Although some regions have experienced heavy snowfall, the weather in Japan on New Year's Day has generally been mild, particularly along the Pacific coast. How did you spend your New Year holiday? Whether you went back to your hometowns or spent the holidays in Tokyo, I hope each of you has renewed your resolutions for the future and that this year brings you abundant success and prosperity.
Last year, the biggest concern for the University of Tokyo as a whole, including the Institute of Medical Science (IMSUT), was Japan's Universities for International Research Excellence program. This program aims to create world-class research universities by developing a research environment at the highest standards and attracting the best talent worldwide through sustainable endowment funds. This can be achieved by fostering a diverse and inclusive environment, building a research structure that transcends disciplinary boundaries, and designing and addressing new challenges for the next generation of researchers. The University of Tokyo is undergoing major reforms to achieve its accreditation as an international research university of excellence. Inevitably, this new wave of reform has significantly impacted IMSUT and prompted us to change. The University of Tokyo needs to develop human resources capable of solving difficult problems that conventional education systems cannot address. Of course, studying and understanding existing academic systems in depth is also important. Still, I believe that the true quality required of individuals capable of addressing current and unforeseen future challenges lies in creating new fields of academic endeavor, free from the constraints of conventional education systems.
A prime example of this can be seen in last year's Nobel Prize in Physics and Chemistry. As our President noted in his New Year's message, the laureates in both fields were recognized for their innovations in artificial intelligence (AI), an unprecedented domain in which these prizes have been awarded. The Nobel Prize in Physics was awarded for achievements that laid the foundations of machine learning, the very core of AI technology, and paved the way for subsequent developments in deep learning. Furthermore, the Nobel Prize in Chemistry was awarded to three researchers, including two scientists affiliated with Google. The latter two played a key role in developing AlphaFold. This technology employs AI to predict, with high accuracy, the three-dimensional structure of proteins based on their amino acid sequences. I never imagined that Google researchers would one day receive the Nobel Prize in Chemistry. However, at the heart of AI technology lies the concept of a human neural network. This indicates that recent breakthroughs in physics and chemistry have been based on concepts and knowledge of life sciences. In this way, the fusion of research from different fields can create an entirely new field of research. This is the direction I see for scientific research in the future. I mentioned AI in my New Year’s address last year, but I never imagined it would lead to a Nobel Prize in such a short time.. The same can be said for the life sciences. Ideas and knowledge that go beyond traditional academic disciplines, such as immunology, cancer, infectious diseases, regenerative medicine, and social medicine, are of great importance within the life sciences, and this is precisely what the concept of comprehensive knowledge represents. IMSUT is the only institute in Japan that works on a wide range of research fields, from basic medical science to social problems. I take pride in saying that IMSUT is the ideal place to put comprehensive knowledge into practice. With this vision in mind, we must strive to create an environment in which we can generate as many new areas of research as possible, not only in the field of life sciences but also in the scientific community.
Next, I would like to highlight some of the key events at IMSUT over the past year, beginning with personnel. Dr. Yoshinori Murakami from the Division of Molecular Pathology and Dr. Toshiya Manabe from the Division of Neuronal Network, who contributed to pioneering research at IMSUT for a long time, retired in March last year. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to both professors for their dedication to IMSUT.
I would now like to introduce the key personnel who joined us last year and will support the progression of IMSUT. Let me begin with the faculty. We welcomed Professor Masahiko Bougaki, an expert in the field of anesthesiology from the Graduate School of Medicine, University of Tokyo, to the Division of Anesthesia and Surgical Homeostasis, Advanced Clinical Research Center. We hope Professor Bougaki will play an active role in further developing IMSUT and IMSUT Hospital. I would also like to introduce the newly appointed project professors. Dr. Yoichiro Kamatani, from the Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, was appointed as the project professor in charge of BioBank Japan, and Dr. XUAN Xuenan joined the Research Center for Asian Infectious Diseases, also known as the Beijing Project Office. I look forward to their contributions to our key projects, the BioBank Japan project and infectious disease research.
As for associate professors, we welcomed Associate Professor RI Izen to the Department of Public Policy Research, Associate Professor Yosuke Tanaka to the Department of Cell Regulation, Associate Professor Ayana Kon to the Division of Hematology and Tumor Biology, Associate Professor Takuma Shibata to the Division of Aging and Regeneration, Associate Professor Kavian Tessler Niloufar to the Division of Malaria Immunology, and Associate Professor Waki Toya to the Division of Bioethics and Medical Law. These appointments greatly illustrate the strengthening of our research capabilities. In addition, Dr. WANG
Teh-Wei, Dr. Kaku Goto, Dr. De Vega Paredes Susana, and Dr. Koichiro Yuji joined the Social Cooperation Research Program as new project associate professors. We also welcomed Dr. Sayuri Takahashi to the Department of Urology, Dr. Yasushi Soda to the Division of Molecular and Medical Genetics, and Dr. Atsushi Takano to the Research Platform Office. We look forward to seeing their contributions to the development of IMSUT.
It is also important to note the numerous professors, associate professors, and project professors who left last year, established new laboratories, and have become even more successful in their respective fields. This is a testament to IMSUT’s commitment to the country's research capacity. I extend my best wishes for the continued success of their endeavors.
Let us now turn to the recent research achievements of IMSUT. In FY 2023, more than 500 papers were published by IMSUT members, and more than 18% 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 faculty members, graduate students, and other staff at IMSUT. I want to express my sincere gratitude to all of you for your continued contribution to the progress of IMSUT. Regarding external funds, 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. Professor Yasushi Kawaguchi received the Toyoichi Ohtawara Award, Professor Hiroshi Kiyono received the Japan Academy Prize, Professor Tomonori Todo, Associate Professor Junpei Ito, and Project Researcher Ryuta Uraki received the Commendation for Science and Technology by the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology. Professor Tomoji Mashimo received the Ando/Tajima Prize from the Japanese Association for Laboratory Animal Science, and Project Associate Professor Sayuri Takahashi received the Women's Challenge Award, the first time a University of Tokyo researcher has received this award. Professor Tatsuhiro Shibata received ERWIN VON BÄLZ PREIS. I congratulate all awardees for these outstanding achievements. Associate Professor Junpei Ito received the IMSUT Outstanding Young Investigator Award in 2024. As a promising researcher, he is expected to lead the next generation of IMSUT researchers and academic sciences in Japan. I look forward to his continued progress and success.
Next, I wish 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 life sciences. Focusing on three core research areas, with this project, IMSUT aims to promote international collaborative research by building effective partnerships that link Japanese universities and research institutions to their counterparts worldwide. 2024 was the year of the mid-term evaluation of the International Joint Usage/Research Center Project, and IMSUT received the highest S rating. I would appreciate your continued support, as this project is a flagship initiative of IMSUT. In terms of the Center’s overall performance, the number of International Joint Research proposals adopted this year increased to 34 from 29 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 using this initiative has also increased. These facts illustrate that IMSUT is steadily fulfilling its mission of International Joint Research projects. I am proud of this remarkable result and express my deep appreciation for the efforts of Vice Dean Kawaguchi and the faculty and staff involved. As mentioned earlier, IMSUT received a very high rating of S in last year's mid-term evaluation of the International Joint Usage/Research Center Project. I want to express my sincere gratitude to all of you for your efforts.
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, the number of patient admissions has increased. On the staffing side, the hospital welcomed Mika Kogayu, the new Nursing Director. The number of surgeries, particularly in surgery and urology, performed using the da Vinci system is gradually increasing as part of the Shirokane/Hongo project launched several years ago. Moreover, there has been a steady increase in palliative care diagnostic imaging, such as MRI, and rehabilitation medicine. In addition, to strengthen the capacity of clinical departments, IMSUT enhanced the Division of Anesthesia and Surgical Homeostasis, headed by Professor Masahiko Bougaki. This has enabled the hospital to establish a comprehensive colorectal cancer treatment system integrating internal medicine, surgery, and oncology. These improvements have led to a high consistency 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 has been formally approved since April 2022, is managed by the Committee on Promoting Collaboration in Life Sciences and chaired by Professor Mutsuhiro Takekawa. The project has four support platforms, and Project Professors Yataro Daigo and Takekawa are principal investigators for two of the four platforms. The Dean's Office established the Research Platform Office to manage operational activities, and nine faculty members from IMSUT, including Professor Mashimo, are currently involved in this support project. With over 16,000 studies already receiving support and nearly 5,000 papers published, I am convinced that the Research Platform initiative is steadily delivering results.
Second, I would like to update you about the BioBank Japan project. BioBank Japan (BBJ) is one of the world's largest disease biobanks and 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 and more than 440,000 patients diagnosed with one 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 analyses to enrich its database with omics information. Thanks to Professors Matsuda, Yoichi Kamatani, Natsuhiko Kumasaka, and Kaori Muto, Visiting Professor Morisaki, Professor Yukinori Okada from the Graduate School of Medicine, and the 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 analysis of the genetic origins of modern Japanese people and contributions to understanding the etiology of diseases such as type 2 diabetes, angina pectoris, and infertility.
Third, let us move on to the Translational Research Program (The University of Tokyo Core Center). This initiative supports the transition of academic seeds from basic research to practical applications. IMSUT Hospital works in collaboration with the University of Tokyo Hospital and provides extensive support under the leadership of Professors Tomoaki Todo and Fumitaka Nagamura. In FY2023, a number of proposals originating from IMSUT were approved as translational research projects, and new initiatives for their social implementation are underway. Significant progress has also been made in R&D, contributing to first-in-human clinical trials, which are the initial stages of testing in humans. If you discover any seeds in your own work that could be further developed, please do not hesitate to consult the program team.
Next, I would like to discuss the enhancement of key shared facilities. Shirokane7 began operations in April of last year. The Amami Laboratory of Injurious Animals was renamed the Amami Laboratory of Medical Science, and further improvements and expansion of facilities are being made under the leadership of Professor Mashimo. Additionally, various sources of income have been used to enhance shared cutting-edge research facilities, including a light-sheet microscope, a research slide scanner, and a high-resolution scanning electron microscope. Regarding social collaboration, we established the Project Division of Generative AI Utilization Aging Cells and the Project Division of International Healthcare Innovation Research.
Furthermore, we are developing a comprehensive collaborative framework with the University of Tokyo Pandemic Preparedness, Infection, and Advanced Research Center (UTOPIA) established in the previous fiscal year.
Finally, I would like to introduce you to the IMSUT Executive Board, which will continue to support me as the Dean until my tenure ends. 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. I am confident they will continue offering me wise counselling and support from various perspectives. I eagerly anticipate steering IMSUT forward into another successful year as the Dean, alongside Vice Deans Mutsuhiro Takekawa, Yasushi Kawaguchi, Seiya Imoto, Atsushi Iwama, Hospital Director Tomoki Todo, and General Manager Keitaro Sudo. These individuals bring experience, insight, and trustworthiness to the table. I believe it is essential to create an environment in which all IMSUT members play an active role in the continued development of the institute.
To conclude, I will pass the baton firmly to Professor Iwama, the incoming Dean, to enable him to take forward his initiatives at full speed starting in April. I look forward to the further development of IMSUT under his leadership.
Though my time in this role is nearing its end, I will continue to do my utmost to ensure that every member of IMSUT demonstrates their full potential. I sincerely ask for your continued support throughout 2025.
Thank you for your attention.
Makoto Nakanishi, M.D., Ph.D.
Dean
Dean