Regarding faculty personnel, I previously notified you all that Dr. Kei Sato has been promoted to the position of professor. Prof. Sato possesses the international experience necessary to respond to pandemics where national borders are irrelevant. His appointment is a fitting and welcome one for IMSUT, and I eagerly anticipate Prof. Sato’s ongoing dedication to the advancement of the field of systems virology.
Regarding the appointment of project professors, this year we newly welcomed Dr. Tsumoto and Dr. Matsuda as project professors through a cross-appointment system within the University of Tokyo. Both professors had previously been conducting research at IMSUT under concurrent appointments. Thanks to the cross-appointment system, they have now expanded their activities with the approval of the Graduate School of Engineering and the Graduate School of Frontier Sciences. We also welcomed Dr. Tanaka, who had been working with Prof. Todo on the development and implementation of oncolytic virotherapies, to the Project Division of Oncolytic Virus Development as a project professor. With his appointment, we expect the further development of such therapies, including the expansion of target diseases. Additionally, while Prof. Yamada recently transferred to the Graduate School of Medicine, he was appointed as a project professor here at IMSUT at the same time. Although Prof. Yamada's transfer was a blow to the Institute, I believe that the impact has been minimised by his continuing to work with us as a project professor. Best wishes to all of you in your respective positions.
Additionally, to strengthen the cancer research initiatives that are a core strength of IMSUT Hospital, this year we welcomed two new project associate professors. Dr. Yokoyama was promoted to project associate professor in the Department of Hematology and Oncology, and Dr. Kosuke Fujimoto received a joint appointment with Osaka Public University to bolster research on gut microbiota, including viruses that infect bacteria, led by Project Prof. Uematsu and Prof. Imoto. These additions have contributed greatly to the continuous enhancement of the comprehensive strength of the basic, translational, and clinical research conducted at IMSUT this fiscal year.
On the other hand, the retirement of Prof. Kitamura in March is a significant loss for us. Prof. Kitamura spearheaded research on the elucidation of various signaling mechanisms in the hematopoietic system and on hematopoietic tumors and stem cell differentiation. However, he remains active as Director of the Institute of Biomedical Research and Innovation at the Foundation for Biomedical Research and Innovation in Kobe, as well as a frontline researcher in the Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences here at The University of Tokyo. I sincerely hope that he will continue to provide guidance based on his broad perspective on both haematopoietic research and organizational management.
As in previous years, numerous associate professors and project faculty members have been transferred either for promotion or to establish new laboratories or research organizations. While this could be perceived as a loss for IMSUT, it is in fact evidence of their contribution to advancing our nation's research capabilities. I extend my best wishes for their continued success.
Turning to IMSUT’s recent research accomplishments, the quantity of English-language peer-reviewed articles, an important index of research performance, has remained consistent at approximately 500 articles per year in the preceding fiscal years, with around 15% of these papers being published in relatively high-impact journals. In FY2021, there was a significant rise in the total number of published articles, the number published per faculty member, and the number published in high-impact journals. I would like to express my gratitude to all of you for your valuable contributions to these results. Without the efforts of all those involved in COVID-19 research, as well as the hospital and administrative staff, these results could never have been achieved. I will continue to focus on improving our research capabilities with new members to ensure that IMSUT maintains this momentum.
Another indicator of research performance is external sources of funding. In that area, we saw an important shift in FY2020 and FY2021 from FY2019. While there was a decrease in the number of individual funding acquisitions, there was also an increase in the total amount of funding received. In other words, there was a trend towards budgetary expansion, especially in the enlargement of contracted research funding. Overall, this is a welcome change, and I express my sincere appreciation for your hard work and dedication. Still, we need to closely monitor this trend, which may impact our ongoing involvement in the basic research that is the foundation of IMSUT’s future prospects. Bearing this in mind, I will encourage the balanced development of basic, translational, and clinical research, as I previously conveyed in my inauguration address.
