at the Institute’s Research Station in Vietnam. In addition, Yoichi Kurebayashi, Executive Officer and Director of AMED’s Department of Innovative Drug Discovery and Development, introduced AMED’s ongoing drug development and the collaborative arrangements for the Initiative.

Faculty members, medical practitioners, company representatives and others engaged in an enthusiastic exchange of views on subjects such as fast and effective control of infectious diseases and the associated human resource development.

Okayama University was also selected to participate in the MEXT Program of Founding Research Centers for Emerging and Reemerging Infectious Diseases from September 2007, establishing the Collaborative Research Center of Okayama University for Infectious Diseases at the National Institute of Cholera and Enteric Diseases (NICED) in Calcutta City, West Bengal, India. As well as carrying out active surveys on trends in diarrhea infections and R&D on low-cost oral vaccines, research in such areas as the adaptation of the cholera bacillus to the environment, the mutation, pathogenicity and pharmaceutical resistance, for example, of diarrhea-inducing microbes is being carried forward. This year marks the 30th anniversary of the conclusion of the Japan-India Agreement on Cooperation in the Field of Science and Technology and Okayama University will also be deepening coordination for the strengthening and promotion of international research capabilities. While nurturing the core projects in which Okayama University has particular strengths, we will continue to make our best efforts to be a world leader in medicine and research and to contribute to the development of humankind.

For more information on the Collaborative Research Center of Okayama University for Infectious Diseases, please visit: http://wwwcid.ccsv.okayama-u.ac.jp/

Contact information
MIYOSHI Shinichi, Professor
Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences (Pharmaceutical Sciences)
miyos-s(a)cc.okayama-u.ac.jp
For inquiries, please contact us by replacing (a) with the @ mark.