革新的がん研究支援室

About PRIMO

About PRIMO

PRIMO is the English name for Practical Research for Innovative Cancer Control Management Office. The mission of the Innovative Cancer Research Support Office is to assist Program Supervisors (PS) and Program Officers (PO) in managing the research progress of the Innovative Cancer Medical Application Research Project, and to provide related information, PRIMO consultation and technical support schemes to promote the research topics selected in the project.

Positioning of this website

This website is hosted by the PRIMO (Office for Supporting Innovative Cancer Research) and provides related information and technical support schemes for research and development projects adopted by the AMED (Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development) for the Innovative Cancer Therapy Research Project. We will also establish and operate an integrated system for progress management to ensure that the results of this research will lead to the future. In addition, we will inform the public of the results and announcements of this research project.

Relationship with AMED

AMED ( https://www.amed.go.jp/) is an abbreviation of "Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development". PRIMO is a research and development project (PRIMO) adopted by AMED for the "Innovative Cancer Therapy Research Project for Practical Use" (AMED). PRIMO is one of the research and development projects (project name: Research to establish a consistent management scheme from elucidation of the true nature of cancer to practical application of innovative medical treatment) adopted by the AMED, and supports the progress management of more than 250 other research and development projects under this project in cooperation with the AMED.

Overview of the Practical Research for Innovative Cancer Control program

Aiming at the development of cancer research in Japan, the "10-Year Cancer Research Strategy" was formulated in March 2014 under the confirmation of the three ministers of MEXT, MHLW, and METI as a new cancer research strategy based on the "Basic Plan for the Promotion of Cancer Control". Based on this strategy, we will steadily promote specific research items, taking into consideration the "Recommendations to the Acceleration Plan for Cancer Control" (December 2015, Council for the Promotion of Cancer Control, Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare), while keeping in mind cancer research in collaboration with patients and society from the perspective of curing, preventing and living with cancer. Based on this, the Research Project for Practical Application of Innovative Cancer Treatment will develop methods for cancer prevention and early detection, develop new drugs and medical devices, develop standard treatment combining each treatment method, and develop treatment methods according to life stages. PRIMO will provide strategic support for a total of 250 R&D projects in these six research areas.

  • Domain 1: Research on the true nature of cancer
  • Domain 2: Research on cancer prevention and early detection methods
  • Domain 3: Research on the development of new drugs that treat unmet medical needs
  • Domain 4: Research on the development of new patient-friendly medical technologies
  • Domain 5: Research on the creation of new treatment standards
  • Domain 6: Focused research centered on life stages and the characteristics of cancer

The program supervisor (PS), program officers (PO), and Disease Area Coordinators (DC) for Practical Research for Innovative Cancer Control program are listed below.

Program Supervisor (PS) Tomoki Naoe
(Nagoya Medical Center)
Domain PO(Program Officer) Research Theme
Domain1 Hitoshi Nakagama
(National Cancer Center Japan)
Research on the true nature of cancer
Yoshihiro Yoneda
(Reserch Institute for Microbial Diseases)
Domain2 Tomotaka Sobue
(Osaka University/National Cancer Center Japan)
Research on cancer prevention and early detection methods
Chisato Nagata
(Gifu University)
Domain3 Atsushi Otsu
(National Cancer Center Hospital East)
Research on the development of new drugs that treat unmet medical needs
Shin-ichi Nihira
(Oncology Academic Research Forum)
Domain4 Makoto Akabori
(Icross Co., Ltd.)
Research on the development of new patient-friendly medical technologies
Yoshikazu Kagami
(Showa University)
Domain5 Takeshi Sano
(Cancer Institute Hospital of JFCR)
Research on the creation of new treatment standards
Junji Furuse
(Kanagawa Cancer Center)
Domain6 Keizo Horibe
(Nagoya Medical Center)
Focused research centered on life stages and the characteristics of cancer
(Research on childhood cancers, geriatric cancers, refractory cancers, and rare cancers)*
*Including research on adolescent and young adult (AYA) cancers
Toshiaki Saeki
(Saitama Medical University International Medical Center)
DC(Disease Area Coordinator) Tomomitsu Hotta
(National Cancer Center Japan / Nagoya Medical Center)

Logging in to the Information Page for R&D Principal Investigators

The following information is available to the primary investigators of the research and development themes that have been adopted for the Practical Research for Innovative Cancer Control program.

The following services are provided to primary investigators who have logged in.

  • The Research Progress Management System
  • Overview of the PRIMO Consultation Desk and How to Apply
  • PRIMO Technical Assistance Scheme Overview and Application Process

Introducing the Practical Research for Innovative Cancer Control Management Office (PRIMO)

The Office of Innovative Cancer Research Support was established in January, 2018 (2018) within the National Cancer Center, the principal research and development organization, as an organization independent of other National Cancer Center functions. Its main tasks are as follows.

Mission : To support the Program Supervisor (PS) and Program Officer (PO) of the Research Project for Practical Application of Innovative Cancer Therapy in managing the research progress and to support the flexible promotion of the said project.

  • Under the direction of the PS and PO, collect and organize information on the progress of each R&D project, and prepare and analyze materials necessary for various meetings, etc.
  • In collaboration with the Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development (AMED), establish and operate a system to help researchers manage the progress of their own R&D proposals.
  • Based on information on cancer research in Japan and overseas, conduct "macro-analysis" for a comprehensive overview and "micro-analysis" for investigations focusing on individual themes, and report and make recommendations to the PS and PO, as well as support the promotion of individual research subjects.
  • Provide researchers with a technical assistance scheme that mediates joint research with experts who can provide advanced technical assistance.
  • Provide consultation to researchers on intellectual property and research ethics.
  • Construction, management and operation of the PRIMO portal site, which encompasses the above functions.

About the PRIMO logo