Research Activities and Projects Within a Framework of International Radiation Health Sciences Research

Abstract

In our Global Center of Excellence (COE) program, one of the main tasks is to develop international radiation health research based on the worldwide consortium that we established within the framework of our 21st Century COE program, ``International Consortium for Medical Care of Hibakusha and Radiation Life Sciences.{''} Through the promotion of comprehensive medical support and academic joint research on those exposed to low-dose radiation after the accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, the project for radiation risk evaluation regarding internal exposure and physiological effect elucidation is scheduled to be completed. It is expected that large-scale analysis of single nucleotide polymorphisms will succeed in identifying radiosensitive or disease-sensitive gene groups. Also, a joint project to strengthen the medical infrastructure around the Semipalatinsk Nuclear Testing Site and to promote academic joint research will continue. Furthermore, to evaluate the mental effects caused by radiation exposure in the population, including atomic bomb survivors, and to develop basic and clinical strategies for future unexpected radiation emergencies, we promote a number of research projects, in collaboration with the World Health Organization and other institutions. Our final goal through the implementation of these projects is to establish a human resource center that can explore human health risks from radiation on a global scale, to develop measures for overcoming the negative legacies of radiation, and to establish a scientific center for contributing to the safety and security of human beings.