First of all, I wish to convey my deepest sympathies to all those affected by the earthquake that struck the Noto Peninsula at 4 p.m. on New Year’s Day this year. For the first time in recorded history such a major earthquake, with a magnitude of 7, has occurred on New Year’s Day. Undoubtedly, this unforeseen event must have come as a great shock to all of you. Nevertheless, I hope everyone had a wonderful time during the New Year holidays. Whether you went back to your hometowns, or spent your holidays in Tokyo, I hope that each of you has renewed your resolutions for your future goals and that this year will bring you abundant success and fulfillment.
In May last year, COVID-19, which has plagued us for the past four years, was reclassified as Class 5. Since then, life seems to have largely returned to normalcy. However, the world as we know it has changed dramatically over these last four years. Conflicts with little hope of resolution continue around the world, unprecedented disasters, most likely triggered by global warming, keep occurring, and various problems requiring humanity’s attention and solutions are emerging. In light of this, the University of Tokyo is promoting the College of Design initiative, which aims to develop human resources capable of solving difficult problems that cannot be addressed by conventional education systems. Many people may associate the term “design” with art, but the original concept of design is to offer a new perspective and identify new challenges. The College of Design represents a completely new faculty and is the first initiative in Japan to provide a new education system that encourages each individual student to set, learn, and solve their own problems. I believe that such new educational fields, free from the constraints of conventional education systems, are necessary to promote human resources that can address current problems or future unforeseeable challenges. Similarly, ideas and knowledge beyond the existing academic systems are crucial in the field of life sciences, such as immunology, cancer, infectious diseases, regenerative medicine, and social medicine. This is the concept of comprehensive knowledge. IMSUT is the only institute in Japan that works on a wide range of research fields—from basic medical science to social problems, and I take pride in saying that IMSUT is the ideal place to put comprehensive knowledge into practice.
Another topic I wish to raise is the significant impact of generative AI on us over the past year. Since the prototype of ChatGPT was released in November 2022, several people in education and research have benefited from generative AI. In IMSUT, ChatGPT was launched at the end of last year, following other AI tools for English proofreading. Although we have not yet been able to fully utilize ChatGPT, it has proven to be immensely useful in various situations, such as while preparing documents or materials for presentations. (Rest assured, however, that I did not use any generative AI to create the script for this New Year’s greeting!) On the other hand, there is a concern that our innate skills and abilities may be negatively affected by generative AI. For example, ever since I started using a car navigation system, I have noticed that my own sense of direction has been undermined. Similarly, since I started using AI tools for English proofreading, I feel that my own English language skills have declined, even though I can produce a satisfactory English article in a relatively short time. This is because I spend much less time than I used to on basic processes of word formation, revision, and editing English compositions. The University of Tokyo also encourages the use of generative AI in various situations but stresses the importance of being aware of its limitations and using it as a tool to enhance individual skills and abilities.
I would now like to introduce the key personnel who joined us last year and who will support the future of IMSUT. Let me begin with the faculty personnel. We welcomed Professor Yasushi Saeki, a leading researcher in the field of proteolysis, particularly the ubiquitin-proteasome system, from the Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science to the Division of Protein Metabolism, Department of Basic Medical Sciences. Professor Saeki is also a renowned expert in mass spectrometry technology, and we look forward to seeing him collaborate with many researchers at IMSUT. We also welcomed Professor Satoshi Yamazaki from the University of Tsukuba to the Division of Cell Regulation, Center for Experimental Medicine and Systems Biology. Professor Yamazaki, who was a member of the Center for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine two years ago, is a leading expert renowned for his unique achievements in stem cell research, with a focus on hematopoietic stem cells. I look forward to his contribution to the development of regenerative medicine and gene therapy, which are core research areas at IMSUT. Meanwhile, the Division of Genomics, Human Genome Center welcomed Professor Natsuhiko Kumasaka from the National Center for Child Health and Development. Professor Kumasaka is an internationally renowned genetic statistician who has received worldwide attention for his development of GASPACHO, a machine-learning tool for analyzing single-cell RNA data. I trust he will play an active role in the development of genome analysis, which is another core research area at IMSUT. We also welcomed Professor Hiroaki Ikematsu from National Cancer Center Hospital East to the Division of Advanced Gastroenterology and Endoscopy at IMSUT Hospital. His field of research comprises endoscopic treatment of gastrointestinal cancer. With a particular focus on the treatment of colorectal cancer, close collaboration is expected between Professor Shida, who is responsible for surgery; Professor Boku, who specializes in oncology; and newly appointed Professor Ikematsu. I hope that Professor Saeki, Professor Yamazaki, Professor Kumasaka, and Professor Ikematsu will fully demonstrate their abilities for the further development of IMSUT.
