SYSMEX CORPORATION

    
   Sysmex Corporation (HQ: Kobe, Japan; President: Hisashi Ietsugu) has decided to extend its funding) for a course offered by the Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine for another three years from 2009. The course, Assessment of Clinical Testing (Sysmex), was originally established for a five-year period starting in October 2004.
    Over the past five years, the course has been home to clinical research including joint studies conducted with the participation of a number of researchers from Kobe University and elsewhere. Through these efforts, new methods for clinical testing as well as clinical test evaluation have been developed, clarifying the values obtained in clinical tests using an evidence-based approach.
    For the extended period that continues until September 2012, more advanced research and educational activities are to be undertaken, building upon the achievements made to date, with an increase in the number of personnel and equipment improvement. In addition, it is planned to form a cluster based on the course, through a partnership that will include the Institute of Biomedical Research and Innovation, Sysmex Central Research Laboratories, and local medical institutions, to serve as a hub for clinical research, especially clinical testing, and provide novel information to Japan, other Asian countries and beyond.

    Clinical testing, through diagnosis, contributes to both the advancement of healthcare services and the development of medical science. Its value, however, has not yet been fully acknowledged and/or recognized. With this in mind and funding from Sysmex, the Assessment of Clinical Testing (Sysmex) course was established at Kobe University in October 2004, with the aim of commencing research on evidence-based assessment of clinical testing.

    This course has seen the development of new clinical testing procedures and methods of evaluating their effectiveness, which has in turn helped establish the assessment of clinical testing. Over the years, it has been home to advanced clinical research, including joint studies conducted with the participation of a number of researchers both from Kobe University and elsewhere, while playing a key role in developing medical human resources for Kobe City and Hyogo Prefecture. Furthermore, national-level investigation and research projects on autoantibody standardization and autoimmune diseases have also been undertaken.

    During the three-year extension period (until 2012), improvement in staffing and laboratory equipment is expected in order to facilitate further advanced research and education, based on the achievements made to date. It is also planned to form a cluster with the course serving as the core, through a partnership that will include the Institute of Biomedical Research and Innovation, Sysmex Central Research Laboratories, and local medical institutions. This will serve as a hub for clinical research with an emphasis on clinical testing, and provide new information to Japan, other Asian countries and beyond.
     In summary, the plan is to take the course to a new stage building upon the results from the past five years, so that it can serve as a platform for a wider spectrum of research and educational activities.
    In agreement with the objectives described above, Sysmex Corporation has decided to provide its full support for research activities related to the course up to 2012. Sysmex is committed to continuing its contributions to medical advancement through support for local universities and other community contributions.