Advanced Biology and its Security Issues in Japan

Tamami Fukushi, Ph.D.

Fellow, Lifesciences and Clinical Medicine Unit

Center for Research and Development Strategy (CRDS)Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST)

COPYRIGHT（C）2011 Center for Research and Development Strategy, All Rights Reserved

BWC Meeting ExpertsJuly, 2012

Our agenda

Introduction of JST

Advanced lifesciences and biotechnology program funded by JST and MEXT

Issues to be solved for Japanese communities regarding H5N1 commotion

What is JST? Mission and OrganizationAs an organization which plays a central role in the implementation of the Science and Technology Basic Plan, Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST) comprehensively promotes all of the process from the creation of knowledge, which leads to innovation in Japan, to the return of research results to the society/nation. Current PresidentCurrent President

Michiharu Nakamura, Ph.D.Michiharu Nakamura, Ph.D.

4http://www.jst.go.jp/EN/organization/index.html

Copyright(C)2005 Center for Research and Development Strategy, All Rights Reserved

No. of Permanent Staff: about 1,500 No. of Permanent Staff: about 1,500

No. of Researchers and Others No. of Researchers and Others Employed by JST: about 2,500Employed by JST: about 2,500

Structure of JST

JST’s Budget

http://www.jst.go.jp/EN/about/funds.html

Up to 40% of the research budget is invested for

lifesciences field.

Emerging Fields related to

Dual-use and Biosecurity

Computational, Quantitative, and Synthetic Biology

Bioinformatics 

Viral Disease Research (including artificial manipulation of biological information of viruses)

Brain Science? (not yet focused in this meeting) 

7

Research Field Research Procedure Dual Use-Related Potential

Synthetic Biology Building a life or creation of a new gene expression system no longer exists from artificial and synthetic DNA technique.

无 Virus development/modification using artificial/modified genetic information

无 More efficient process to recombinant with disease-causing gene(s) as well as toxic ones Needs for novel regulation systems of disease-causing agents

Bioinformatics Analyzing and predicting biological function associated with genomic information and gene expression by utilizing mathematics, statistics, and computer science.

无 More efficient process for comparing and retrieving genetic data in relation to disease-causing or toxic genes.

Systems Biology (including

Computation and Quantitative

Biology)

Regarding living body as a system of biological phenomena, analyzing a biological network including genetic information and signal transduction.

无 Estimating effects of disease-causing agents on human cells’ functions

无 More efficient ways to analyze disease-causing agents with more serious damages to human body.

Nano Techno-

logy

Nano- biology

Analyzing and modulating various biological functions by nanotechnologies, such as Biosensor, Biochip, Molecular imaging, Nanomaterials, Nano-bio-machine, etc..

无 Enabling detection of disease-causing or toxic agent(s) via nanobiosensors.

无 Additive novel functions via nanobiomachines 无 Artificial membrane to cover disease-causing

agents as well as toxins Drug

Delivery System

Delivering drug to target organ(s) more efficiently by applying nanoparticles to drug delivery system.

无 Enhancing infectious ability of microorganism 无 Drug-delivery systems entering brain-blood

barriers

Neurosciences

Manipulating mechanical devices or computer By neural signal detection and decoding techniques. Receiving external signal input to the brain via brain-machine interface technique.

无 Controlling brain function including one’s thought and judgment

无 Terrorist-like behavior forced by the external command input to one’s brain

Potentials of Dual-Use in Advanced Biology

Modified from Shinomiya and Kawahara, 2012 (original in Japanese)

Detectivity of Potential Risk/Benefit along Research Processes BenefitRisk

VisiblePredictableInspiration

/Gestation

Application

Adoption

Execution

Preparation for

publication

Publication

Implication

Institutional Biosecurity Committee

VirologyGeneral Biology

These lines means only

“ability to detect the risk/benefit”, not a possibility of realization either social

impact.

