Division of Basic Medical Research Practical Research for Innovative Cancer Control

In March 2014, “the Comprehensive 10‐Year Strategy for Cancer Control” was approved by the three ministers of MEXT, MHLW, and METI*1 as a novel cancer research strategy in line with “the Basic Plan to Promote Cancer Control Programs”.*2 In accordance with this strategy, cancer research is promoted from the perspectives of radical treatment, prevention, and living with cancer, in cooperation with patients and society. Under this national project, the cancer control projects supported by AMED are mainly “Project for Cancer Research and Therapeutic Evolution (P-CREATE)” and “Practical Research for Innovative Cancer Control”. “Practical Research for Innovative Cancer Control” has supported the six research areas shown in the system diagram below. In addition, we intensively have promoted the practical application of novel prophylactic and early detection tools, the development of novel drugs and medical devices, and the development of standard cancer therapies consisting of surgery, drug treatment, and radiotherapy in order to deliver research findings on the etiology of cancer and the results of advanced research (e.g., translational studies) to the clinical setting. At the same time, to establish cancer medicine that meet unmet medical needs, including those of patients in diverse life stages, and of refractory and  rare cancers, we have conducted research that focuses on cancer characteristics and life stages (e.g., cancer in children and the elderly, refractory cancer, and rare cancer).

*1：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)
*2：Basic Plan to Promote Cancer Control Programs, MHLW
Following the enactment of the "Basic Law for Cancer Control" in 2006, the first phase (2007-2011), the second phase (2012-2016) and the  third phase (2017-2022) of the Basic Plan to Promote Cancer Control Programs(Basic Plan) were implemented. In the second phase (2014), the Comprehensive 10‐Year Strategy for Cancer Control as a new cancer research strategy was approved with the aim of contributing to the achievement of the overall goals set forth in Basic Plan by accelerating research of cancer control further.