Nagai Yoshiyuki
RIKEN Center of Research Network for Infectious Diseases (CRNID) , Jimbocho 101 Bldg. 8th fl., 101 Kandajimbo-cho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 101-0051, Japan.
Trop Med Health. 2014 Jun;42(2 Suppl):43-6. doi: 10.2149/tmh.2014-S06.
Since infectious diseases heed no national borders, international research collaboration across borders must be enhanced. The Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) of Japan launched the J-GRID program in the fiscal year (FY) 2005, which consists of the two elements; (1) the construction of collaboration centers in Asian and African countries on a reciprocal basis between a Japanese university/institution and an overseas partner university/institution and (2) the networking of those collaboration centers and setting up its headquarters at RIKEN. J-GRID initiated with 5 collaboration centers in 3 Asian countries has expanded to include 13 centers in 8 countries (6 in Asia and 2 in Africa). The aims of J-GRID include conducting high quality research on infectious diseases of regional and global importance, advancing relevant technologies and developing human resources in the field. In this way, J-GRID is expected to contribute to the public health of the host countries, Japan and the rest of the world. After the completion of the first start-up phase, Term I (2005-2009), J-GRID has stepped up its activity for the second step-up phase, Term II (2010-2014). While the first term was just like an incubation period, the second term should be the exponential growth phase, maximizing its research activities. Indeed, J-GRID is now generating remarkable research outcomes with an increasing number of publications. The mid-term evaluation made by the MEXT in FY2012 commended J-GRID as an ideal model to demonstrate Japan's leadership, in science and technology, and strongly recommended its extension in years to come after Term II terminates in FY 2014.
由于传染病无国界，必须加强跨境国际研究合作。日本文部科学省于2005财年启动了J-GRID计划，该计划包括两个要素：（1）在日本大学/机构与海外合作大学/机构之间在亚洲和非洲国家相互建设合作中心；（2）将这些合作中心联网并在理化学研究所设立总部。J-GRID最初在3个亚洲国家设立了5个合作中心，现已扩展到8个国家的13个中心（亚洲6个，非洲2个）。J-GRID的目标包括对具有区域和全球重要性的传染病进行高质量研究、推进相关技术以及培养该领域的人力资源。通过这种方式，J-GRID有望为东道国、日本和世界其他地区的公共卫生做出贡献。在完成第一启动阶段（第一期，2005 - 2009年）后，J-GRID已进入第二加速阶段（第二期，2010 - 2014年）并加大了活动力度。第一期就如同一个孵化期，而第二期应是指数增长阶段，将其研究活动最大化。事实上，J-GRID目前正在产生显著的研究成果，发表的论文数量也在不断增加。文部科学省在2012财年进行的中期评估称赞J-GRID是展示日本在科学技术方面领导力的理想典范，并强烈建议在2014财年第二期结束后的未来几年继续扩展该计划。
