Greetings

Greetings from the Director of the Institute

Research Institute Director
TAKETO(Taketo) Makoto

It was founded in 1925.Tazuke Kofukai(Tadzuke Kofukai)Research Institute(University Research Institute)has contributed to the development of medicine through both clinical and basic research. In November 2025,100th Anniversary Ceremony and CelebrationThe ceremony was held.

Since I was appointed Director of the Institute in the fall of 2018, I have continued these operations while also working to strengthen our research management system. The Institute's greatest strength is that it is affiliated with Kitano Hospital, which boasts one of the best research staff 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, genetic research and animal experiments are being conducted day and night, mainly at the New Building Research Institute.

To further develop these facilities, a new building was completed in 2021 (Reiwa 3), and the research facility (wet lab) that was in the West Building was moved to the 7th floor of the new building, consolidating the research planning office and desks and meeting space for researchers on the same floor. Further progress is being made in the maintenance of equipment essential for research and the expansion of specimen storage and clinical databases.

At the same time, after more than a year of discussions among the parties involved, the 12 research departments were reorganized into 8, with new department names reflecting the research content, and each department appointed a research director and chief researcher. At the same time, multiple management meetings have been established to ensure the smooth running of the research institute.

During this time, Kitano Hospital has been making progress in innovative research, including clinical trials and insurance coverage based on research into eardrum regeneration treatment, and the start of clinical trials for the treatment of edentulism.

Additionally, a new program called "Kitano Cadet" was launched in 2019 (Heisei 31-Reiwa 1). This three-year program recruits a small number of highly motivated young physicians each year, providing them with opportunities to gain clinical experience and an environment in which they can continue their research. It aims to cultivate outstanding medical researchers who will lead the next generation of medicine. It is implemented in collaboration with the Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, and the Institute's Kitano Cadet Center provides support for research funding and mentoring. This year, six students participated in the fifth through seventh terms, and 14 have graduated to date. They continue to work in clinical practice and research at Kitano Hospital, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University Hospital, affiliated hospitals, and other universities and hospitals.

As has been the case in the past, the university has three affiliated professors at the Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, and continues to offer programs for accepting graduate students, with plans to further enhance this program in the future.

December 2025 (Reiwa 7)

Research Institute Director
TAKETO(Taketo) Makoto