It is worth noting that numerous special accolades were awarded to IMSUT affiliates for their research accomplishments this fiscal year. Professor Shibata was awarded the Princess Takamatsu Cancer Research Fund Prize, and Emeritus Professor Seiki received the Order of the Sacred Treasure, Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon. Additionally, former Vice Nursing Director Nakamura received the Order of the Sacred Treasure, Silver Rays; Project Professor Kawaoka was awarded the Keio Medical Science Prize; and Professor Sato received the JSPS Prize.
In addition, the IMSUT Outstanding Young Investigator Award, which was established last fiscal year, was awarded to Associate Professor Yusuke Inoue for his research on diverse norms in medical and biological research, including legal and ethical perspectives, and also to Associate Professor Akihisa Kato for his work on understanding, controlling, and employing herpes viruses. These awards exemplify well the diversity of research valued by IMSUT. Congratulations to all of the award winners for their outstanding achievements.
Next, I would like to talk about the overall functional enhancement of IMSUT. As I have mentioned in previous years, our founder, Dr. Kitasato, emphasized three guiding principles: practical science, comprehensive research, and disease prevention. IMSUT is committed to promoting research that will drive future medical treatment advancements in Japan and the world over the next five, ten, and even one hundred years. To achieve our goals, we must leverage our diverse human resources, interdisciplinary research environment, in-house supercomputer, and affiliated project-based hospital. We must further enhance the balanced development of basic, translational, and clinical research by utilizing large-scale complex data sets and AI.
To achieve this mission, we previously sought accreditation from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology as an "International Joint Research Center for Promoting Basic and Applied Research and Implementing Translational Research", and in November 2018, IMSUT was authorized as the sole International Joint Usage/Research Center in the field of life sciences in Japan. As the basis of this project, we have established three core collaborative research areas, "Development of Cutting-Edge Medical Therapies," "Genome/Cancer/Disease Systems Biology," and "Infectious Diseases and Immunology," through which we aim to enhance global collaborative research, expand the frontiers of knowledge in basic research, and expedite the development of medical breakthroughs in applied research by building effective partnerships that link Japanese universities and research institutions with their counterparts worldwide. Furthermore, the International Joint Usage/Research Center project has been significantly enhanced by three main initiatives in genomic medicine, vaccine research, and infectious disease control, as well as the diverse clinical research undertakings of IMSUT Hospital.
As I informed you last year, we received the highest rating of “S” in the term-end evaluation of the Center last fiscal year, and we successfully renewed the accreditation this fiscal year. Despite the recent change in the university's relevant budget request category from project-based request to request based on university-wide organizational reform initiative, the Center continues to bolster and advance clinical initiatives at IMSUT Hospital as well as our key projects related to genomic medicine, vaccine research, and infectious disease control.
Furthermore, the gradual easing of pandemic response restrictions and your diligent efforts have led to an increase in the number of international research organizations participating in this fiscal year's International Joint Research projects.
In fact, the number of International Joint Research proposals adopted increased from 25 in the previous year to 32 this past year. In more than 90% of these cases, IMSUT has facilitated connections between domestic institutions outside the Institute and international organizations, fulfilling the Center's mission. Additionally, the number of international collaborative research papers published within this framework has steadily increased. I am proud to acknowledge the contributions of all faculty and staff members, led by Vice Dean Iwama, towards this exceptional achievement.
Next, I would like to report on the progress this past year at IMSUT Hospital, which is our clinical arm and the driving force behind the Center.
This year saw the start of insured medical treatment using the oncolytic virus therapy of Profs. Todo and Tanaka, an increase in the number of surgical procedures performed, and advancements in the initiative to accept individuals from overseas for medical check-ups and treatment. I would also like to express my gratitude to all involved in the collaborative effort between UTokyo Hospital and IMSUT Hospital promoting the Shirokane/Hongo Project. The endeavor has successfully resulted in a surplus of income and expenditures. The rise in patient admissions to the Department of Palliative Medicine and Advanced Clinical Oncology is a significant step in fortifying the hospital against the projected decrease due to the reduced impact of the pandemic. We would like to extend our sincere appreciation to all who contributed to this achievement. I ask for your continued support in enhancing research and management capacities at IMSUT Hospital, which serves as a vital component of IMSUT's practical science efforts.
