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.