MedicineVaccineGeneral

BiologyVisible

Predictable

Review

The 4th Science and Technology Basic Plan of Japan

Target areas• Analysis technology for microstructure with high-resolution • Analysis technology for genomics and small molecule RNA• Reconstruction and control technology for proteins and “mega”- molecular compound• Single cell technologies for culture, imaging, and control (including metering and synthetic approach)• Fusion between computations and analysis technologies for cell subset, tissue, and individual level (including control technology and data-drive approach)

In the 4th basic plan (FY2011-FY2015), the government describes strategic plan for “Realization of Sustainable Growth and Societal Development into the Future”, in which “Promoting life innovation” would be promoted by following strategies.

・ Development of revolutionary disease prevention methods・ Development of new early diagnosis methods・ Realization of safe and highly effective medical treatment・ Improvement of Quality of life (QOL) for the sick, elderly and disabled

Based on these strategies, MEXT issued Strategic Plan for the Development of

Computational, Quantitative, and Synthetic Biologyon July 19, 2011

RIKEN Quantitative Biology Center (QBiC)

http://www.qbic.riken.jp/english/index.html

The RIKEN Quantitative Biology Center (QBiC) aims to study complex relationships through innovative measuring, analysis, and modeling technologies and techniques to recreate the dynamics of a fundamental biological system – the cell – by modeling it in a holistic manner. (launched April 2011)

Director, QBiCToshio Yanagida

Funding Program Based on 2011 strategic plan (1)

Design and Control of Cellular Functions Research Term:  2011‐2018 (funded by JST‐PRESTO)

Research DirectorHiroki R Ueda

Project Leader, RIKEN CDB

1) Logical (or efficient) design and control of biomolecules involved in cellular functions 2) Reconstitution and design of processes that support

the infrastructure of cellular function 3) Reconstitution, design, and control of processes

that implement higher-order cellular functions 4) Reconstitution, design, and control of populations of cells,

tissues, organs, and individual organisms

Funding Program Based on 2011 strategic plan (2)

(about 10 PIs, 300,000-400,000 $/PI/yr*3-5)

http://www.synbio.jst.go.jp/

Research DirectorProf. Tadashi Yamamoto

The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo

Creation of fundamental technologies for understanding and control of biosystem dynamicsResearch Term:  2011‐2019  (funded by JST-CREST)

In vivo

Integration between biology and mathematics, information 

science, computational science

Integration between biology and physics, 

chemicals, EngineeringBiomolecular reaction

Cellular level

Cell population level

Creation of fundamental technologies for understanding and control of biosystem dynamics

Funding Program Based on 2011 strategic plan (3)

CREST (Core Research of Evolutional Science & Technology) distributes public fund from the MEXT to support a broad range of scientific research relevant to the nation's Strategic Sectors. (4-10 projects/yr, 0.04-0.12 million $/project/yr*5).

Research Director: Tetsuya Yomo (Graduate School of Information Science and Technology Osaka University)

Research Term: 2009-2014

ERATO (Exploratory Research for Advanced Technology) launched in 1981. The pioneeringresearch system of ERATO scheme enjoys high reputation inside and outside Japan for its features and spirit, namely: (1) a research system centering on people; (2) elimination of uniform thinking and fostering of hetero researcher groups; (3) elasticity; and (4) fluidity in undertaking research (total funding: up to $190 million/Director).

funded by JST- ERATO

http://www.jst.go.jp/erato/project/ydb_P/ydb_P.html

Related Funding Program (1)

Research Director: Shoji Takeuchi (Center for International Research on Micro Mechatronics (CIRMM), Institute of Industrial Science (IIS), University of Tokyo)Research Term: 2010-2015

funded by JST- ERATO

http://www.jst.go.jp/erato/project/tby_P/tby_P.html

Related Funding Program (2)

funded by JST-CRESTRelated Funding Program (3)

Flexible Display

Organic Thin-Film Solar Cell

Green Process New materials

Diagnostics/Medical Treatment

Drug Development

/DDS

PhysicsChemistry Biology Mathematics

Calculation Science

Estimation/Analysis/

Measurement

●● ●●●●

Molecular Technology

Industrial Technology

★Electronic state control

★ Shape and structure control

★ Assembly and compound control ★ Molecule・ion

Transport control

★ Conversion and processing techniques

★ Molecular design and creation techniques

Molecular Science Field

http://www.jst.go.jp/kisoken/crest/ryoiki/bunyah24-4.html

Molecular Technologies

Supervisor Hisashi

Yamamoto, Ph.D.

