Cancer Research Institute of Kanazawa University

　Japan is confronted with a rapidly aging society where cancer causes one in three deaths. While significant progress in cancer treatment has been made over the past several decades, curative treatments remains elusive for many types of cancers due to persistent problems, such as tumor heterogeneity and drug resistance. Understandably, the society continues to place high hopes and expectations on cancer research. To meet this demand and the stern scientific challenge posed by this disease, the Kanazawa University Cancer Research Institute (KU-CRI) has assumed a central role in the field of Cancer Metastasis and Drug Resistance. To this end, the Institute strives to deepen our research by actively promoting collaborative research with researches nationwide. By leveraging our core expertise in cancer stem cells and the tumor microenvironment, we aim to uncover the underlying causes of carcinogenesis, cancer metastasis and resistance, as well as collaborative research projects related to molecular targeted treatment. In support of this high aspiration, the MEXT has re-commissioned the KU-CRI as a “leading collaborative center for cancer metastasis and drug resistance research” from 2016 for a duration of six years. To fulfil this task, the Institute hereby calls for application for research proposal to be conducted in collaboration with the faculties of KU-CRI, to utilize the biomedical resources and state-of-the-art equipment available at our Institute. In FY2021, of domestic collaborative research project, We plan to actively support Young Researchers Incentive Projects and Female Researcher Projects.

Young researcher incentive research projects
A special allocation will be made to (~30) young researchers to conduct collaborative research projects with KU-CRI faculties, as an initiative to nurture and support young researchers engaged in cancer research. A young researcher is classified as aged 39 or younger as of 1 April 2021. Young researcher incentive projects, in general, will be supported more generously than general research projects. Applications are cordially welcomed.

Interdisciplinary research projects
Since FY2017, Kanazawa University has been engaged in an interdisciplinary research initiative called the World Premier International Research Center Initiative (WPI), in which the KU-CRI has also participated. This initiative intends to study and elucidate the molecular and cellular dynamics involved in the malignant transformation of cancer, using the world’s most advanced bio scanning probe microscopy (Bio-SPM) technology and supermolecular chemical technology. In furtherance of this interdisciplinary research initiative, the KU-CRI invites applications for collaborative research projects related to Bio-SPM. For details, please visit the website for applying for Bio-SPM technology collaborative research projects.

No	Item	Domestic collaborative research project (CRP)	International CRP	Interdisciplinary CRP
1	Eligible applicant	The faculties affiliated with colleges, universities or public research institutions
2	Research period	April 1, 2025 – March 31, 2026
3	Application procedure	i. Confirm details of your CRP in advance with the Institute’s teaching staff by referring to the List of Applicable Research Topics. ii. Prepare application documents (an application for a domestic collaborative research project and a written consent). 　Forms of application documents can be downloaded from: 　- Application form iii. Submit application documents. – The application for a domestic collaborative research project should be sent via electronic mail to the addresses specified in Section 5.	Applications should be submitted jointly with the relevant teaching staff of KU-CRI. – Application form	i. Cancer research topics that are of exceptional calibre and SPM technology and other interdisciplinary research. ii. Confirm details in advance with the relevant teaching staff of KU-CRI. – Application form
4	Application deadline	No later than Fri, 31 Jan. 2025	Any time
5	Address and contact	The KU-CRI Office for Joint Usage / Research Center, Kanazawa University Kakuma-machi, Kanazawa 920-1192, Japan 　TEL: +81-76-264-6702 　E-mail: kyoten@adm.kanazawa-u.ac.jp
6	Selection	Each application will be evaluated by an expert committee that include external cancer researchers
7	Notification	i. Applicants will be notified of the outcome by Fri, 29 Mar. 2024 (subject to change) ii. Successful applicants will be appointed “Collaborative Researchers of Kanazawa University Cancer Research Institute.”	Any time	Any time
8	Number of projects to be accepted	Approx. 55 projects(Of these, Approx. 20 Young researcher incentive research projects, Approx. 10 Female Researcher Projects.)	Approx. 10 projects	Approx. 5 projects
9	Core expenses	Expenses incurred in CRPs (supplies and travel expenses) are covered by the Institute within the budget. Note: The amounts of travel allowances are determined in accordance with the Kanazawa University Personnel Travel Expense Regulations.	Travel, accommodation and research costs incurred in collaborative research conducted during visits to the Institute for several days.	Travel and accommodation expenses
10	Maximum budget	400,000 yen (300,000 yen for applications for extension)	300,000 yen	200,000 yen(100,000 yen for applications for extension)
11	Submission of report	Deadline no later than Thu, 30 April 2026. i. Use the designated form provided; ii. Instructions and other details for the completion of the report will be provided at a later date; iii. Reports will be published on the Institute’s website, etc.	–	–
12	Other requirements	i. Scientific publications containing data generated from a CRP funded by this program will include in the Acknowledgment with the following sentence: “This work was partly supported by the Extramural Collaborative Research Grant of Cancer Research Institute, Kanazawa University.” or “The research resources (facility) and technical advicces were kindly provided by the Joint Usage / Research Program of Cancer Research Institute, Kanazawa University.” and so on. A copy of the published manuscript will be submitted to the address provided in Section 5.
		ii. A project by the same Principle Investigator may continue for a maximum of three years, in principle. However, this does not apply to a project whose continuation is expected to produce major achievements.
		iii. The handling of intellectual property rights is subject to the Kanazawa University Collaborative Research Handling Regulations.
		iv. The results of each CRP must be reported through oral or poster presentations, and reported at symposia and results briefing sessions organized by the KU-CRI.	–	–

No	Item	Domestic collaborative research project (CRP)	International CRP	Interdisciplinary CRP
13	Facilities and equipment available at the Institute	(1) Resources and facilities available for collaborative research   See the Institute’s website for using research resources. i. Human Cancer Tissue Bank and Cell Resources   For details, see the Institute’s website   https://ganken.cri.kanazawa-u.ac.jp/co/human/ ii. Mouse Carcinogenesis Model Tissue Bank   For details, see the Institute’s website   https://ganken.cri.kanazawa-u.ac.jp/eng/co/mouse/ iii. Medicine Libraries 　See the Institute’s website for the types of and procedure for using medicine 　https://ganken.cri.kanazawa-u.ac.jp/eng/co/yakuzai/ iv. Other research resources and instruments available for collaborative usage/research 　 (expression vectors, antibodies, tissues, cells, genetcally modified mice, experimental mouse models, etc.) 　For details, see the Institute’s website: 　https://ganken.cri.kanazawa-u.ac.jp/co/shien/ vi. Preclinical Research Facilities (SPF mouse breeding facilities with diagnostic imaging equipment) vii. Clinical trial facilities (ward facilities available for phase I/II clinical trials) (2) Central Research Laboratory Support for using common instruments, such as cell sorter, confocal laser microscope, laser microdissection microscopy system, time lapse fluorescent microscope, pathological tissue sample preparation system		In addition to those listed in the left column, the following Bio-SPM equipment at Kanagawa University NanoLSI: i. Super-resolution AFM (FM-AFM and 3D-AFM) ii. High-speed AFM iii. Scanning ion-conductance microscope (SICM)

List of Applicable Research Topics

Other matters

“For the objectives, research topics, recent major achievements, etc. in each research field, see below:
https://ganken.cri.kanazawa-u.ac.jp/eng/about/