神戸將會建立新據点使用再生ｉＰＳ網膜医療眼疾

A few days ago the Yomiuri News on-line reported the following:

ｉＰＳ用いた網膜の再生医療、神戸に新拠点

2014年09月13日 21時45分

　ｉＰＳ細胞を用いた網膜の再生医療の新拠点として、神戸市などは研究・細胞培養・病院機能を持つ総合施設の新設を計画している。

　ｉＰＳ細胞からつくった細胞移植を行った理化学研究所の高橋政代プロジェクトリーダーらが入る研究所や専用の手術室、世界最高水準の培養施設などを整備する。

　目の再生医療では今回手術が行われた加齢黄斑変性に続き、失明にいたる遺伝性疾患「網膜色素変性症」についても、高橋氏がｉＰＳ細胞による再生医療の臨床研究を計画している。新拠点に全ての研究機能と医療体制を集約することで、再生医療の実用化を目指す。

　市によると、施設は「神戸アイセンター」で、建設予定地は人工島・ポートアイランド（神戸市中央区）内。敷地約２０００平方メートルを市が買い取り、市の外郭団体が７階建てのビルを新設する。建設費は約３０億円、来年度にも着工、２０１６年度の完成を目指す。

　センター内に整備される眼科病院（３０床）は、目の病気を広く最先端治療の対象とする計画という。

(試譯文)

   Kobe was planning the establishment of a comprehensive institution that had research, cell cultivation, and hospital function, becoming a new medical base that used iPS cells for the regeneration of the retina.

   It would contain a research institute for the use of Masayo Takahashi project leaders of the Institute of Physical and Chemical Research who had performed the cell transplant built by iPS cells, and maintain an operating room for their exclusive use, together with the world's highest standard cultivation facilities etc.

   In the eyes regeneration medical field, the regeneration medical care using iPS cell operation conducted this time would be continued, Mr. Takahashi was also planning a clinical study about the hereditary disease "retinitis pigmentosa" which could result in loss of eyesight following the age-related macular degeneration. By combining all the research functions and medical organizations at a new base, the aim was the practical use in regeneration health treatment.

   According to the city, the institution would be the "Kobe eye center" and the planned construction site was inside a man-made island - Port Island at the Central district of Kobe city. The city bought a site of about 2000 square meters. A 7-story building was newly established as a city auxiliary organization. Construction costs would be about 3 billion yen, aiming at groundbreaking next year and completion in 2016 fiscal year.

   As a plan, the ophthalmological clinic (30 beds) would be maintained inside the center targeting at a wide range of eye illness with the latest medical treatment.

This is good news in the medical field in Japan.