The fields addressed by this panel—social medicine, forensic medicine, nursing science, rehabilitation science, sports science, physical education, health science, nutrition science, human medical engineering, and their related areas—are essential not only for Japan but also for the world in responding to the challenges of declining birthrates, aging populations, and emerging infectious diseases, and for advancing healthcare and medical care. To maintain and improve people’s quality of life (QOL), it is indispensable for society to sustainably secure research and development capacity that ethically tackles issues based on scientific evidences and leads to the creation of innovative medical technologies. Furthermore, a comprehensive understanding of the social impacts brought about by technological innovation, as well as research approaches that take into account harmony with ecosystems, are required more than ever.

This panel focuses on the inherent capacity of humans and living organisms to recover from disease or unhealthy conditions to their original state, and it expects the deepening of scientific knowledge that appropriately activates this capacity. In particular, we welcome proposals that aim to understand the interactions between living organisms, including humans, and artificial systems, and that develop advanced bio–artificial integrated systems based on their underlying principles, along with proposals that critically consider the impact of such technologies on individuals and society.

The Fusion Oriented Research for Disruptive Science and Technology (FOREST) program places strong emphasis on bold challenges that do not fear failure and on generating seeds for disruptive innovation. We expect active engagement in interdisciplinary research that anticipates future medical technology development, the establishment of research frameworks that bring together diverse stakeholders, and the creation of foundational early evidence demonstrating technological potential—through discussions with advisors and other researchers.

Through this program, we hope to contribute, even in a small way, to the career development of young researchers who possess a strong intellectual curiosity, passion for immersion in research, and a willingness to learn from failure and continue to take on challenges. We also hope to support those who, while grounded in deep expertise, collaborate actively across disciplines and hold a clear vision of how their research will contribute to advancing healthcare and medical care and improving people’s QOL.