Graduate School of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University
Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, the University of Tokyo

Global training for risk assessment of food-borne infectious diseases in animals and humans

 

 Emerging and reemerging zoonoses such as bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) and highly pathogenic avian influenza are now threatening our life. According to WHO report (2007), in the past on average one disease has been found or appeared annually. In addition, other risks due to infectious diseases including prevalence of drug-resistant bacteria and bioterrorism are growing rapidly. In order to control such diseases, we urgently need experts not only to research on subjects including pathogenicity of infectious agents, identification of infection foci, elucidation on antigenic variation mechanisms, analyses of transmission route, development of preventive and treatment methods, but also carry out risk analysis and management for infectious diseases. In Europe and America, research and educational institutions responsible for training students and scientists on risk analysis/management have been established and play an important role in disease control. For example, organizations in UK led to formulation of policy to control BSE and variant Creutzfeld-Jacob disease. However, Japan lacks such experts or training institutions so far. Since most of zoonoses are derived from wildlife, knowledge on veterinary science is essential for establishing and implementing control measures. Now, the Graduate School of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University, and the Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, the University of Tokyo, will launch this program aiming at developing human resource with expertise on risk analysis/management, and strengthening research and education systems for zoonoses, food safety, and policymaking in disease control.
 In this program, we shall select graduate students who have interested in the above-mentioned areas and are able to communicate in English, and send them to American and European universities/research institutes for study or research. We shall also send our postdoctoral students and young staff to organizations equipped with bio-safety level 4 (BSL-4) laboratories for 3 months, to develop expertise for research at prospective BSL-4 facility in Japan in future.

 

Partner Universities/Institutes

  College of Veterinary Medicine, The Ohaio State University, Columbus, USA

  EpiCentre, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand

  Centre for Infectious Diseases, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK

  School of Veterinary Medicine, Bern University, Bern, Switzerland

  The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, USA

  National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada, Winnipeg, Canada

 
Contact: Prof. Chihiro Sugimoto, Graduate School of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University
Postal Address: Kika-18, Nishi-9, Kitaku, Sapporo 001-0818, Japan
Tel: +81-11-706-5297 Fax: +81-11-706-7370
E-mail: sugimoto@czc.hokudai.ac.jp

 

2007.8.15

Outline of International Training Program for Young Scientists


 Japanese Society for the Promotion of Sciences (JSPS) will start a new scheme, JSPS International Training Program for young scientists (ITP) in October, 2007. This 5 years' program aims to encourage young Japanese scientists to have research experience abroad and to acquire global view in their study. The Graduate School of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University, and The Graduate School of Agricultural Sciences, The University of Tokyo have proposed a program entitled "Global training for risk assessment of food-borne infectious diseases in animals and humans". The aim of this program is to train young scientists with expertise in risk analysis/management of food/animal-borne infections, since we are facing increasing risks of emerging and reemerging infectious diseases derived from animals and their products.
 Candidates will be Ph. D. students, postdoctoral students and university faculties at an assistant professor class, and dispatched to partner universities for long-term (10 month), or mid-term (3 month).
 There are two different ways for the young scientists to study under this program. One is research-oriented way in which they will concentrate on their research work as long as the research theme is within a scope of this program (Category 1). Professors of the partner universities who co-supervise our young scientists will be appointed as an external examiner for their thesis. Another way is course-work-oriented in which the young scientists will take courses related to the program theme provided by the partner universities (Category 2). School fee or other fees required at school will be covered by this program.
Collaborative University/Organizations
Main partner universities (for Categories 1 and 2)
    School of Veterinary Medicine, Ohio State University (USA)
    Epicenter, Massey University (New Zealand)
    School of Veterinary Medicine University of Edinburgh (UK)

Sub-partner universities/Institutes (mainly for Category 1)
    University of Texas, Medical Branch (USA)
    National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada (Canada)
    Institute of Parasitology, University of Bern (Switzerland)
Cost covered by the program (for Japanese young scientists)
 Air tickets
 Scholarship approx. 2,500 US$/month to cover living expense
 Insurance
 School fee (being exempted according to an agreement between Hokkaido/Tokyo University and partner university)
Area covered by the program
 Public health
 Epidemiology
 Microbiology /Parasitology
 Infectious disease/Immunology
 Pathology