Topics
 
[ TOPICS on 2003 ]
[ TOPICS on 2002 ]
MAJOR TOPICS OF FOUNDATION'S PROJECTS- 2004
"TLO Authorized by Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare", a Foundation's technology transfer project, is proceeding successfully
  In May 2003, "TLO Authorized by Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare" was established within the Foundation and, its business of transferring technologies invented at 14 laboratories under the control of Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare to the private sector has started. Up until December 2004, approximately 100 inventions were received, 70 of which applied for domestic and overseas patents. Requests from private corporations for detailed references are coming one after another and negotiations for practical use are proceeding.
The number of registered member of Authorized TLO reached to 50 organizations.
Project for Disease-related Protein Analysis Research / Proteome Factory for Drug Discovery" commenced its substantial studies
  The research facility (PF facility) of Proteome Factory for Drug Discovery established in Nishi Yodogawa-ku, Osaka commenced its substantial studies. The facility is equipped with the cutting-edge analysis instruments with mass spectrometers in its center and currently, approximately 40 researchers and staffs including that from participating member companies of the consortium are working in it. It is expected to reap the fruits at an early stage by analyzing the human samples with patient's permission which are supplied by cooperative laboratories such as National Highly Specialized Medical Centers.
Activities of Health Science Research Resource Bank were carried actively
  It's been four years since the facility was founded in Sen-nan-shi, Osaka. Studies are proceeding as planned at the cell bank, the gene bank, the human tissue bank and the animal embryo bank. The facility extended the range of specimens to be supplied to researchers, endeavored to improve quality of specimens and to disclose information. The activities were performed with deliberate considerations on the aspect of bioethics.
The status of activities was made public through brochures and presentations. The publicity activities of the Foundation were also carried out at the occasions of "Technology Training Course of HS Research Resources Bank" and "Seminars for Promotion of and Enlightenment on Advanced Medicine Research".
Basic Research Training Course, Human Science Research Seminars and a Workshop were held attracting many participants
  The research results of a total of 145 research topics, which were covered by a three-year project entitled "the Second Phase Research on Heath Sciences focusing on Drug Innovation", were presented in last March receiving more than 400 participants. The presentations were conducted either orally or by posters.
The basic research training course on "Activities of National Institutes of Health Sciences" was held in September with 90 participants, seminars were held in October on "Forefront of the study on bones/cartilages - Aiming for novel treatments" with 170 participants and in November, on "Forefront of immunological study that could be connected with drug development" with 230 participants. In December, a workshop, "Target discovery in the next generation drug development - From genome /proteome to integrated drug development" was held receiving 70 researchers. Their earnest discussions lasted until midnight.
A total of four "Health Science/Bio Interface" were held to increase opportunities for technology transfer
  Based on the fundamental idea of the intellectual interchange for the benefit of drug development, the 9th to 12th events were held quarterly including one event in Osaka. The technical information was exchanged vigorously among researchers from supporting member companies, academia, bioventures and public research organizations. The events could get wider support from different organizations, as demonstrated from the records the number of presentations by researchers from public research organizations under the control of MHLW increased.
Survey was conducted on the theme of "Global Research & Development System and its Strategy in the Post-Genome Era" covering Asia/Oceania regions
  The first survey in Asia/Oceania regions was conducted on the research & development trends of pharmaceutical companies, the approaches of governments towards drug development and the actual status of clinical development in these areas. Over 20 research/medical facilities, pharmaceutical companies, related venture firms and government organizations in Sydney, Melbourne, Singapore, Delhi, Mumbai, Beijing, Shanghai and Seoul were visited to obtain information.
The survey report will be published within short.
Mail magazine, "HS eMagazine" was newly issued
  Aiming to publicize Foundation's activities more aggressively as well as to obtain comments and opinions toward it and to gather information that could be utilized for various research activities, a e-mail magazine was issued. It features information on Foundation's publications, seminars and training courses, renewed articles on its website, introduction of bulletin and so on. The contents will be improved based on the comments from readers.