JAPAN HEALTH SCIENCES FOUNDATION

Introduction

Leading the Health Sciences to Contribute to the Health and Welfare of Humankind.
We Promote Advanced as well as Basic Research and Technology in the Field of Health Sciences and Aim to Enhance its Infrastructures.

"Health sciences": In this context, the term is understood to include those scientific studies which have a direct connection with the health and welfare of humankind in such fields as health care, pharmaceuticals, medical and welfare equipment, and public hygiene.

Background of Establishment

The Japan Association for Advanced Research in Pharmaceuticals was founded in April 1985, following a recommendation from the Pharmaceutical Industry Policy Forum, an advisory body to the Director General, Pharmaceutical Affairs Bureau, Ministry of Health and Welfare in October 1984. (This Ministry was reorganized into the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare on January 6, 2001) The association was reorganized in April 1986 as the Japan Health Sciences Foundation (JHSF), a nonprofit foundation backed by the ministry and funded by 128 companies in such industrial sectors as pharmaceuticals, chemicals, food products, medical supplies and textile goods.

Objectives and Role

In recent years, dramatic strides have been made in biotechnology (genome science, bioinformatics, etc.) as well as in the science and technology of new materials such as functional polymers and of nanotechnology. These advances have created an atmosphere of unprecedented hope for the health and welfare of humankind. JHSF now has an opportunity to make a real contribution to the health and welfare of humankind by promoting both advanced and basic sciences and technology in the fields of health care, pharmaceuticals, medical and welfare equipment and public hygiene. In order to achieve these objectives, JHSF assembles top researchers from industry, academia and government and provides them with locations for joint research, functioning as a liaison between them or as a catalyst to progress their research.

Main Activities

JHSF has recently been developing its activities in the fields of medicine, pharmacology, medical materials and life & health based on advanced science and technology such as molecular biology and biotechnology. JHSF's motive in launching this program is to support the Research Fund Project on Publicly Essential Drugs and Medical Devices and the Research Fund Project on Health and Labour Sciences. JHSF is also advancing six general projects together with the collaborating members. These include “Operations related to Development Promotion” and “Operations related to Regulations and Standards,” etc., which are aimed at the promotion of R&D and studies in the fields mentioned above.
In addition, in order to promote the active utilization of the results achieved by the research organizations under the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) and their applications for the benefits of society, JHSF is deploying the TLO operations with the approval of the MHLW Minister and the Health Science Research Resources Bank (HSRRB) project that supplies research resources such as cells etc. Furthermore, in order to promote scientific animal testing in compliance with the MHLW guidelines, JHSF has also launched the Center for Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care and Use project.

History

1986: Establishment of the Japan Health Sciences Foundation
Governmental/Private-sector Joint Research Project
(Basic Scientific Research Projects in Honor of the Longevity)
General Operation Projects
1988: Project to Promote Development of Anti-AIDS Pharmaceuticals
Basic Scientific Research Projects in Honor of the Longevity renamed Human Science Basic Research Project 1
1989: A new research area added to the targets of the Project to Promote the Development of Anti-AIDS Pharmaceutical Products 2
1990: Start of JHSF's Bulletin "Human Science"
1991: Operations commemorating the 5th anniversary of JHSF
1992: Program for the Development of Advanced Technologies of the Next Generation
Integrated Study Project in Drugs Innovations Science 3
1993: Program for the Development of Diagnostic Technologies
Program for Studies of the Epidemiological Techniques of Pharmaceuticals
Program for Health Management and the Prevention of Immunodepression
1994: International Research Grant Program
1995: Operations commemorating the 10th Anniversary of JHSF
Research Resources Supply Project (Establishment of HSRRB)
1996: Promotion Program of the Preparation of Infrastructure on Research Resources
1997: Promoting Projects on Health Sciences Research
1998: Research on Health Sciences focusing on Drug Innovation (Integration of two projects marked 1, 3 and the Orphan Drug Development Research Project)
1999: Research on Health Sciences focusing on Drug Innovation (Integration of the project marked 2)
Program of the Preparation of Intellectual Infrastructures on Facility and Equipment to Support Drug Innovation
Research Results Dissemination Program
Promotion Program of the Preparation of Intellectual Infrastructures to Support Drug Innovation
2000: Completion of the New HSRRB Facility
(Rinku Town, Osaka, Japan)
2002: Start of the Treatment System Arrangements Support Project and publishing Project.
2003: Start of the TLO Project Approved by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare.
Start of the Drug Innovation Proteome Factory Project.
2004: Start of the JHSF mail magazine "HS eMagazine"
2008: Start of Center for Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care and Use.