In the 21st century, it is anticipated to develop novel therapeutic modalities for human disease such as diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular disease, neurodegenerative disease, and malignancy as major disease affecting humans. To realize this, it is necessary to clarify many molecules and signal transduction pathways involved in the pathogenesis of the diseases, and integrate the elucidation to innovate drug discovery that draw on these perspectives.

This program is to focus attention on developing “chemical biology of the diseases” aimed at discovery of novel drugs as well as on facilitating training of personnel that plays a major role in developing the discipline, thus putting into place a global base integrating medical and pharmaceutical sciences to promote research and education in this discipline, where medical researchers in life sciences of disease are to develop their capabilities for organic chemistry and analytical research, or conversely, pharmaceutical researchers engaged in drug discovery are to gain fundamental understanding of the pathogenesis of human diseases, so that they are able to work closely together within the same research hub and to develop research in an integral fashion.

The three Centers of Excellence (COE) of the 21st century are to account for the core of the proposal research hub, as they become progressively integrated. From an educational point of view, this global COE promotes interdisciplinary program to facilitate training of personnel that plays a major role in developing this “chemical biology of the diseases”. The program provides strong pillars of support for postgraduate students and young in-house researchers both in research and life. From a research standpoint, integrative elucidation of a wide range of diseases of interest as well as novel drug discovery is to be ensured by promoting research combining medical and pharmaceutical sciences. The entire body of findings and insights on key molecules implicated in disease accumulated at all COE is to be brought together for mutual sharing, with the research platforms developed independently at all COE being shared as “chemical biology of the diseases” to promote integrative disease and drug discovery research involving the entire personnel across disciplines under the direction of the research hub leader.