Annual Report 2023

Department of Strategic Programs

Yoshikatsu Koga, Katsuya Tsuchihara, Yoshinori Ikarashi, Katsuji Aikawa, Shingo Sakashita, Masahiro Yasunaga, Daichi Ota, Mitsuyoshi Yoshimoto, Yuka Nakamura

Introduction

 Gene recombination experiments, biohazard experiments, and chemohazard experiments (special experiments) are performed in the Exploratory Oncology Research & Clinical Trial Center (EPOC). The Department of Strategic Programs has established an appropriate management system for special experiments, an education system for researchers, and a support system for pathological specimen preparation, and has been managing the safety of researchers during special experiments and improving the quality of research.

 "Section of Liaisons for Translational Research", "Section of Seeds Selections and Evaluations", "Section of Project Managements", "Section of Public Relations for Translational Research", and "Section of Educations and Career Developments for Translational Research" are established in the Department in order to disseminate various medical seeds through collaboration with domestic/overseas academia/companies to the world from EPOC and the Center for Promotion of Translational Research (CPOT). We also manage the developments of medical seeds and career developments of project managers.

The Team and What We Do

• Approval of gene recombinant experiments and biohazard/chemohazard experiments in accordance with the regulations.

 In FY2023, 36 studies with gene recombinant experiments and 8 studies with biohazard/chemohazard experiments were approved by the Committee of Gene Recombination and Biohazard/Chemohazard.

• Research support for pathological specimen preparation

 In FY2023, we supported  pathological specimen preparations, including 857 FFPE block preparations, 17,214 thin sections, 1,210 HE stains, 2,789 immunostains, and 77 special stains.

Education

 All researchers engaged in the gene recombinant experiments and biohazard/chemohazard experiments are required to attend a lecture on gene recombinant experiments and biohazard/chemohazard experiments according to the Guideline of Gene Recombination and Biohazard/Chemohazard every year. In FY2023, 193 and 186 researchers attended the educational lecture on gene recombinant experiments and biohazard/chemohazard experiments, respectively.

Future Prospects

 The Department of Strategic Programs will manage and support the research in each division of EPOC as a common department of it and a secretariat function of CPOT.

List of papers published in 2023

Journal

1. Fukuoka S, Koga Y, Yamauchi M, Koganemaru S, Yasunaga M, Shitara K, Doi T, Yoshino T, Kuronita T, Elenbaas B, Wahra P, Zhang H, Crowley L, Jenkins MH, Clark A, Kojima T. p70S6K/Akt dual inhibitor DIACC3010 is efficacious in preclinical models of gastric cancer alone and in combination with trastuzumab. Scientific reports, 13:16017, 2023