Division of Pharmaceutical Research and Development Project for Cancer Research and Therapeutic Evolution (P-CREATE)

In March 2014, the Comprehensive 10‐Year Strategy for Cancer Control was approved by the three ministers of MEXT＊, MHLW＊, and METI＊as a novel cancer research strategy in line with the Basic Plan to Promote Cancer Control Programs. In accordance with this strategy, the cancer research is promoted from the perspectives of radical treatment, prevention, and living with cancer, in cooperation with patients and society. The Project for Cancer Research and Therapeutic Evolution (P-CREATE) has promoted cancer research in collaboration with patients and society, issued by MEXT (July 2015), P-CREATE consistently promotes practical research in the areas described below. P-CREATE, also, has promoted studies investigating the biological characteristics of cancer, studies using patient data such as genome information, and studies addressing both, to promptly ensure practical application of research findings and licensure to pharmaceutical companies in the early stage of research. In principle, P-CREATE conducts R&D activities in basic and applied studies in the following research systems.

1) Basic study phase: This project focuses mainly on the development of research seeds, bridging the gap to basic research supported by Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research. It also aims to establish innovative cancer care by, for example, screening for research seeds useful in developing drugs and diagnostic modalities.
2) Applied study phase: This project involves screening of findings from target-oriented studies for research seeds showing originality and superiority. Seeds showing promise as novel drugs and medical modalities such as diagnostic tools are investigated further in applied studies to accelerate clinical application and commercialization.

*the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT), the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW), and the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI)