Canada and Japan establish new research partnership
For immediate release -
2012-17
Dr. Alain Beaudet, CIHR's President (left) and Dr. Michiharu Nakamura, JST's President (right) signing the partnership agreement.
Ottawa (March 30, 2012) – The Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) and the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST) recently signed a partnership agreement to fund joint research projects on the epigenetics of stem cells. The agreement was established under CIHR's Canadian Epigenetics, Environment and Health Research Consortium Signature Initiative and JST's Strategic International Collaborative Research Program.
"CIHR is pleased to work in collaboration with our colleagues at the prestigious Japan Science and Technology Agency," said Dr. Alain Beaudet, President of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research. "We believe this partnership will pave the way to major breakthroughs in this field and the eventual development of new therapeutics to improve human health."
Epigenetics is a ground-breaking science that examines how environmental factors, such as diet and stress, can have life-long effects on health. This new field of research looks at long-term changes in gene activity that are not the result of modifications in the genetic code. The epigenetics of stem cells is a novel research area where both Canada and Japan demonstrate research excellence.
"The goal of this joint research program is to advance novel biological knowledge in the epigenetics of stem cells," said Dr. Michiharu Nakamura, President of the Japan Science and Technology Agency. "It is also expected that the collaborative research among Japanese and Canadian scientists will contribute to develop innovative treatment methodologies for clinical medicine."
Under the partnership, CIHR has committed up to $6M CAD and JST 600M Yen (approximately $8M CAD) for a total investment of $14M CAD over the next five years. The funding will support a maximum of three research teams that will require the participation of Canadian and Japanese researchers. A funding opportunity will be posted on CIHR and JST's websites in May.
Prime Minister Harper highlighted this partnership in a recent meeting with Japan's Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda.
Mr. Peter McArthur, Director General, Global Business Opportunities, Mr. Grant Manuge, Acting Assistant Deputy Minister, International Business Development, DFAIT, Dr. Janet Rossant, Chief of Research, The Hospital of Sick Children, Dr. Paul Lasko, Scientific Director, CIHR's Institute of Genetics, Dr. Alain Beaudet, CIHR's President, Dr. Michiharu Nakamura, JST's President, His Excellency Kaoru Ishikawa, Ambassador of Japan in Canada and Mr. Akira Nakanishi, JST's Director of Department of International Affairs, participated in the Signing Event.
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About Canadian Institutes of Health Research
The Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) is the Government of Canada's health research investment agency. CIHR's mission is to create new scientific knowledge and to enable its translation into improved health, more effective health services and products, and a strengthened Canadian health care system. Composed of 13 Institutes, CIHR provides leadership and support to more than 14,100 health researchers and trainees across Canada.
About Japan's Science and Technology Agency
Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST) is an integrated organization for promoting innovation-oriented science and technology in Japan that supports an infrastructure for the entire process, from the creation of knowledge to the return to the society. JST’s mission is to promote science and technology which will create new values and lead to the future, in order to advance the national welfare and prosperity.
Further Information:
David Coulombe, Media Relations, CIHR, 613-941-4563
Dr. Geng Tu, Department of International Affairs, JST, +81(0)3-5214-7375