2022.05.23
To strongly promote globalization and interdisciplinary research at Keio University, KGRI provides grants for startup research projects that align with these goals. Since its launch in fiscal 2019, many research projects have been conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic. Nevertheless, all research funded to date has met the "KGRI standards" at a high level, and some have already produced significant results. We therefore believe this grant program is of great importance.
Dissemination of the application guidelines continued to be constrained by the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to a somewhat sluggish number of applications. Looking at the overall application status, there was also a tendency for proposals to be skewed toward the sciences, similar to last year. From the perspective of promoting true interdisciplinary research, it cannot be denied that this left something to be desired. On the other hand, all the research proposals submitted had many excellent qualities. KGRI intends to brainstorm various ideas for its public relations activities to further deepen and evolve interdisciplinary research.
This fiscal year, following a document screening and an open hearing review, the following two research projects were selected for the KGRI Startup Research Grant (2 million yen for each of the 2 projects). We hope that this grant will be used appropriately and effectively by the recipients, serving as a catalyst for the development of their respective research, and that the spirit of KGRI and the purpose of the Startup Research Grant will spread, even if only a little, through the recipients.
[Recipients]
"Establishment of a More Affordable and Non-invasive Diagnostic Algorithm for Dementia Disease-Modifying Drugs"
Toshiki Tezuka (Assistant Professor, School of Medicine)
"Health Equity and Health Economic Evaluation: An International Study Using Methods from Economics and Public Health"
Kyoko Shimamoto (Project Lecturer, KGRI)
[Comments from the Recipients]
Toshiki Tezuka
I am deeply honored to have been selected for the KGRI Startup Research Grant. The number of dementia patients worldwide is projected to increase from an estimated 57.4 million in 2019 to 152.8 million in 2050. Developing diagnostic methods for amyloid pathology in Alzheimer's disease (AD), the most common form of dementia, and creating disease-modifying drugs are urgent issues. In this study, we will integrate clinical information and test data (amyloid PET, fluid biomarkers) collected at our dementia specialty clinic and use machine learning to predict AD diagnosis. Through this research, we aim to establish a more affordable, non-invasive, and globally applicable diagnostic algorithm for the development of disease-modifying drugs for dementia.
Kyoko Shimamoto
Following your support from last year, I am extremely honored to be selected for this research grant. I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude. This project began as an interdisciplinary study from the fields of public health and economics, with Health equity as its central theme, and with guidance and support from professors at universities in the UK. I aim to advance and develop this research through exchanges and networking with researchers within and outside the university, both in Japan and internationally. I would be very grateful for any advice and support from researchers across a wide range of specialized fields. I look forward to your continued guidance and support.
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