I would also like to introduce the newly appointed project professors. Dr. Yataro Daigo joined the Dean’s Office as a project professor in charge of the Platform of Supporting Cohort Study and Biospecimen Analysis, Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research on Innovative Areas, and Dr. Satoshi Uematsu was appointed as a project professor in the Division of Metagenome Medicine at the Human Genome Center. I trust that they will lead the development of genome analysis and the Platforms for Advanced Technologies and Research Resources Project, which are our key projects.
As for associate professors, we welcomed Dr. Takuma Shibata in the Division of Infectious Genetics, Dr. Yamauchi (Inoue) in the Division of Genetics, Dr. Kiyoshi Yamaguchi in the Division of Clinical Genome Research, Dr. Yaozhong Zhang in the Division of Health Medical Intelligence, Dr Taeko Kobayashi in the Division of Protein Metabolism, Dr. Junpei Ito in the Division of Systems Virology, and Dr. Kazuto Yoshimi in the Division of Animal Genetics. These appointments best illustrate the strengthening of our research capabilities. In addition, Dr. Hiroshi Yasui and Dr. Kouichiro Yuji joined the Social Cooperation Research Program and Dr. Jin Goda joined the Research Center for Asian Infectious Diseases as project associate professors. I look forward to seeing their contribution in the development of IMSUT. On the other hand, Dr. Hideaki Tahara, who contributed to surgical research at IMSUT for a long time, retired in March last year due to the mandatory retirement policy. Dr. Tahara continues his research as the new Head of the Department of Cancer Drug Discovery and Development of the Research Center, Osaka International Cancer Institute. It is also noteworthy that numerous associate professors and project faculty members who left IMSUT last year have established new laboratories and have progressed in their respective fields. This is a testament to their contribution to the country's research capacity. I extended my best wishes for their continued success in their endeavors.
Let us now turn to the recent research achievements of IMSUT. In FY 2022, more than 500 papers were published by IMSUT members, and more than 20% of these papers were published in high-impact journals (journals with an impact factor of 10 or higher). These figures demonstrate that our research capabilities have steadily improved. This could not have been achieved without the tireless efforts of the faculty members, graduate students, and all other staff at IMSUT. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to all of you for your continued contribution to IMSUT’s progress. Regarding external funds, both the total amount and number of funding acquisitions continue to increase. This clearly shows that IMSUT’s research performance is consistently improving.
It is worth mentioning that numerous official awards were presented to IMSUT members for their research accomplishments this fiscal year. Akito Yamamoto, a master’s student, was awarded the University of Tokyo President's Awards for Students. Professor Imoto received the Commendation for Science and Technology from the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, and Emeritus Professor Takatsu received the Medal with Purple Ribbon. Professor Todo received the Takamine Memorial Daiichi Sankyo Award and the Japan Bioindustry Award, and Professor Kei Sato was awarded the Cultural Award for the Memorial of Sabro Kojima. Project Professor Kawaoka was named a Person of Cultural Merit, following Emeritus Professor Nakamura in FY2022, which was a great honor for IMSUT, and the Okawa Prize was awarded to Emeritus Professor Miyano. Congratulations to all the awardees for their outstanding achievements. In addition, Dr. Makoto Saito and Dr. Toshihiro Kobayashi received the IMSUT Outstanding Young Investigator Award in 2023. As promising researchers, they are expected to lead the next generation of IMSUT and academic sciences in Japan. I look forward to their continued progress and success.
Next, I would like to provide an update on the current status of IMSUT’s core research project, the International Joint Usage/Research Center. In November 2018, IMSUT was accredited by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology as the country’s sole International Joint Research Center for Promoting Basic and Applied Research and Implementing Translational Research in the field of life sciences. Focusing on three core research areas, IMSUT aims to promote international collaborative research by building effective partnerships that link Japanese universities and research institutions to their counterparts worldwide. As already communicated to the faculty to help them prepare, FY2024 is the year for mid-term evaluation. I would appreciate your continued support, as this project is a flagship initiative of IMSUT. In terms of the Center’s overall performance, although the number of International Joint Research proposals adopted this year decreased slightly to 29 from 32 in the previous fiscal year, IMSUT has acted as a hub to successfully link Japanese and international organizations in more than 70% of the projects and the number of papers published in this initiative has also increased. These facts illustrate that the IMSUT is steadily fulfilling its mission of International Joint Research projects. I am proud of this remarkable result and would like to express my deep appreciation for the efforts of Vice Dean Kawaguchi and all the faculty and staff involved.
