RIKEN and National Cancer Center Japan revise Memorandum of Understanding to accelerate solutions to medical challenges

RIKEN and the National Cancer Center Japan signed a memorandum of understanding in 2016 with the aim to advance research collaboration focused on translating discoveries from basic research to clinical applications. To further consolidate the research infrastructure, technological capabilities, and expertise possessed by the two institutions, accelerate solutions to medical challenges with high societal demand, and enable the widespread utilization of results both domestically and internationally, the MoU has now been revised to include “pharmaceutical research and development and related fields.”

President Makoto Gonokami said, “RIKEN is carrying out collaborations with research institutions both in Japan and abroad under our mission to connect the comprehensive power of basic science to solving societal challenges. This enhanced collaboration with the National Cancer Center Japan—a world-leading cancer research and treatment hub—will help accelerate solutions to medical challenges. Beyond general pharmaceutical research, this partnership will combine our institutions’ strengths to tackle the development of radiopharmaceuticals—increasingly vital for economic security—and the advanced analysis of clinical data using supercomputers and quantum computers, with the aim to create innovative new drugs and medical technologies. RIKEN and the National Cancer Center Japan will together take on challenges encompassing basic research, clinical development, and societal implementation to deliver truly essential treatments to patients as quickly as possible.”

President Hiroyuki Mano of the National Cancer Center Japan said, “We are signing this new comprehensive collaboration agreement in order to further develop our existing joint research projects with RIKEN. Through extensive collaboration and cooperation between our institutions, encompassing personnel and resources, we expect to make possible the development of internationally competitive pharmaceuticals and medical devices, including radiopharmaceuticals and medical quantum computers. Furthermore, this collaboration is anticipated to lead to the development of next-generation modalities of cancer therapeutics. The National Cancer Center Japan will work with RIKEN to bring new cancer treatments to the world.”

Front row, 4th and 5th from the left: National Cancer Center Japan President Hiroyuki Mano, RIKEN President Makoto Gonokami