山形コホート研究
Yamagata Cohort Study
Molecular epidemiology research at Yamagata University Faculty of Medicine started in 1979 with diabetes screenings in the town of Funagata. Since then, it has successfully developed into a prefecture-wide cohort study across Yamagata.
Over the years, research activities have grown alongside the development of the Faculty of Medicine, supported by large-scale funding programs such as the 21st Century COE, Global COE, and special government grants.
In April 2013, the “Institute for Promotion of Medical Science Research” was established at the Faculty of Medicine. To lay the groundwork for advancing molecular epidemiology research, the university signed a technology transfer agreement with “The University of Tokyo TLO” to explore future commercialization opportunities. Additionally, the organization underwent reforms, restructuring its educational and research support facilities.
To guide the future of molecular epidemiology research and achieve greater results, the following research policies were established.
We aim to promote the pathophysiological elucidation of risk genes and identify drug targets for diseases such as cancer, stroke, acute myocardial infarction, hypertension, kidney failure, diabetes, and their interactions.
Until now, the “Takahata Study” (a molecular epidemiology study utilizing regional characteristics) and the “Yamagata Study” have been referred to by separate names. However, since their fundamental research objectives and methods are the same, we have decided to unify them under the comprehensive name “Yamagata Cohort Study,” with an expanded scope.
History of Molecular Epidemiology Research at Yamagata University
1979: Diabetes checkups begin in Funagata Town.
1990: Liver disease checkups start in Kawanishi Town.
1991: Checkups for postmenopausal women begin in Shirataka Town.
2000: Stroke prevention checkups start in Takahata Town.
2001: Stroke prevention medical checkups begin in Sagae City.
2003: Adoption of the 21st Century COE Program: "Molecular Epidemiology Research Utilizing Regional Characteristics."
2003: Establishment of the COME Center, a community-university research institute.
2004: Lifestyle disease prevention checkups begin in Takahata Town.
2008: Adoption of the Global COE Program: "Establishment of an International Education and Research Network for Molecular Epidemiology."
2010: Yamagata Molecular Epidemiology Cohort Study begins under the Global COE Program.
2010: Baseline surveys start in Yamagata City, Tendo City, and Kaminoyama City.
2011: Baseline surveys expand to Sakata City, Higashine City, and Sagae City.
2011: "Genome Cohort Research Course" opens at the Graduate School of Medical Science, Yamagata University.
2011: Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed between the Japan Multi-Institutional Collaborative Cohort (J-MICC) Study and the Yamagata Molecular Epidemiology Cohort Study.
2013: Biological samples are stored in multiple locations, including the Shizuoka area and Nagoya University's J-MICC Study Daiko Study.
2015: Baseline surveys begin in Yonezawa City.
2015: The number of collaborators in the Yamagata Study exceeds 20,000.
2016: Secondary surveys of the Yamagata Study begin.
2017: The number of collaborators in the secondary survey of the Yamagata Study exceeds 5,000.
2018: The number of collaborators in the secondary survey of the Yamagata Study exceeds 10,000.
