Preface

On January 1, 2016, the Research Center for Cancer Prevention and Screening underwent a structural reorganization, making a new start as the Center for Public Health Sciences. Since its opening in 2004, the Research Center for Cancer Prevention and Screening has conducted specialized research on cancer prevention and screening (early detection), aiming not only to prevent the development of cancer, but also to reduce mortality and decline in the quality of life (QOL) of patients who developed the disease. We have also provided approximately 14,000 examinees (30,000 cumulatively) the latest cancer screening technologies while researching their efficacy. Its role of providing cancer screening has moved to the Screening Center in the National Cancer Center Hospital.

In addition to the prevention and screening of cancer, the Center for Public Health Sciences conducts research to support the QOL of cancer patients and survivors including their family members and infrastructural researches in the area of public health such as health sociology, biostatistics, bioethics, and clinical economics. In doing so, we have set ourselves a mission of improving the quality of citizens'lives, addressing health inequality, and maintaining and further improving the level of public health. The final goal should be longer healthy life expectancy of Japanese people.

In 2016, the organization consisted of the following and conducted researches in the area of public health sciences. The Prevention Research Group (the Division of Epidemiology and the Division of Prevention) conducts epidemiological studies such as large-scale cohort studies to elucidate etiology of chronic diseases including cancer and researches to provide effective prevention methods and evidence-based prevention guidelines. The Screening Research Group (the Division of Screening Assessment and Management, and the Division of Screening Technology) conducts researches on assessment to develop effective cancer screening guidelines, on management to keep quality assurance of organized cancer screening and to improve participation rate, and further on the development of effective screening system and new screening technology. The QOL Research Group (the Division of Health Care Research) conducts clinical research in cancer survivorship to enhance the quality of life for all people diagnosed with cancer along with their families and caregivers. Throughout these research activities, we propose the evidence-based healthcare approaches, as well as standard QOL outcome assessments and clinical research methodology in the field of QOL research. The Common Research Group (the Division of Health Sociology, the Division of Biostatistical Research, the Section of Clinical Economics, and the Section of Bioethics) conducts research for the dissemination of established scientific evidence concerning the public health field (cancer prevention, screening, and survivorship) and for research infrastructures of methodological and social issues. The Cancer Control Research is conducted in the Center for Cancer Control and Information Services.

Research results are returned to the public through scientific paper publications, information on the Cancer Information Service by the Center for Cancer Control and Information Services, and other websites, leaflets and pamphlets, and so forth. To achieve our mission of evidence-based cancer prevention, screening and survivorship, all members of the Center for Public Health Sciences share a strong will to keep moving forward steadily and diligently.

Shoichiro Tsugane, M.D., D.M.Sc.

Director, Center for Public Health Sciences