Medical Research Institute Overview

Working with Kyoto University for the advancement of medicine

It was founded in 1925.Tazuke Kofukai(Tadzuke Kofukai)Medical Research Institute(University Research Institute)has contributed to the advancement of medicine through both clinical research and basic research based on medical care at Kitano Hospital. The results of this research are now being applied to cutting-edge medical treatments, such as spinal cord regeneration and eardrum regeneration. These research efforts have been supported for many years by close personnel exchanges with Kyoto University and collaboration in a wide range of fields. Going forward, each and every staff member will continue to contribute to the advancement of medicine, not only as a medical professional, but also without forgetting to consider the perspective of a scientist.

Our institute consists of eight research departments, the Kitano Cadet Center, and the Management and Planning Office. The greatest strength of our institute is that we are affiliated with Kitano Hospital, which boasts one of the best staffing levels in Osaka. We have close ties with each department and division at Kitano Hospital, and a large number of clinical studies are being conducted based on an extremely large number of clinical cases.

In terms of basic research, animal experiments and genetic research are conducted day and night, primarily in the new research wing, in order to verify and develop new ideas and hypotheses derived from clinical experience. Professor Emeritus Takeshi Watanabe of Kyushu University has been appointed as a special research advisor, and we are also committed to nurturing young researchers. We are also fully equipped with the equipment essential for research, such as real-time PCR, flow cytometers, Bioplex, confocal microscopes, and virtual slide devices.

Medical Research Institute

Since fiscal year 2016, our institute has been reorganizing its organizational structure and building a support system that allows researchers to devote themselves to their research. The Medical Research Institute is responsible for the following tasks:

1. Clinical study design, support for statistical protocol creation, monitoring and auditing of clinical studies
2. Research data management, allocation work, etc.
3. Supervision and work control of research assistants who assist researchers in their research
4. Coordination of clinical research
5. General research and administrative work related to public research funds, planning and research related to the research institute, and reporting fraud
6. Kitano Cadet

Research support for the Institute

1. Establishment of a support system for the new research institute
   Young researchers aiming to conduct basic research can receive guidance on specific methods for conducting their research from Special Research Advisor Takeshi Watanabe.In addition, research assistants are actively involved in supporting researchers who conduct research in between their busy clinical work.Furthermore, a full-time research institute manager is in charge of maintaining the environment in the new research wing.
2. Support system for obtaining scientific research grants
   In fiscal year 2015, our institute's staff served as representatives for 14 Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research projects. We also have two joint research projects with other universities. A dedicated administrative staff member supports administrative tasks such as application and management.
3. Kita Research Grants, etc.
   We provide research funding support to approximately three outstanding research projects once a year. We also award an annual Outstanding Paper Award, provide assistance with paper submissions, and subsidize travel expenses for overseas conference presentations.
4. Support for research planning and statistical analysis
   Research advisor Toshiro Katayama provides consultations regarding research design and statistical analysis at the Medical Research Support Center's Quality Control Office.
5. Establishment of an ultra-low temperature specimen storage system
   We have a system in operation that centrally manages valuable clinical specimens in the laboratory's ultra-low temperature freezer. It can also be linked to databases such as electronic medical records. In the future, we would like to begin considering ultra-low temperature storage of tissues and other materials.
6. Building a clinical research database
   By integrating and sharing the various clinical research data generated by each research department, we hope to support the creation of clinical research from new perspectives.

For the advancement of medicine, we take a strict stance against research misconduct.

The Institute recognizes that "misconduct in research activities goes against the very essence of science, which is the pursuit of truth and the creation of new knowledge; it undermines people's trust in science, hinders its development, and is a desecration that cannot be tolerated," and has established the following regulations and will take a strict stance against such misconduct.

Promoting fair research activities

• Regulations for the Promotion of Fair Research Activities at the Tatsuki Kofukai Medical Research Institute, a Public Interest Incorporated Foundation (Revised October 10, 2024)
• Guidelines for the Investigation of Research Misconduct at the Tatsuki Kofukai Medical Research Institute (revised October 10, 2024)

Appropriate management of public research funds

• Tazuke Kofukai Medical Research Institute, Public Interest Incorporated Foundation, Public Research Fund Handling Regulations (Revised December 12, 2024)
• Tatsuki Kofukai Medical Research Institute Public Interest Foundation Public Research Fund Fraud Prevention Plan (Revised December 12, 2024)
• Code of Conduct for the Use of Public Research Funds at the Tatsuki Kofukai Medical Research Institute (Revised October 1, 2022)
• Guidelines for the investigation of the misuse of public research funds at the Tatsuki Kofukai Medical Research Institute (revised December 12, 2024)

Consultation and reporting desk regarding public research funds, etc.

Request for support for research activities for the advancement of medicine