Today I have not yet broached the subject of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, I would like to mention the fact that IMSUT Hospital has been accepting patients with moderate or less severe symptoms since March 2020, making a valuable contribution to healthcare in the local community. I sincerely thank all the staff who have been working on the front lines responding COVID-19, and I pay tribute to the contribution of IMSUT Hospital. Needless to say, to repay the efforts of those who have worked so hard, and to protect yourself and others, I ask everyone at IMSUT to continue to uphold basic infection prevention measures with pride, while cautiously working towards restoring the human connections that were weakened at the peak of the pandemic.
So far, I have presented an overview of the International Joint Usage/Research Center project, IMSUT Hospital that supports it, and IMSUT’s key projects that are part of our larger university-wide organizational reform initiative. Next, as in previous years, I would like to summarize developments in the Platforms for Advanced Technologies and Research Resources Project, Biobank Japan, and the Translational Research Program (The University of Tokyo Core Center). These IMSUT operations serve as a core center promoting the life sciences in Japan alongside the International Joint Usage/Research Center.
The first, the "Platforms for Advanced Technologies and Research Resources" project is an important and innovative initiative in which cutting-edge technology is developed to advance life science analysis and support Japan's KAKENHI-funded research projects. The project is managed by the Committee on Promoting Collaboration in Life Sciences, chaired by Prof. Takekawa. The project has four support platforms, and Prof. Murakami and Prof. Takekawa are the principal investigators of two of the four platforms. The Dean's Office has established the Research Platform Office to manage operational activities, led by Prof. Takekawa and advised by Senior Prof. Inoue, who previously chaired the Committee. In addition, eleven faculty members and researchers from IMSUT, including Profs. Daigo, Yamada, and Mashimo, are currently involved in this support project.
I am sure that you can appreciate the importance of the project, as it has already supported over 12,000 studies, resulting in more than 3,600 published papers. Over the past year, the number of supported studies and published papers has increased by 1,129 and 227, respectively, indicating a steady accumulation of achievements. I sincerely thank all parties involved for their contributions.
Second, I would like to update you on the BioBank Japan project. As I mentioned in last year's address, BioBank Japan is one of the world's largest disease biobanks, managing and distributing extremely valuable, high-quality DNA and serum samples collected from across Japan. In the current fiscal year, the collection of additional clinical information is progressing with the introduction of a new automated collection system. This includes the analysis of 10,000 whole human genomes and the examination of over 40,000 serum metabolomes, building on the collection of SNP information completed the previous year. The application process for the next phase of the BioBank project, scheduled to start next fiscal year, is also underway.
Regarding the practical aspects of the BioBank Japan project, I would like to acknowledge the continuing efforts of Profs. Matsuda, Murakami, Kamatani, Muto, Furukawa, and Visiting Prof. Morisaki, among others. The distribution of DNA and serum has been steadily increasing, resulting in numerous academic papers being published in high-impact journals in the past year alone. I request your continued cooperation as we anticipate the next phase of the project in fiscal year 2023 and beyond.
Third, moving on to the Translational Research Program (The University of Tokyo Core Center), the initiative that supports the transition of academic seeds from basic research to practical application, IMSUT Hospital, led by Profs. Yotsuyanagi and Fumitaka Nagamura and in collaboration with the University of Tokyo Hospital, is responsible for providing extensive support at The University of Tokyo Core Center. While the organizational structure of the Program, which is certified as a Translational Research Core Center by the Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development, transitioned to a system supporting translational research in fiscal year 2022, the mission to support the entire process of transforming the seeds of basic research into practical medical applications naturally remains unchanged. Over the past year, the program has made significant progress in the development of new seeds, corporate licensing, clinical trials, clinical studies, and expansion in the number of new treatments covered by public health insurance. If you identify in your own work any seeds that could be developed, I encourage you to consult with the program. I look forward to the day when these efforts originating from IMSUT contribute to global preventive and therapeutic methods.
