{"id":6319,"date":"2026-07-24T10:40:52","date_gmt":"2026-07-24T01:40:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/icrown.jihs.go.jp\/?page_id=6319"},"modified":"2026-07-24T11:51:21","modified_gmt":"2026-07-24T02:51:21","slug":"message-2","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/icrown.jihs.go.jp\/en\/overview\/message-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Message and Background"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\n
<\/i>Message from the Project Director<\/span><\/div><\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n
<\/i>Background and Purpose<\/span><\/div><\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n
<\/i>Initiatives<\/span><\/div><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Message from the Project Director<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n

Norihiro Kokudo, MD, PhD, FACS, FRCS
Project Director of the Infectious disease Clinical Research netwOrk With National repository (iCROWN)
and President of the Japan Institute for Health Security<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

On April 1st of this year, the National Institute of Infectious Diseases and the National Center for Global Health and Medicine merged to form the Japan Institute for Health Security (JIHS). JIHS\u2019s mission is to contribute to the realization of a safe society through the implementation of surveys and research on infectious diseases and various other diseases, as well as the provision of medical care. To achieve this, it engages in collecting and analyzing infectious disease information, serving as a network hub for activities such as R&D infrastructure and clinical research, advanced medical care that can address all pathological conditions, human resource development and international collaboration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Infectious disease Clinical Research netwOrk With National repository (iCROWN) project is positioned as one of the key initiatives that enables JIHS to fulfill its role as a network hub for activities such as R&D infrastructure and clinical research. In collaboration with medical institutions and local governments, the project rapidly collects clinical information and specimens to enable Japanese government to swiftly implement evidence-based countermeasures against newly emerging infectious diseases.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Furthermore, we will utilize the accumulated data to develop a repository to support the R&D of testing methods, therapeutic drugs, vaccines, and more, while also working to establish a stable management system for the repository.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With support from national and local governments, this pioneering initiative will see Designated Medical Institutions for Infectious Diseases and other organizations collaborate and integrate the repository and clinical research functions to promote a wide range of research, from the creation of scientific knowledge to the practical application of pharmaceuticals. While there are many challenges to overcome, we are confident that by gaining the understanding of medical institutions and local governments, we can maximize each party\u2019s strengths and work together to find solutions that will lead to the establishment of a clinical research system for infectious diseases.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The advancement of this project relies on the understanding and cooperation of everyone involved, from patients who provide specimens to clinical research coordinators, clinical laboratory technicians, doctors, nurses, researchers, and other medical institution personnel, as well as the local governments that support said institutions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We sincerely appreciate your continued understanding and support.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Background and Purpose<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

During the early stages of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), the response in Japan was primarily centered around the Designated Medical Institutions for Infectious Diseases that provided inpatient care for patients with Class I and Class II infectious diseases. However, the facilities where COVID-19 patients were admitted were not necessarily those conducting clinical research, which posed challenges in conducting clinical trials. Furthermore, due to insufficient industry-government-academia collaboration for vaccine and therapeutic drug development during non-crisis periods, the
development of Japanese vaccines and therapeutic drugs took longer than in other countries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>
\n

In response to these challenges, the REpository of data and Biospecimen of INfectious Disease (REBIND) was established in FY2021 to generate scientific knowledge about infectious diseases and promote the R&D of pharmaceuticals and other treatments. It began collecting and storing specimens and clinical information and providing them to those who wished to utilize them. In FY2024, the Infectious disease Clinical Research netwOrk With National repository (iCROWN) was established as an
extension of REBIND. It established a system for conducting clinical research on infectious diseases at multiple facilities in cooperation with medical institutions, local governments, and other organizations during non-crisis periods, in preparation for when infectious disease crisis management becomes necessary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Currently, in order to quickly detect outbreaks of infectious diseases, assess their impact, and implement appropriate countermeasures, we are working to establish a system to further advance clinical research through collaboration with the Designated Medical Institutions for Specified and Class I Infectious Diseases that serve as Research-Implementing Institutions and Research-Promoting Institutions that provide academic support for conducting studies, as wel l as Quasi-Research-Implementing Institutions that support the collection of specimens and data.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Project Overview<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\u25cfEstablish a network of medical institutions (the Designated Medical Institutions for Infectious Diseases, etc.) capable of cooperatingon R&D for infectious disease drugs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25cfBuild research infrastructure that can respond quickly in the event of an infectious disease crisis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25cfProvide the specimens and clinical information collected in the iCROWN repository to pharmaceutical companies and researcherswho wish to utilize them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Initiatives<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/i>

