Director, Cancer Research Institute
Naofumi MUKAIDA, M.D., Ph.D.

　Kanazawa University Cancer Research Institute was founded as the only cancer research institute of the Ministry of Education in 1967. Cancer Research Institute started with 8 departments including clinical section, and was later expanded to 10 departments. In 1997, the former departmental structure was replaced with a super-department structure and Center for the Development of Molecular-targeted Drugs was established. Since its establishment, our institute has been producing epoch-making achievements such as the discovery of proteinases, elucidation of function of chemokines, apoptosis, and angiogenic factors, and development of novel anti-cancer drugs.
　Recently, in cancer research, more endeavors are required to translate the achievements in basic research to clinics. Thus, with the aim of overcoming unsolved clinical situations in cancer, such as metastasis and drug resistance, Cancer Research Institute was reorganized to establish 2 fundamental departments and 2 centers in 2006. In April 2010, when basic research groups moved to a new building in Kakuma Campus, we launched a novel research project, "Cell Sociology of Cancer", where we are trying to elucidate cancer stem cell and tumor microenvironment, in order to conquer metastasis and drug resistance. Concurrently, with the intention of putting forward this project, our institute has been reorganized to establish 4 programs; "Cancer and Stem Cell Research Program", "Cancer Microenvironment Research Program", "Cancer Molecular Target Exploration Program", and "Cancer Therapeutics Development Program".
　In order to fulfill Kanazawa University's aim to serve as the stronghold of intellect in East Asia, our institute implemented research collaboration program since 2008. In July 2010, our institute was authorized by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of the Japanese Government as the Joint Usage/Research Center on Metastasis and Drug Resistance and started the Joint Usage/Research Center Program in April 2011.
　In Cancer Research Institute, researchers from a variety of fields including natural science, engineering, and clinical medicine have assembled to establish a cutting-edge research locus, to prevail over metastasis and drug resistance. With the authorization as the Joint Usage/Research Center, all members in the institute are endeavoring to widen collaboration with researchers in a wide variety of fields, to establish an international center of excellence on metastasis and drug resistance and to eventually promote research for conquering these conditions.