Home > Asian Partnerships Section
Asian Partnerships Section
Mission and Objectives
Head
Mitsumi Terada, M.D., Ph.D.
The Asian Partnerships Section works to disseminate the cancer care, research, and education advanced by National Cancer Center Hospital (NCCH) throughout Asia, with the aim of reducing the cancer burden across the region. To realize this mission, the Section's activities are built on three pillars.
- Establishing and Operating a Base in Asia
On September 10, 2021, the Section established the Asian Partnerships Office (APO) in Bangkok, Thailand, with staff stationed on-site. Drawing on first-hand information gathered locally and on trust built through in-person relationships, the Section promotes swift and reliable collaboration with a wide range of stakeholders across Asia, including hospitals, research institutions, regulatory authorities, industry, and ministries of health.
- Developing ARO Functions
APO has a Clinical Research Associate (CRA) stationed on-site to oversee monitoring activities. While overall management of international collaborative investigator-initiated trials remains the responsibility of the Academic Research Organization (ARO) at NCCH headquarters, APO shares part of this workload depending on the requirements of each trial. In particular, by conducting monitoring—the most costly component of trial operations—in-house at APO, the Section has achieved substantial cost reductions. APO plays a central role in trial monitoring across ASEAN countries.
- Promoting Public Outreach and Human Resource Development
Through media engagement and participation in local events, the Section works to raise awareness of NCCH and the ATLAS network. In parallel, it promotes personnel exchange and training support to help raise the level of cancer care, research, and education across Asia, and to secure the medical professionals needed for international collaboration within Japan.
Member
Head
Staff
Tomohiro Matsuda
Nobuko Ushirozawa
Hisahiro Ito
Takuya Sagara
Honami Watanabe
Dat_Nguyen-Tien
Arthitada Hanada
Thoopmanee Kaendiao
Suchanya Leknoi
Worrathira Trisukonthawong
Wongsatorn Phatsuntia
Asian Partnerships Office (APO)
Purpose of Establishing APO
APO was established in Bangkok on September 10, 2021, with preparations led by the Asian Partnerships Section of the Department of International Development at National Cancer Center Hospital (NCCH).
The purpose of establishing APO in Thailand is to support the promotion of the ATLAS project from the region. Overall management of international collaborative trials continues to be led by the ARO at NCCH headquarters, while APO shares part of this workload. Through local staff recruitment and training of ARO personnel, APO contributes to strengthening the operational framework for international collaborative trials.
Building Networks Across ATLAS Countries
Staff stationed at APO visit researchers and affiliated institutions directly, not only in Thailand but across ATLAS member countries, to build and deepen relationships. They also conduct on-the-ground surveys of issues and requests concerning ongoing trials, reporting and discussing these with members of the ATLAS Coordinating Office at NCC. In addition, APO compiles lists of key opinion leaders (KOLs) and researchers in each field, as well as feasibility reports on the trial-readiness of participating institutions, to build networks that enable new trials to launch efficiently.
Public Outreach Activities
- To engage a wider range of collaborators, APO conducts outreach and educational activities through local seminars and symposia. These efforts raise awareness of NCC and ATLAS among promising young researchers, regulatory authorities, and industry, laying the groundwork for future joint projects.
Members
General Manager
Takuya SagaraStaff
Arthitada HanadaThoopmanee Kaendiao
Suchanya Leknoi
Worrathira Trisukonthawong
Wongsatorn Phatsuntia
ATLAS website
You can access the ATLAS website, here.