JFY2016 Awardees
Up to Yen 5 million ($45,000)/year for up to 3 years
Project
Research on thedescription andinterpretation ofevidence in thepolicy making
process

A Pioneering ELSI
approach thatpromotes
advanced
biosciences

Academic
research on the
expanded use ofregenerative
medicine fromPI
Yuya KAJIKAWA
Associate Prof.
School ofEnvironment andSociety, Tokyo
Institute ofTechnology

Synopsis
In order to efficiently and effectively promote R&D that brings innovations in technology,
policy making based on objective evidence is indispensable. Compared with technology
such as data analysis or computer simulations that “create” evidence, technology andsystems that “utilize” evidence are insufficient. As a result, evidence is not adequatelyreflected in policy making and assessment.

Jusaku MINARI
Assistant Prof.
Graduate Schoolof Medicine,
Osaka University

While expectations for technological innovation and its practical applications in the fieldof advanced biosciences have grown, issues concerning its dual-use and ethical, legal, andsocial implications (ELSI) have been raised. Viewing the advanced biosciences in terms ofa simple good versus evil dichotomy, disorganized regulatory control over systems andexcessive precautions brought on by guidelines of widely varying interpretation hamper
R&D’s progress towards innovation.

Yoshimi YASHIRO
Program-specificAssociate Prof.
Uehiro Research
Division for iPS

Collaborators
School of Environment and Society, Tokyo
Institute of Technology
Policy Alternative Research Institute, theUniversity of Tokyo

This project features policies on technological innovation especially energy technology andanalyzes kinds of evidence and the processes by which such evidence is collected, made,utilized and passed on. In addition, by systematically studying research on the theory ofdecision-making and its evidence in an organization, we aim to build a framework forenhancing the effects of policy through the use of evidence.

Building on the “proactionary” principle (which values freedom of innovation) whileheeding social considerations, objectivity and transparency; this project broaches
personal genome research, genome-editing technologies and synthetic biology in searchof a bioethical framework that reflects the values of Japanese society and proposes a
combined model of ethics for open innovation and policy formation.
In Japan, in order to adjust to the aging society and reduce the medical care cost,promoting researches on regenerative medicine such as stem cells, iPS cells, andbiomaterials is being stressed. However, it has been pointed out that the high expense ofputting it into practice and making it widely available may be obstacles. To advance R&D
on regenerative medicine efficiently and effectively so that the fruits of it can be shared

Osaka University
Kyoto University
Tohoku University Hospital
Kyoto University of Art & Design
Hokkaido University
Hirosaki University
Hitotsubashi University
National Defense Medical CollegeCenter for iPS Cell Research andApplication, Kyoko University
Faculty of Medicine, Osaka University
Faculty of Medicine, Faculty of Global
Science Studies, Yamaguchi University

the cost
perspective

Cell Ethics, Centerfor iPS Cell
Research andApplication, Kyoto
Universitywith people, it is essential to accumulate and analyze the detailed data on its cost
structure.
By analyzing case studies of products and technologies of regenerative medicine that arebecoming practically available and carrying out a survey of the stakeholders, this project
collects data about putting regenerative medicine into practical use and information
about its expenses, performs cost performance analyses on R&D and treatments. This
project aims to advance sustainable R&D on the basis of the current financial situation of
medical insurance, build an informational base for providing medical treatments anddevise an evaluation model.

Faculty of Letters, Kyoto University
Faculty of Arts and Literature, SeijoUniversity
Supported by: The Japanese Society for
Regenerative Medicine, Japan Tissue
Engineering Co., Ltd. and others