Initiative Areas<\/h4><\/div>
\n
    \n
  • Operate a repository that promptly collects and stores specimens and clinical information and serves as a foundation for the research and development of diagnostic methods, therapeutic drugs, vaccines, and related products.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Establish a network for clinical research on infectious diseases consisting of the Designated Medical Institutions for Specified and Class I Infectious Diseases and other institutions in cooperation with local governments during non-crisis periods, and establish a system for generating scientific knowledge about infectious diseases and conducting R&D of pharmaceuticals and other medical products.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Implement education and training for the rapid initiation of clinical research in the event of an infectious disease crisis.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
    <\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    \n
    <\/i><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

    Repository<\/mark><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
    <\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

    We collect specimens and clinical information from participating medical institutions and provide
    prepared specimens, clinical information, genomic information, and pathogens to researchers and companies. The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare will be the custodian of the collected clinical information and samples.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

    \n
    <\/i><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

    Clinical research<\/mark><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
    <\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

    In order to advance clinical research on infectious diseases, we identify and address network-related challenges during non-crisis periods. We also promote clinical research across multiple institutions
    throughout the fiscal year.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

    \n
    <\/i><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

    Training and capacity building<\/mark><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
    <\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

    Many medical institutions (researchers) are involved
    in iCROWN. To respond to more advanced and
    cutting-edge clinical research, we conduct study meetings and training sessions involving government stakeholders and contribute to improving clinical
    capacity for infectious diseases in the region. We also hold institutional coordination meetings and other forums to foster cooperative relationships with government stakeholders and medical institutions.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

    \n
    <\/i><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

    Communication<\/mark><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
    <\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

    To widely disseminate
    the results obtained
    through iCROWN to not
    only researchers but also
    the general public, we
    organize symposiums
    and maintain a website.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    The iCROWN (Infectious Disease Clinical Research Network) project was launched in FY2024 as a further development of the National Repository of the Emerging and Re-emerging Infectious Disease Databank (REBIND), which was established in FY2021. Here, we introduce the background of the project.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":14,"featured_media":2817,"parent":2524,"menu_order":1,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_locale":"en_US","_original_post":"https:\/\/icrown.jihs.go.jp\/?page_id=5492","sns_share_botton_hide":"","vkExUnit_sns_title":"","_vk_print_noindex":"","sitemap_hide":"","vkExUnit_sitemap":"","_veu_custom_css":"","_exclude_from_list_pages":"","vkExUnit_childPageIndex":"","vkExUnit_pageList_ancestor":"","vkExUnit_contact_enable":"","_lightning_design_setting":{"layout":"default","section_base":"default","header_trans":"default"},"header_top_description":"","vk_page_header_image":0,"vk_page_header_image_sp":0,"vk_page_header_subtext":"","footnotes":"","vk-ltc-link":"","vk-ltc-target":"0"},"class_list":["post-6319","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","en-US"],"veu_head_title_object":{"title":"","add_site_title":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/icrown.jihs.go.jp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/6319","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/icrown.jihs.go.jp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/icrown.jihs.go.jp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/icrown.jihs.go.jp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/14"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/icrown.jihs.go.jp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6319"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/icrown.jihs.go.jp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/6319\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6348,"href":"https:\/\/icrown.jihs.go.jp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/6319\/revisions\/6348"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/icrown.jihs.go.jp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2524"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/icrown.jihs.go.jp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2817"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/icrown.jihs.go.jp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6319"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}