Developing Research Potential in Okinawa and Beyond

The Okinawa Asia Clinical Investigation Synergy (OACIS) is a nonprofit organization in Okinawa, Japan, whose mission is to support medical and health care professionals in the development of clinical research skills.

To address Japan’s gap in clinical research education and further promote new discoveries, OACIS turned to Harvard Medical School (HMS) to design and deliver a version of its high-impact Introduction to Clinical Research Training (ICRT) program.

Created for physicians and health care workers involved in clinical research, the program brings together leading faculty and clinical research experts to instruct and guide scholars through the principles and practices of medical research.

Focused on rigorous clinical research training and development, the six-month program prepares scholars to advance the fields of medicine and health care through the discovery of novel therapies and therapeutics for diseases. Along the way, they acquire the knowledge and skills to design and implement clinical research studies, including best practices for developing research questions, testing hypotheses, interpreting research results, and communicating findings.

Through the ICRT-Japan program, HMS is committed to equipping the next generation of clinical researchers with the essential skill set they need to assume both leadership and mentorship positions in research at every stage of their careers.

Kunitoshi Iseki, MD, PhD, the founder and president of OACIS, views this training as critical to preparing clinical scholars to work in dynamic research roles in governmental organizations and private research institutions. “This foundational program has prepared participants to excel in multifaceted research roles with the training to overcome challenges that are likely to arise within the research process,” he says. “ICRT-Japan not only creates better clinicians, but also lays the foundational groundwork to create proficient clinical investigators.”

The more than 100 scholars who have graduated from the program are now utilizing their skills to advance their careers through different clinical research activities, including designing a series of research proposals, collecting data in current trial phases, and publishing their research findings in global publications.

“We are thrilled at the progress and accomplishments our graduates have achieved. Our scholars’ work and research will continue to promote new discoveries in medicine that can influence treatment strategies for years to come,” says Dr. Iseki.

Program Impact

• More than 100 health care professionals throughout Japan, Nepal, the Philippines, Korea, Indonesia, Canada, and the United States have gained essential clinical skills and medical knowledge
• Collaborative relationships and networks formed during the program have enabled program scholars to play a greater role in clinical research, study design, biostatistics, and ethics
• Program graduates are engaged in several important clinical research projects on critical topics, such as flu research, vital statistics registries, and sleep studies
• Participants have identified grant proposals and funding opportunities for future clinical studies through their expanded network of research-focused colleagues
• Program scholars are now solving challenging research problems in multidimensional medical and health care sectors throughout Japan and across the globe