I would now like to report on the progress made at IMSUT Hospital over the past year. Thanks to the ongoing collaboration between basic and translational research under the leadership of the Hospital Director Todo, patient admissions to the hospital have improved significantly. Additionally, the number of surgeries performed using da Vinci systems is gradually increasing, particularly in surgery and urology, as part of the Shirokane/Hongo project, which was launched several years ago. There has also been a steady rise in the use of palliative care, diagnostic imaging such as MRI, and rehabilitation medicine. In addition, to strengthen the capacity of clinical departments, IMSUT has established the Department of Gastroenterology, headed by Professor Ikematsu. This has enabled the hospital to establish a comprehensive colorectal cancer treatment system that integrates internal medicine, surgery, and oncology. These improvements have led to an increase in the number of surgeries and outpatients seeking a second opinion, contributing significantly to the overall revenue growth.
Next, I would like to summarize the 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 core centers for promoting life sciences in Japan.
First, the "Platforms for Advanced Technologies and Research Resources" project is an important and innovative initiative in which cutting-edge technologies are developed to advance life science analysis and support Japan's KAKENHI-funded research projects. The project, whose renewal from April 2022 has been formally approved, is managed by the Committee on Promoting Collaboration in Life Sciences, chaired by Professor Takekawa. The project has four support platforms, and Professors Murakami and Takekawa are principal investigators of two of the four platforms. The Dean's Office has established the Research Platform Office to manage operational activities, and 10 faculty members from IMSUT, including Professors Daigo and Mashimo, are currently involved in this support project. With nearly 15,000 studies already supported and nearly 4,500 papers published, I am convinced that the Research Platform initiative is steadily delivering results.
Second, I would like to update you on the BioBank Japan project. BioBank Japan (BBJ) is one of the world's largest disease biobanks, which manages and distributes extremely valuable high-quality DNA and serum samples collected across Japan. BBJ has collected samples and clinical information from approximately 270,000 patients or more than 440,000 patients diagnosed with any of 51 diseases. In FY 2023, BBJ entered a new phase of operations and is promoting the analysis of whole-genome sequencing, metabolome, and proteome to enrich its database with omics information. Thanks to Professors Matsuda, Murakami, Kamatani, and Muto, Visiting Professor Morisaki, and other members involved, the distribution performance has improved dramatically since FY2017, with a corresponding steady growth in the number of papers published. Examples of successful analyses utilizing BBJ data include contributing to elucidate the etiology of diseases such as cancer, atrial fibrillation, schizophrenia, and rheumatoid arthritis.
Third, the Translational Research Program, spearheaded by Professors Todo and Fumitaka Nagamura at IMSUT Hospital in collaboration with the University of Tokyo Hospital, is an initiative that supports the transition of academic discoveries from basic research to practical application. It is also responsible for providing extensive support at The University of Tokyo Core Center. In FY2022, a number of proposals originating from IMSUT were approved as translational research projects, and their new initiatives for social implementation are underway. Significant progress has also been achieved in research and development contributing to first-in-human clinical trials, which are the initial stage of testing in humans. If you discover any seeds in your own work that could be further developed, please do not hesitate to consult with the program team.
The next topic is about the enhancement of key shared facilities. Thanks to the efforts of the Head of Laboratory, Professor Mashimo, and other members involved, the renovation of the Amami Laboratory of Injurious Animals and the expansion of its facilities, including the construction of the P3 Laboratory, were completed, and a commemorative symposium was held in October of the previous year. In addition, under the leadership of Vice Dean Kawaguchi, various sources of income have been used to enhance shared research facilities, including the purchase of a light-sheet microscope. I encourage you to make an active use of these facilities. In terms of improving the research environment at IMSUT, the newly established IMSUT-HLC Cell Processing Facility under the leadership of Associate Professor Tokiko Nagamura was officially approved as a manufacturing facility required for social implementation last year and is now operating successfully. This will be followed by the establishment of a vector unit for the Therapeutic Vector Development Center under Professor Okada’s leadership.
Another major achievement of the past fiscal year at IMSUT was the establishment of the University of Tokyo Pandemic Preparedness, Infection, and Advanced Research Center (UTOPIA). Under the leadership of Director Professor Kawaoka, a number of researchers from various departments at the University of Tokyo and IMSUT are involved in this initiative. IMSUT will do its best to support the success of the UTOPIA project.
Finally, I would like to introduce you to the IMSUT Executive Board who will continue to support me as the Dean this year. The heads of our departments and groups, the hospital’s Executive Board, and the Administration Office managers, all of whom I have mentioned here, possess a wealth of experience, and I am confident that they will continue to offer me with wise counsel and support from a broad perspective. I eagerly anticipate steering IMSUT forward into another successful year as the Dean, alongside Vice Deans Takekawa, Kawaguchi, Imoto, and Iwama, Hospital Director Todo, and General Manager Uehara. These individuals bring a wealth of experience, insight, and trustworthiness to the table. I believe that it is essential to create an environment in which all IMSUT members play an active role in the continued development of the institute. I will do my utmost to ensure that every member of IMSUT performs at their best. I kindly request your continued cooperation in 2024.
Thank you for your attention.
Makoto Nakanishi, M.D., Ph.D.
Dean
Dean