Division of Innovative Research and Development Advanced Research & Development Programs for Medical Innovation（AMED-CREST, PRIME）

[Research and Development Objective] Comprehensive Elucidation of Functional Lipid Which Contributes to Breakthrough Medicines

Lipids carry fundamental functions in living organisms as major components of biomembranes and energy-storage molecules. Numbers of their derivatives also play specific roles in regulating metabolism, immunity/inflammation, reproduction, circulation, neural network, etc, and are involved in pathogenesis of various disorders and diseases related to these systems. The objective of this research and development R&D area is to investigate novel biological functions of lipids and develop new technologies for their analysis, to elucidate molecular mechanism of lipid-associated various diseases, and finally to exploit novel developmental seeds for compounds and technologies to overcome these diseases, i.e. chemical compounds relevant to pre-clinical stage, target materials and reactions promising medical application in near future, or innovative diagnostic methods that may construct new clinical benefits, etc.

Lipid research has advanced along with numbers of discovery of new biological activities and exploitation of new analytic technologies. Therefore, more innovative research and exploitation should also be necessary in order to accomplish the goal of this program and initiatively dispatch the novel results toward the world. It should be also important to gather ideas of researchers in various different fields and disciplines, such as the scientists in clinical medicine, pharmaceutical sciences, synthetic chemistry, biophysics and bioengineering, and information engineering, as well as those in lipid biology and biochemistry who have carried mainstream of lipid research. Broad viewpoints based on our interdisciplinary research team works will be indispensable for advancement of research and development in lipid research field to strengthen our international competitiveness.

We would like the program members to conduct their researches with practical translational outputs always in their mind. However, it does not necessarily mean that all the members are obliged to produce practical seeds within the term. We consider it is also important to promote fundamental basic studies that would possibly become the basis for generation of innovative technologies, diagnostics, and medicines only in not-remote future, for development and enforcement of international competitiveness of our lipid research. The research field of biological activities of lipids is continuously expanding, and this R&D area is expected to lead the world in innovative and explorative research in this field.

Because of expected medical application, target lipids are primarily set as the molecules originating in mammalian cells. However, the molecules closely related to human disorders and of nutritional importance may be included, such as omega-3 fatty acids and ceramide.

2015

Program Supervisor (PS)

YOKOYAMA Shinji

Visiting Professor, Research Institute for Biological Functions, Chubu University

Program Officer (PO)

IGARASHI Yasuyuki

Professor, Faculty of Advanced Life Science, Hokkaido University

R&D Area Advisors

UESUGI Motonari

Professor, Kyoto University

OGAWA Yoshihiro

Professor, Kyushu University

CHIBA Kenji

Fellow, Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation

NISHIJIMA Masahiro

Professor Emeritus, Showa Pharmaceutical University

HANDA Tetsurou

Auditor, Kyoto Pharmaceutical University

FUKAMI Kiyoko

Professor, Tokyo University of Pharmacy and Life Sciences

FUKUSHIMA Daikichi

Ono Medical Research Foundation, Foundation Chairman

NISHIMAKI-MOGAMI Tomoko

National Institute of Health Sciences