Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST) conducted a Concurrent Call for Proposals regarding "Medical Genomics with special attention to Bioinformatics" as a research field of "Medical Science" in collaboration with the Academy of Finland (AF) *1 and the Finnish Funding Agency for Technology and Innovation (Tekes) *2 *2.
The newly-selected projects for the Japan-Finland Cooperative Scientific Research Program*3, as part of the FY2014 Strategic International Research Cooperative Program (SICP) *4 are as follows:
(1) Genomics, bioinformatics and systems medicine to facilitate therapy of ovarian cancer
Japanese-side Principal Investigator (PI):Johji Inazawa, Professor, Tokyo Medical and Dental University
Finish-side Principal Investigator (PI): Olli P. Kallioniemi, Professor, Director, Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland, University of Helsinki
(2) Privacy-preserving genetic data analysis for personalized medicine
Japanese-side Principal Investigator (PI):Kana Shimizu, Senior Research Scientist, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST)
Finish-side Principal Investigator (PI): Antti Honkela, Academy Research Fellow, Helsinki Institute for Information Technology, University of Helsinki
(3) Bioinformatics platform for predicting autologous cell therapy efficacy in patients with heart failure
Japanese-side Principal Investigator (PI):Yoshiki Sawa, Professor, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine
Finish-side Principal Investigator (PI): Esko M. Kankuri, Lecturer, Institute of Biomedicine, University of Helsinki
In this Call, three projects were selected out of 14 submitted proposals, in an evaluation carried out by committees of experts independently selected by JST, AF and Tekes. The decision on funding was made jointly by JST, AF and Tekes, considering factors such as validity of research plan and effectiveness of exchange. The period of research will be three years, starting in May 2014.
*1The Academy of Finland (AF) :
Refer to: http://www.aka.fi/eng
*2The Finnish Funding Agency for Technology and Innovation (Tekes) :
Refer to: http://www.tekes.fi/eng/
*3Japan-Finland Cooperative Scientific Research Program:
Based on an agreement made at the 5th Japan-Finland Joint Committee on Scientific and Technological Cooperation Meeting, which was held in Helsinki in May 2012, the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) decided on "Medical Science" as the field of collaborative research between Japan and Finland. According to the agreement, "Medical Genomics with special attention to Bioinformatics" was chosen as a priority area in which to launch the second concurrent call in the second phase of Japan-Finland collaboration.
*4Strategic 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 Japan-Finland Cooperative Scientific Research Program
2: Overview of the Japan-Finland Cooperative Scientific Research Program and Evaluation
For further information
Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST)
Department of International Affairs
7 Gobancho, Chiyoda-ku
Tokyo 102-0076 Japan
(Daiji NAKA (Dr.))
Tel: +81-3-5214-7375 Fax: +81-3-5214-7379
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