project-detail

Core-to-Core Program (The Japan Society for the Promotion of Science)　Asia-Africa Science Platforms
Development of Vectorologist with KITASATO One Health in West Africa

After 120 years since Dr. Kitasato’s encounter with Dr. Hideyo Noguchi, a collaborative project will once again begin in Accra, Ghana. This is an international health project that seeks to find solutions oriented in local communities employing the skills and intellect of Africans by way of building capacity for the control of infectious diseases. The project will also focus on developing preventive, diagnostic and therapeutic methods for infectious diseases known as the Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) that affect the quality of lives of many. The actual execution of the project will be carried out through joint research, seminars, researcher exchanges, and collaboration with other international exchange programs. The unique feature of this collaboration creates a cyclical relationship between education, research and clinical practice directed at solving specific challenges facing the African continent.

Historical lineage of infectious diseases
The encounter has saved Afric

Dr. Hideyo Noguchi who dedicated his life to yellow fever research, the mysterious connection of Dr Shibasaburo Kitasato who supported him

Control of infectious diseases is essential to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In endemic areas like Africa, overcoming neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), especially those are transmitted during daily life activities, is the prime priority. NTDs that cover 20 diseases, including schistosomiasis assassinate affected individuals very slowly. These diseases required disease-specific specialists or medical personnel for the diagnosis, treatment and formulate control strategies. This project will develop a global health related human resources that will contribute to overcome NTDs in West Africa. Japan has own experiences on  infectious disease control and is considered by the Japanese Government as an important diplomatic issue. On the other hand, African countries have become important partners in developing global health in terms of diplomatic strategy. The Kitasato Institute has been advocating overcoming infectious diseases for over a century. Based on the fundamental philosophy of the Kitasato Institute, we will develop a Kitasato One Health education and research program in West Africa, taking the advantage of the characteristics of a comprehensive university dedicated to the life sciences. This program aims to train Vector-biologists, who can teach varieties aspects such as human health, animal health and productivity, and environment, which cover the entire host-pathogens-environment triad. We will build an independent and continuous international research exchange center and train young researchers who will play a central role in the next generation throughout the three-year exchange period based on the output of the proposed research that will be conducted through the Noguchi Memorial Medical Research Institute (NMMRI/Noguchi-ken., Ghana). NMMRI has started a collaborative project on domestic and overseas infectious disease control. Work on the following goals.

1.Development of Vector-biologist training module having an overhead view of NTDs

ector-biologist means a medical person who examines the behavior of pathogens according to One Health. In “Researcher Exchange”, vector theory will be offered. Existing specialized fields such as microbiology, sanitary zoology, environmental engineering, veterinary medicine, epidemiology, eco-health, and public health, which are organized by the university, will be introduced. Through the exercises, “seminar” will be conducted to incorporate an education-research-clinical collaboration by utilizing the platform of international medical team that have a proven track record at the university. In “joint research”, we will incorporate collaborative research (infection control and drug discovery) with Noguchi-ken so that each student can find NTDs control measures suitable for the climate and culture of Africa while ensuring the quality of education and research content. The actual operation in Ghana and Benin will develop a sustainable vector-biologist training platform.

2.Expansion of NTDs education and research centers to prove the participation of Japan

Based on worldwide achievements of collaborative activities accomplished by the Kitasato Institute, we aim to expand the education and research business globally to combat NTDs with Kitasato One Health and human resources for infectious diseases. This project also aims to build a global infectious disease alliance while demonstrating Japan-led presence in strengthening human resource development and forming a platform for vector-biologists.

Japanese project organization

Institution:
The Kitasato Institute

Coordinator:
Naotoshi Tsuji
Professor, Department of Parasitology and Tropical Medicine
Kitasato University School of Medicine

Partner institutions:
Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Jichi University, The University of Tokyo, Osaka Prefectural University

Participating and partner institutions in other countries

The Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research (NMIMR), University of Ghana (Ghana)
Cotonou Entomological Research Center, University of Abomey-Calavi (Benin)

Contact

Coordinator

Naotoshi Tsuji, PhD
Professor and Chairman
Department of Parasitology and Tropical Medicine
Kitasato University School of Medicine

Samuel K. Dadzie, PhD
Professor and Department Head
Department of Parasitology
Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research
University of Ghana
https://www.noguchimedres.org/

We will report on the seminars and researcher exchanges held in this project at any time.

Three young researchers from NMIMR participated in an online Cross-cultural Interdisciplinary Case Study

February 23-March 6, 2021

Participation from Africa was realized through the core to core project. Although they couldn’t come to Japan due to COVID-19 pandemic, it was a meaningful international exchange activity.

Please see here for the activity. It was also published in the Asahi Shimbun dated March 18, 2021.
https://www.kitasato-u.ac.jp/jp/news/20210319-02.html
https://www.asahi.com/articles/ASP3L3DRHP3BULOB006.html

Thank you Danielle, Bella and James.

Dr. Shigeyuki Kano of The National Center for Global Health and Medicine gave a lecture on the current state of malaria.

February 16, 2021

The trainees from The Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research (NMIMR) had a fruitful discussion about how to deal with malaria, and the four third-year medical students assigned in Introductory Medical Research II listened to the field talk. We have learned the actual situation of malaria infection in the tropics.

Thank you, Professor Kano.

Joint Seminar with Parasitology and Tropical Medicine / Environmental Hygiene

Date: Friday, December 11, 2020
Venue: M1・No.33 Lecture room
Prof. Reiko Kuroda (Professor, Center for Advanced Research, Chubu University) gave a lecture entitled “Chiromorphology and Schistosomiasis”.

All the participants were really encouraged to hear the live TED at Corona pandemic. Thank you, Dr. Kuroda. We sincerely appreciate your time and consideration.

Field trip for training Vectorologists

Dates: October 22nd (Fri), November 16th (Tue), 19th (Fri) 2021 Tsukuiko Shiroyama Park (Sagamihara City, Kanagawa Prefecture)

We went to collect blood-sucking arthropods that transmit infectious diseases. We are currently analyzing whether the captured ticks carry pathogens that cause infectious diseases in humans and animals.

A state of tick investigation on the shore of Lake Tsukui

Date: October 14th (Thu) and 15th (Fri) 2021, Camp Zama (Zama City, Kanagawa Prefecture)

State of tick investigation in camp

Joint Seminar on Parasitology / Tropical Medicine / Environmental Health

Date: December 10 (Fri), 2021
Venue: M1・No.33 Lecture room, Sagamihara Campus

Dr. Taichi Kato (Professor, Department of Infection and Immunology, Jichi Medical University) and Dr. Daisuke Yamamoto gave lectures.
Click here for information and abstracts

While it is still difficult to hold seminars in the partner country, JSPS foreign researcher from Noguchi Lab and government-sponsored international students who are staying in Japan participate in the 2nd Japan Society for the Promotion of Science Research Center Formation Project Seminar-Akra Asia-Africa Science Platforms Ⅱ ・ We were able to hold Sagamihara. We hope to hold it in Accra, Ghana next year.

Thank you to Dr Kato and Dr Yamamoto.

Introduced by Brosha of Japan Society for the Promotion of Science

Publication date: December 13 (Mon), 2021
The state of the competent authorities and research material procurement that we paid a courtesy visit to when starting research activities in the partner country is posted.

Click here for Brosha
https://www.jsps.go.jp/j-outline/data/brochure_j.pdf
https://www.jsps.go.jp/english/aboutus/data/brochure21-22_e.pdf