EDITORIAL: Promote risky research

In the summer two years ago, Shinya Yamanaka, a Kyoto University professor of stem cell biology, announced a major breakthrough. He published a remarkable report relating how he had succeeded in turning a regular skin cell of a mouse into a stem cell--a versatile cell capable of developing into any of the body's cell types--by inserting just four genes into the mouse cell.

Last autumn, Yamanaka surprised the world by demonstrating that this technique can be adapted to human cells to produce what is dubbed "induced pluripotent stem" cells, or iPS cells.

Much research is still needed before the procedure can be used for medical treatments on humans. But there is no doubt that Yamanaka has hit a home run.

It is important that Japan keep producing groundbreaking achievements. The nation needs to work hard to produce more Yamanakas.

Yamanaka's own experience offers some important clues as to what should be done.

Clearly, supporting young researchers' ambitious projects is of the utmost importance.

Tadamitsu Kishimoto, an immunologist and former president of Osaka University, was initially skeptical about Yamanaka's idea.

When he screened applications for the research funding that led to Yamanaka's mouse-cell breakthrough two years ago, Kishimoto thought it was impossible to reprogram a skin cell into a stem cell by simply inserting genes.

But Kishimoto decided to provide funding for Yamanaka's research because he was "impressed by the young researcher's enthusiasm," as he recalls.

Kishimoto admits scientific research entails an enormous amount of fruitless effort. It is often said only three out of 1,000 research projects lead to great accomplishments. Yamanaka's is undoubtedly one of these rare successes.

A project with the potential for great gain but without a good chance for success is called "high-risk research." Countries that promote scientific research as a key policy priority are well aware of the importance of such research, according to the government's white paper on science and technology.

The United States is attempting to find effective ways to identify and support these risky but potential-rich research projects. China's revision to a law concerning progress in science and technology last year calls for tolerance for high-risk research, even if it fails to produce tangible results.

Japan's new law to enhance the nation's research and development ability, which was enacted last month, also reflects this international trend.

In reality, however, there has been a growing tendency for the Japanese government to narrow down priority research areas for the allocation of state funding and demand quick results. This policy could discourage researchers from embarking on pioneering research in unknown territories or basic research that is unlikely to produce useful results any time soon.

The government must support research based on the innovative ideas of young researchers.

Also important is the development of infrastructure to underpin research. Yamanaka's achievement would have been impossible had it not been for the gene database developed by Riken, a government-backed research institute. Yamanaka used the database to identify the four genes essential for reprogramming skin cells.

The development of research infrastructure also tends to be neglected because the benefits are not always obvious.

The government has been increasing its spending on promoting science and technology despite its fiscal distress. Naturally, it must do its best to ensure that the massive outlays will lead to tangible results to meet the expectations of taxpayers.

But promoting true scientific innovation and breakthroughs requires a solid, long-term policy commitment to fostering science.

We hope the government's Council for Science and Technology Policy will demonstrate a determination to make such a commitment.

--The Asahi Shimbun, July 28(IHT/Asahi: July 29,2008)