Arthur Holly Compton

Distinguished Professor

Related Funding Program for InfrastructureNational Bioscience Database Center (NBDC) by JST

Director-General Michio Oishi, Ph.D.

http://biosciencedbc.jp/projects_and_activities?lng=en

Inaugurated in April of 2011.

<Mandate>Integrate all databases for life sciences in Japan, by linking each database with expediency to maximize convenience and make the entire system more user-friendly.

Director: Haruo Watanabe,

M.D.

http://www.nih.go.jp/niid/en/aboutniid-2.html

National Institute of Infectious disease Infection Diseases Research (1)

1. Basic and applied research on infectious diseases2. Reference services for infectious diseases 3.Infectious disease surveillance program, and collection,

analysis, and distribution of information on infectious diseases

4.National control and other tests and research on quality control of biological products and antibiotics

- Biological products (various vaccines and blood products) - Administratively requested tests and other tests- References materials for such biological products and

antibiotic products necessary for national control tests and other tests

5.International cooperation activities- WHO-designated centers and WHO reference laboratories- International Union of Microbiological Societies (IUMS)-

assigned center laboratories - Training programs

Research Director: Yoshihiro Kawaoka (Division of Virology, Institute of Medical Science, University of Tokyo)Research Term: 2008-2013

funded by JST- ERATO

http://www.jst.go.jp/erato/en/research_areas/ongoing/kkn_P.html

KAWAOKA Infection-induced host responsesInfection Diseases Research (2)

SATREPS (Science and Technology Research Partnership for Sustainable Development) co-sponsored by JST and JICA

SATREPS is a Japanese government program that promotes international joint research targeting global issues including infection disease.

Infection Diseases Research (3)

JST + JICA total : About ¥100 million per project per year JST : About ¥38 million per project per yearhttp://www.jst.go.jp/global/english/kadai/index.html

J-GRID (Japan Initiative for Global Research Network on Infectious Diseases) funded by MEXT (-FY2014)

http://www.crnid.riken.jp/english/outline/program/index.html

Infection Diseases Research (4)

21

H5N1 Commotions/Arguments in JAPAN

Reaction by JST and other community<Revision of call for proposals and administrative manuals by JST >

Warning about both export control and dual‐use regarding biology 

has been updated since April 2012.

<International Survey  by JST‐CRDS>

Summarized current activities and related regulations /organization in each country, as well as international treaty/organizations  (web‐based, report has been published in Japanese in March 2012).

By March 2013, other policy report including recommendation to whole stakeholders will be issued by JST‐CRDS. 

< “Dual‐Use Code of Conduct” discussed by Science Council of Japan>

In November 2011, special working group launch to establish thecode by  the end of September 2012.

Issues to be solvedLack of literacy Research community: Difficulty to distinguish biosecurity,

dual‐use, and bioethicsGeneral public:  Less knowledge/understanding of virus research

and its importance for pandemic  protection

Less senses of responsibility of biosecurityAlthough various ministries/agencies have concerns, 

they have not had enough communications on the same table

Lack of ethical basis of biosecurity and dual‐use protection “Dual‐Use Code of  Conduct” will give us an suitable solution?

Multi‐standards  under Japanese LawsAct on Domestic Animal Infectious Diseases Control Act Concerning Prevention of Infection of Infectious Diseases and

Patients with Infectious DiseasesRefinement  of these acts will be needed to avoid future confusions

Acknowledgements

<JST‐CRDS>

Makoto Asashima,  Ph.D.

Yuko Nagano

Rika Takeuchi, Ph.D.

Masahiro Tsuji

Hiroshi Ohtake , MD.

Special Thanks toYuji Yamamoto, MD.Yutaka HishiyamaNariyoshi Shinomiya, MD, Ph.D.Norihiko Yamada, MD, Ph.D.Manabu Imakyurei Naoto Kawahara, Ph.D.Shigeo Koyasu, MD., Ph.D.Daisuke Kiga, Ph.D.Kazuto Kato, Ph.D.Yoshihiro Kawaoka, DVM, Ph.D.