Personalized Medicine Development Program
Japanese genetic engineering is preparing for another breakthrough in research
Three genetic data banks will play a key role in this process, collecting genetic information of local residents
TOKYO, July 15. /Correspondent of TASS Igor Belyaev/. The Japanese government intends to significantly intensify the development of national genetic engineering in order to develop medicines taking into account the individual characteristics of each person. (Judging by the text of the note, instead of "genetic engineering" should read "pharmacogenomics" – VM.)
Three genetic data banks operating in Japan and collecting genetic information of local residents will play a key role in this process. It is on the basis of these data that Japanese doctors conduct constant research, developing new individual medicines. The research of genes capable of activating cancer cells and provoking rare diseases also plays an important role.
In the coming days, a special government council, which includes representatives of various medical institutions, pharmaceutical companies and research institutes, will adopt a long-term program for the development of genetic engineering in Japan, which will start next year. The peculiarity of this method is that during treatment in the patient's body, those genes that are responsible for the disease are isolated, after which methods of treating this particular ailment are developed. Using unique genetic information, it is possible to determine how successful the use of a particular medication will be for each individual patient and what side effects may be from their use. Thanks to a full understanding of the genetic characteristics of the patient, it is possible to choose an individual and the most suitable method of treatment for him.
One of the largest genetic data banks in Japan is under the joint management of the University of Tokyo and the Riken Institute of Natural Sciences, known for its advanced developments in the field of stem cells.
The second genetic bank is managed by the efforts of six universities of the country, including the National Center for Health and Medicine. The third is under the control of Tohoku University.
Together, they have already collected the genetic information of more than 400 thousand Japanese. The Japanese State Agency for Medical Research and Development will support these data banks in standardizing the collected information and creating a program for its use. This is one of the priority projects of the Japanese authorities in the field of development of national medicine and preservation of the health of the nation.
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15.07.2015