Department of Basic Medical Research Global Research Infrastructure, Collaborative Research via Overseas Research Centers

I. Global Research Infrastructure

Outline

This research area supports basic research on emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases that are prevalent or expected to be prevalent in endemic areas in ten countries in Asia and Africa. Researchers from Japanese universities and institutions are stationed at sites to conduct joint research in collaboration with local universities and research institutes. This research area harbours the well established longstanding relationship between Japanese researchers and local researchers.

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List of supported projects on emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases at overseas research centres
(research period: April 2020 - March 2025 (scheduled))

Project Title Principal Investigator Affiliation, Position
Promotion of basic research on emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases in Japan-Thailand Research Collaboration Centers IIDA Tetsuya Osaka University, Professor
Study on Emerging and Re-emerging Infectious Diseases in Vietnam KANEKO Osamu Nagasaki University, Professor
Studies to control emerging, re-emerging and imported infectious diseases to be conducted in international collaboration sites in China KAWAGUCHI Yasushi The University of Tokyo, Professor
Center for Translational and Effectiveness Research in Democratic Republic of the Congo KIDO Yasutoshi Osaka Metropolitan University, Professor
Studies on the reservoir, transmission and spreading of infectious diarrheal diseases in Kolkata, India MIYOSHI Shin-ichi Okayama University, Professor
Study of the international collaborative research center for emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases in Indonesia MORI Yasuko Kobe University, Professor
International Collaborative Research on Infectious Diseases using Collaborating Research Center in the Philippines OSHITANI Hitoshi Tohoku University, Professor
Study of influenza like illness and pediatric meningo encephalitis in Myanmar SAITO Reiko Niigata University, Professor

Development of research and human resources for the control of zoonoses at the Hokudai Center for Zoonosis Control in Zambia

SAWA Hirofumi Hokkaido University, Professor
Advanced on-site study at collaborative research centre in Ghana: infectious diseases-endemic region of West Africa SUZUKI Toshihiko Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Professor

(In alphabetical order of PI surnames)

Research Activities of Each Project

Research Center websites:

Asia

China: University of Tokyo 別ウィンドウで開きますmap
India: Okayama University 
Indonesia: Kobe University 
Myanmar: Niigata University
Philippines: Tohoku University
Thailand: Osaka University
Vietnam: Nagasaki University 

Africa

Congo (DRC): Osaka Metropolitan University
Ghana: Tokyo Medical and Dentistry University
Zambia: Hokkaido University

(In alphabetical order of country names)

II. Collaborative Research via Overseas Research Centers

Outline

In this research area, basic research that uses samples, clinical information and data collected at overseas research centers is supported. Researchers can be from any university or research institute in Japan and is not limited to those from universities/research institutes that run the centers.

List of Supported Projects

Basic research on emerging and reemerging infectious diseases using samples and clinical information obtained at overseas research centers in infectious disease endemic areas (research period: May 2022 - March 2025 (scheduled))
No. Project Title Principal Investigator, Affiliation, Position Overseas Reserch Center Country
1 Study of zoonotic leishmaniasis in Zambia GOTO Yasuyuki
The University of Tokyo, Professor
Zambia
2 Development of a xenomonitoring method detecting vDNA of yellow fever virus in vector mosquito KANUKA Hirotaka
The Jikei University School of Medicine, Professor
Ghana
3 Epidemiological and pathogenicity analyses of invasive Salmonella based on genomics approach in Asia KODAMA Toshio
Nagasaki University, Professor
India, Thailand
4 Surveillance of emerging pathogenic Escherichia spp. and hybrid pathotypes of E. coli and analyses of their evolutionary process OGURA Yoshitoshi
Kurume University, Professor
India
5 Establishment of a national serosurveillance system for malaria asymptomatic gametocyte reservoirs TAKASHIMA Eizo
Ehime University, Associate Professor
Ghana
6 Identification of novel SARS-CoV-2-like coronaviruses infectable humans via immunological assessment on Vietnamese blood samples UENO Hideki
Kyoto University, Professor
Vietnam
7 Pathogenomics analyses of hardly culturable mycobacteria and drugresistant bacteria based on single-cell droplet techniques YOSHIDA Mitsunori
National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Senior Researcher
Ghana

(In alphabetical order of PI surnames)

Emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases at overseas research centers
(research period: July 2020 - March 2023 (scheduled))
No. Project Title Principal Investigator, Affiliation, Position Overseas Reserch Center Country
1 Analysis on globally spreading of carbapenem-resistant bacteria and the expansion of genome database for drug-resistant bacteria AKEDA Yukihiro
Osaka University, Lecturer
Thailand, Myanmar, India, Ghana
2 A distribution survey of clinical and environmental microbiome by singlecell metagenomics HOSHINO Yoshihiko
National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Division Chair
Ghana
3 Molecular mechanism of artemisinin-resistance of falciparum malaria in Middle Africa KANEKO Osamu
Nagasaki University, Professor
Congo (DRC)
4 Bioinformatic analysis of insect vectors to prevent epidemic of mosquito-borne infectious diseases KASAI Shinji
National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Director
Vietnam
5 Study of relapsing fever and other vector-borne zoonotic diseases in Zambia KAWABATA Hiroki
National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Chief
Zambia
6 Virulence of tuberculosis, structural variants and roles of mobile genetic elements and repetitive sequences in the whole genome obtained from cohort studies KEICHO Naoto
The Research Institute of Tuberculosis, Japan Anti- Tuberculosis Association, Vice Director
Vietnam
7 Study of diarrhea viruses in Thailand KOBAYASHI Takeshi
Osaka University, Professor
Thailand
8 Association studies of mobile elements and pathogenic bacteria isolated from diarrheal patients -Potential of antibiotic resistance transmission in human intestine- KURODA Teruo
Hiroshima University, Professor
India
9 Studies on transboundary infection of animal-, food-, environment- and arthropod-borne viral diseases MAEDA Ken
National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Director
China
10 Basic research on treatment and prevention of flavivirus infections in collaboration with the IMSUT overseas research center in China OKAMOTO Toru
Osaka University, Professor
China
11 Study of comprehensive evaluation methods to determine immune modulators in flavivirus protection for the identification of high-risk groups and vaccination strategies ORBA Yasuko
Hokkaido University, Associate Professor
Vietnam
12 Identification of factors associated with severe malaria using samples from patients in disease endemic areas for development of new control measures SHINZAWA Naoaki
Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Assistant Professor
Congo (DRC)
13 Comprehensive analysis of plasmid–host interaction in natural environments SUZUKI Masato
National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Senior Reseacher
Vietnam
14 A study of HIV-1 subtype A/E infection for AIDS vaccine and cure TAKIGUCHI Masafumi
Kumamoto University, Senior Professor
Vietnam
15 Research for risk prediction and vaccine development of mosquito-borne virus YOKOYAMA Masaru
National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Senior scientist
Thailand

(In alphabetical order of PI surnames)

COVID-19 at overseas research centers
(research period: May 2020 - March 2022 (completed))
No. Project Title Principal Investigator, Affiliation, Position Overseas Reserch Center Country
1 Research for the establishment of control measures for COVID-19 in Indonesian Peninsula MATSUURA Yoshiharu
Osaka University, Professor
Thailand
2 Research for the control of COVID-19 in Africa based on the best use of Hokudai Center for Zoonosis Control in Zambia SAWA Hirofumi
Hokkaido University, Proffesor
Zambia
3 Development of comprehensive evaluation method of COVID-19 virus antigen specific immune responses for selection of high risk patients SHIINA Takashi
Tokai University, Professor
Vietnam
(In alphabetical order of PI surnames) 
COVID-19 at overseas research centers
(research period: November 2020 - March 2022 (completed))
No. Project Title Principal Investigator, Affiliation, Position Overseas Reserch Center Country
1 Establishing predictive immune parameters in COVID-19 based on the analysis of T and B cells cross-reactive to SARS-CoV-2 in uninfected and convalescent COVID-19 subjects in Vietnam UENO Hideki
Kyoto University, Professor
Vietnam

Evaluation and Management System

Program Supervisor (PS)

  • KANDA Tadahito, former Team Leader, RIKEN

Program Officers (PO)

  • FUJINAGA Yukako, Professor, Kanazawa University

  • MITSUYAMA Masao, Professor Emeritus, Kyoto University

  • SAKAGUCHI Takemasa, Professor, Hiroshima University

  • YAMAZAKI Shinji, Professor, Osaka Prefecture University

Past program

Last updated 08/22/23