Juntendo University's First Endowed Chair Established for the Verification of the Effect of Probiotics to Prevent Infection

In order for Yakult Honsha and its President, Sumiya Hori, to promote research concerning lactic acid bacteria and bifidobacteria, which have beneficial effects on the human body, the first ever endowed chair at Juntendo University (President Dr. Hideoki Ogawa), the “Yakult Probiotic Research Endowment Chair,” to be headed by Dr. Yuichiro Yamashiro, Professor of Medicine Juntendo University, has been established .
Through this endowment, clinical studies will be performed at the Juntendo Medical Center attached to the Juntendo University School of Medicine, as well as at other facilities, to evaluate the infection preventing mechanisms of Probiotics. Juntendo University is one of the leading institutions for medical research in Japan. In particular, with respect to clinical and basic research on the prevention of infections, the Juntendo University School of Medicine is one of the foremost places in Japan for research into infection prevention in hospitals, as is evident by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology’s establishment of its “21 Century Center of Excellence” Program (an international center of education and research into hospital infection prevention) at the university.
The significance of the establishment of a chair at this type of research organization is that a contribution can be made to development of Probiotics research in the field of medicine through the implementation of clinical research on the infection preventing effects of the chief representatives of Probiotics, L. Casei strain Shirota and B. breve strain Yakult.
In addition, looking toward the future beyond the term of the chair, we will be able to send out into the world promising medical researchers of the next generation, as well as influential opinion leaders who are knowledgeable about Probiotics.
Furthermore, our company will dispatch researchers from our own Yakult Central Institute for Microbiological Research, and through our aim to contribute to medical science via research into intestinal flora and Probiotics, Yakult will be able to demonstrate its professional attitude toward medical research, as well as show the high level of its own research activities.

A Basic Outline of the Endowment

1. Outline of the Endowment Chair

1. Location: Juntendo University Graduate School of Medicine（Hongo 2-1-1; Bunkyo-ku; Tokyo）
2. Official Name: The Yakult Probiotic Research Endowment Chair
3. Planned Coordinating Professors:
   Yuichiro Yamashiro (Professor of Pediatrics, Juntendo University School of Medicine)
   Koe Okamura (Professor of Immunity, Juntendo University School of Medicine)
   Keiichi Hiramatsu（Professor of Microbiology, Center of Excellence Program Leader）
   Satoru Nagata (Lecturer, Juntendo University School of Medicine)
   Noriko Koyama (Technical Expert, Juntendo University School of Medicine)
   
   The following are the researchers who will be dispatched from the Yakult Central Institute for Microbiological Research. (Total: 2 persons)
   
   Koji Nomoto (Yakult Honsha Chief Researcher)
   Kan Shida (Yakult Honsha Chief Researcher)
   
   
4. Established: April 1, 2005
5. Term: 4 years
6. Endowment Sum: A total of 140 million yen (35 million yen per year) over 4 years.
7. Expected Research Results:
   (1)Infection prevention in hospitals against antibiotic-resistant bacteria strains, etc.
   (2)Suppression of the onset of septicemic diseases
   (3) Potential to evaluate the effects of the administration of Probiotics on the improvement of the immune system and of the intestinal environment, etc. at a clinical testing site.

2.  The Role of Our Company

1. Participation in education at the Juntendo University Graduate School of Medicine
2. Joint implementation of research through the Endowed Chair
3. Technical cooperation, such as with the analysis of intestinal flora, etc., to be provided by the Yakult Central Institute for Microbiological Research 

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