So far, I have addressed the International Joint Usage/Research Center project, the key projects that support it, the strengthening of IMSUT Hospital functionality, and the three programs that support life science research in Japan.
Next, to strengthen IMSUT's overall capabilities, efforts are underway to enhance key shared facilities. The renovation of the Amami Laboratory of Injurious Animals and the construction of its P3 Laboratory are progressing with the aim of completion in June of this year, thanks to the efforts of Head of Laboratory Prof. Mashimo, General Manager Uehara, and other members of the Administration Office. Additionally, the enhancement of shared research facilities through the acquisition of advanced equipment is ongoing principally under the leadership of Vice Dean Iwama, including a variety of imaging systems such as epifluorescence and atomic force microscopes. I hope you will make active use of these facilities.
In terms of improvements in the physical infrastructure crucial to the functional enhancement of IMSUT, seismic retrofitting of the south side of Building No. 3 is in progress, following the renovation of the north side. The implementation of the Shirokanedai Campus Land Utilization Project in collaboration with University of Tokyo Headquarters is also approaching the final stages. Of course, we will also continue to work tirelessly to secure a supplementary budget for the refurbishment of Building No. 4 and the Animal Center. Furthermore, we are progressing with the comprehensive deployment of UTokyo Wi-Fi to support the active use of the web environment that underlies digital transformation. I would like to express my deep appreciation for the efforts of Vice Dean Iwama, the Administration Office, including General Manager Uehara, and all concerned.
Finally, I would like to highlight the strengthening of social collaboration crucial to the development of IMSUT. Thanks to the efforts of Prof. Furukawa, General Manager Uehara, and the other members of the Administration Office, the Future Medical Development Fund has been established, funds have been allocated for each research project, and brochures have been produced to help secure further donations. In addition, donations from Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group continue to support vaccine development research as well as IMSUT Hospital and shared facilities. I am pleased to inform you that the second round of recruitment for vaccine development research support is planned for fiscal year 2023. I encourage you to actively apply.
Furthermore, as we previously announced, The University of Tokyo Pandemic Preparedness, Infection and Advanced Research Center, which is the flagship center of the Japan Initiative for World-leading Vaccine Research and Development Centers project, has already been launched under the leadership of Prof. Kawaoka. I am very proud of the fact that the Center, rooted in the future concept of a "pandemic center" proposed by IMSUT to University Headquarters under the leadership of Prof. Kawaoka more than two years ago, is now a university-wide hub built on the numerous COVID-19-related research results covered in IMSUT press releases. I would like to express my deep respect and gratitude for the efforts of everyone involved at IMSUT, especially the Department of Microbiology and Immunology.
Furthermore, in addition to pandemic research, IMSUT's diverse research activities, including those in the humanities and social sciences, have been supported by the strong cooperation of all of the heads of our departments and groups, including Prof. Fumitaka Nagamura, who has recently joined as Director of the Advanced Clinical Research Center; the hospital's Executive Board, recently joined by Prof. Boku as Vice Hospital Director; and the Administration Office staff, joined by General Manager Uehara, Research Support Division Manager Takayama, and Hospital Division Manager Jin. We on the Executive Board, joined by General Manager Uehara, will continue to do our utmost to support your research.
Finally, as I mentioned when I became Dean four years ago, I think that the most important mission of IMSUT is to promote the innovative research and technological development driven by the intellectual curiosity of individuals like all of you. Therefore, I will firmly pass the baton to incoming dean Prof. Nakanishi, together with whom we have overcome numerous challenges, and will support him from April onwards in advancing his unique initiatives at top speed. Having closely witnessed Prof. Nakanishi's selfless dedication to the future of IMSUT, I look forward to the privilege of contributing to its development under his leadership.
In conclusion, I may not have fully met your expectations of me as Dean over the last four years, but I will, in the remainder of my tenure, as I promised at the beginning, continue to do my utmost to ensure that each of you can utilize your full potential. I kindly request your continued cooperation.
Thank you very much for your attention.
Yuji Yamanashi, Ph.D.
Dean
Dean