Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST) conducted a Concurrent Call for Proposals in the research field of "Age dependent Neurological and Psychiatric Disorders" in collaboration with the Israeli Ministry of Science, Technology and Space (MOST) *1. Through a previously agreed evaluation process, JST and MOST reached a common decision regarding which projects to select for funding. The newly-selected projects for the Japan-Israel Cooperative Scientific Research Program*2, as part of the FY2013 Strategic International Research Cooperative Program (SICP) *3 are as follows:
(1) RNA-based novel approaches for discovery of ALS biomarker
Japanese-side Principal Investigator (PI):Shin Kwak, Visiting Scientist, The University of Tokyo
Israeli-side Principal Investigator (PI): Erez Levanon, Senior Lecturer, Bar-Ilan University
(2) Pathogenic mechanism underlying neurodevelopmental disorder in schizophrenia
Japanese-side Principal Investigator (PI):Kozo Kaibuchi, Professor, Nagoya University
Israeli-side Principal Investigator (PI):Orly Reiner, Professor, Weizmann Institute of Science
(3) Late Life Depression: Molecular Basis and Neural Networks
Japanese-side Principal Investigator (PI):Shigeto Yamawaki, Professor, Hiroshima University
Israeli-side Principal Investigator (PI):Bernard Lerer, Professor, Hadassah-Hebrew University Medical Center
In this Call, three projects were selected out of 24 submitted proposals, in an evaluation carried out by committees of experts independently selected by JST and Israeli MOST. The decision on funding was made jointly by JST and MOST, considering factors such as validity of research plan and effectiveness of exchange. The period of research will be three years, starting in January 2014.
*1Ministry of Science, Technology and Space (MOST):
Refer to: http://most.gov.il/english/Pages/default.aspx
*2Japan-Israel Cooperative Scientific Research Program:
Based on an agreement made at the Japan-Israel Joint Committee on Scientific and Technological Cooperation Meeting, which was held in Tokyo in November 2008, the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) decided on "Life Science" as the field of collaborative research between Japan and Israel. At the Joint Committee Meeting of May 2012, Japan and Israel agreed to continue and further develop their research collaboration in Life Science. According to the agreement, "Age dependent Neurological and Psychiatric Disorders" was chosen as a priority area in which to launch the first concurrent call in the second phase of Japan-Israel collaboration.
*3Strategic International Research Cooperative Program (SICP) :
SICP is a "top-down type" of program that provides support to international research projects with countries and regions, in fields of cooperation designated by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) on the basis of intergovernmental agreements.
Refer to: http://www.jst.go.jp/inter/english/project/purpose.html
Appendix
1: The selected projects for the JST-MOST Research Cooperative Program in FY2013
2: Overview of JST-MOST Research Cooperative Program and Evaluation
For further information
Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST)
Department of International Affairs
7 Gobancho, Chiyoda-ku
Tokyo 102-0076 Japan
Tel: +81-3-5214-7375 Fax: +81-3-5214-7379
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