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

[Research and Development Objective]Science of optimal health (“GENKI” in Japanese) Elucidating and controlling life phenomena to maintain active and resilient bodies

This research area redefines human life by moving beyond the conventional notion of “health = absence of disease” to embrace a new perspective: “GENKI.” While some people live vibrantly even with illness, others lack vitality despite being free from disease. “GENKI” thus represents a richness of human life that cannot be measured solely by the presence or absence of disease. “GENKI” is understood as a state of body and mind supported by resilience—the power to live actively and flexibly throughout life. Its manifestations are diverse: vitality rooted in physical functions, vitality sustained by mood and mind, and vitality nurtured through human connections. This program seeks to comprehensively elucidate and scientifically define these dimensions of “GENKI.” The central pillars of this exploration are nutrition and exercise, which interact with intrinsic factors such as immunity, metabolism, and neural function to shape “GENKI.” Research will be conducted across multiple levels, from molecules and cells to individuals and communities, establishing a foundation to visualize “GENKI” through interdisciplinary collaboration. The outcomes will contribute to extending healthy life expectancy, reducing medical and caregiving burdens, and fostering the creation of new medical technologies and products. Ultimately, this initiative aims to establish “GENKI” as a globally recognized concept, sharing with the world a new future of health science originating from Japan.

2025

Program Supervisor (PS)

ASAHARA Hiroshi

Professor, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, nstitute of Science Tokyo

Program Officer (PO)

KUNISAWA Jun

Deputy Director General, Microbial Research Center for Health and Medicine,
National Institutes of Biomedical Innovation,Health and Nutrition

MIYACHI Motohiko

Professor, Faculty of Sport Sciences, Waseda University

R&D Area Advisors

ASAHI Toru

Professor, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Waseda University

ISHII Masaru

Dean / Professor, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Osaka

ISHITANI Tohru

Professor, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, The University of Osaka

OTSUKA Rei

Professor, Research Institute, National Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology

KATAGIRI Hideki

Director, SiRIUS Institute of Medical Research, Tohoku University

KAWAKAMI Eiryo

Team directer, Medical Science Datadriven Mathematics Team Division of Applied Mathematical Science

KIDA Satoshi

Professor, Graduate School of Agriculture and Life Sciences、The University of Tokyo

KIMURA Hiroko

Principal , Fast Track Initiative, Inc

KOCHI Yuta

Professor, Medical Research Laboratory, Institute for Integrated Research,Institute of Science Tokyo

SEKI Kazuhiko

Director, National Institute of Neuroscience, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry

HANADA Reiko

Professor, Oita University Faculty of Medicine

FUJIMORI Toshihiko

Professor, National Institute for Basic Biology

GENKI