Outline
This institute is one of the largest university research institutes in the field of radiation biomedical science in Japan, besides being the only research institute in Hiroshima University. In 2002, the institute was reorganized to promote “a distinguished research on the biological effects of radiation and their applications for the treatment and prevention of health disorders induced by A-bomb and radiation”.
To be more precise, in addition to current research subjects such as epidemiological analysis of the data and specimens from A-bomb disaster victims and estimation of radiation doses of A-bomb survivors using various physical methods, the institute aims to establish a position to be “the world center of excellence in radiation injury medicine and development of effective treatments” by conducting elucidation of molecular mechanisms of radiation diseases originating from genome damage and development of new treatments, as well as research on regenerative medicine for acute radiation syndrome; ARS.
The Institute is composed of 3 major divisions; Division of Radiation Basic Science, Division of Radiation Translational Medicine, and Division of Radiation Medical Science, besides 2 affiliated institutions; Division of Radiation Information Registry and Radiation Research Center for Frontier Science. Furthermore, “Center for Radiation Disaster Medical Science“ was newly established in 2022.
Professors and associate professors of the institute are engaged in providing lectures and relevant practical works for common and specialized subjects on radiation biology/medicine, while directing graduate works.
Principles
- To establish a firm position as the world center of excellence (COE) in radiation injury medicine and development of effective treatments, being the largest university research institute in radiation effects.
- To foster personnel capable of responding to emergent social needs including radiation disasters and next generation radiation researchers or doctors reflecting research achievements to graduate education.
Objectives
- To elucidate etiological, pathological and control mechanisms for acute radiation syndromes and late radiation injuries found in victims suffering from atomic bomb or other radiation exposures, and their applications for developing advanced preventive or treatment systems.
- To elucidate pathological mechanisms of human diseases analyzing symptoms of radiation illness originated from alterations of genome and control functions that are basic principles for life.
- To establish a medical system for radiation disasters that allows to provide medical care to world nuclear victims by sharing research data gathered from all over the world, and to develop novel therapies for patients with radiation injuries including regenerative medicine as the ultimate effective method.
- To foster the next generation of researchers or health professionals in radiology offering lectures and research guidance to graduate students on the advanced research regarding mechanisms of radiation-induced diseases, while providing particular areas of curriculum such as “radiation biology” giving the distinguishing feature of Hiroshima University.