Outline

In this project, we promote drug development research using a new concept in target molecule search, and aim the novel drug discovery based on the most recent pharmaceutical technology. For this purpose, we concluded an agreement on international collaboration with Shanghai University of TCM and Inner Mongolia University (College of Life Sciences) in China, Wonkwang University in Korea, Hasannudin University in Indonesia, and Noguchi Memorial Medical Institute, University of Ghana in Ghana.

Purpose

From natural resources produced in developing countries, we create novel therapeutic drugs for various intractable infectious diseases using omics techniques with the spirit of reciprocity based on the protocol established at COP10 on Biological Diversity held in Nagoya, Japan in October 2010.

Necessity and Importance

The spread of infectious diseases in developing countries, infectious disease transmission due to global warming, and the spread of drug-resistant bacteria due to inappropriate use of antibiotics have become aggravated on a global scale. Therefore, the establishment of effective countermeasures is an important and urgent task.

Outline of the project

Since infectious diseases in developing countries will easily be transmitted to other countries including Japan, we obtain pathogenic microorganisms on site and investigate the efficacies of drug candidates developed by international collaboration with active researchers at various foreign universities and institutes. We also established the Okayama-based international research institute for drug discovery focusing on targets for tropical diseases (ex. malaria), infectious diseases due to drug-resistant bacteria (ex. MRSA), hepatitis due to hepatitis virus C and so on. In this project, we promote the development of drugs based on seed compounds from natural resources, which will thereby further cultivate international human resources by actively participating in this field in the near future.

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