Okayama University was selected on June 27, 2014 as a Center of Excellence for the Innovative Technology Promotion Project (Interdisciplinary Research) by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.

Agriculture, forestry and fishing, and food industries have various research areas which are bordered with other academic fields, including medical science, engineering and science. As such, this project aims to create innovative technology through interdisciplinary approach.

Okayama University is forming a consortium with companies. The theme of this joint initiative will be “establishment and implementation of leading, innovative technology which inhibits virus replication with the use of artificial nucleic-acid-binding proteins”. Prof. Takashi Sera of the Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University has been appointed as the project’s research representative. This project targets i) development of a novel design method of artificial RNA-binding proteins which recognize RNA viruses, ii) development of protein-based anti-influenza drugs, iii) creation of virus-resistant wheat, and iv) establishment of high-sensitive detection technology based on immunochromatography which is often used as a virus rapid test kit.

Okayama University Executive Director and Vice President in charge of Research, Prof. Shinichi Yamamoto, acts as a Consortium Program Director (CPD: Project Head). Dr. Norito Satoh, Research Administrator, serves as Consortium Program Manager (CPM: Management of Research Administration). The university collaborates closely with Program Officer at Bio-oriented Technology Research Advancement Institution (BRAIN) which is one of National Agriculture and Food Research Organization (NARO)’s research centers. The university will proceed with research and implementation strategically.

Okayama University has an excellent record with regard to interdisciplinary research and operates research core for interdisciplinary sciences. In addition, it is one of the institutions chosen to receive support under the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT)’s program for promoting enhanced research universities. Furthermore, it has University Hospital, which has been chosen as a ‘Clinical Study Core Hospital’ by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) and Institute of Plant Science and Resources (IPSR), which has been selected as a Joint Usage / Research Center by the MEXT. Okayama University is the only research institution in Japan which has these three strongholds in fields of agriculture and plants. Okayama University aims to utilize this strength to a maximum extent so that it can create innovative technologies.

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Okayama University Research Administrators' (URA) office
TEL: 086-251-8918