International Center for the Evaluation of East Asian Botanicals for Cancer

描述（由申请人提供）：我们建议成立一个国际补充和替代医学研究中心（ICRC），由来自哈佛医学院（美国）、香港中文大学（中国）和庆应义塾大学（日本）的研究人员领导，以系统地评估传统上使用的东亚（中国和日本）植物药的抗癌特性。在红十字国际委员会赠款的第一阶段，合作研究人员开发了识别、采购、鉴定、提取、破碎和测试候选植物的核心能力，包括单独和组合的癌症生物学相关活动。45种传统上用于治疗癌症的植物被选择、购买、提取并分离成馏分。总共有1025个馏分进行了系统的测试，许多被发现表现出抗癌特性的基础上，一系列的生物测定。然而，在对第一阶段植物药的凭证样品进行认证时，发现有些样品掺假或被错误鉴定。 在第二阶段，我们的目标是：（1）建立和维护一个经过认证的东亚植物提取物库，以供科学评估，首先是根据第一阶段数据选择的20种植物（植物核心）;（2）创建高通量和组合筛选核心，以单独和组合测试植物药在与癌症相关的生物测定中的活性（3）在相关的动物肿瘤模型中测试具有最佳活性的提取物和级分（项目1、2和3）;以及（4）加强香港中文大学和庆应义塾大学的研究能力。重要的是，将建立一个植物核心，在认证和系统评价之前直接从中国的已知农场获得候选植物。筛选核心将协调生物测定结果，行政核心将协调所有行政活动。 红十字国际委员会汇集了一支前所未有的研究团队，他们在传统中医和日本医学、亚洲植物药认证和收购、癌症研究和临床肿瘤学方面拥有专业知识，系统地应用最先进的技术来评估东亚植物药的抗癌特性。我们相信，这种方法将使我们的非美国合作机构能够独立申请随后的NIH奖项。红十字国际委员会内部的教师和研究员交流将建立一支调查人员队伍，能够在所有三个参与国继续开展合作研究。这些研究人员将有助于塑造未来几十年综合和全球医学研究的发展。这一国际伙伴关系的成果将有助于我们了解东亚植物药作为潜在的癌症治疗方法，并将有助于维持和进一步发展东亚医学传统。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): We propose the establishment of an International Center for Research on Complementary and Alternative Medicine (ICRC) led by investigators from the Harvard Medical School (US), The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK; China) and Keio University (Japan) to systematically evaluate traditionally used East Asian (Chinese and Japanese) botanicals for their anti-cancer properties. In Phase I of this ICRC grant, co-investigators developed the core capacity to identify, procure, authenticate, extract, fractionate and test candidate botanicals both singly and in combination for activity relating to cancer biology. 45 botanicals traditionally used to treat cancer were selected, purchased, extracted and separated into fractions. A total of 1025 fractions were systematically tested and many were found to exhibit anti-cancer properties based on a range of bioassays. However, when voucher samples of Phase I botanicals were authenticated, some were found to have been adulterated or misidentified. In Phase II, our objectives are: (1) to establish and maintain a library of authenticated East Asian botanical extracts for scientific evaluation, beginning with 20 botanicals selected based on Phase I data (Botanical Core); (2) to create a high-throughput and combinatorial Screening Core to test botanicals individually and in combination for their activity in bioassays relating to cancer (Projects 1 and 2) and effects on immune regulators (Project 3); (3) to test extracts and fractions with optimal activity in relevant animal tumor models (Projects 1, 2 and 3); and (4) to enhance research capacity at CUHK and Keio University. Importantly, a Botanical Core will be established to obtain candidate botanicals directly from known farms in China prior to authentication and systematic evaluation. The Screening Core will coordinate bioassay results and the Administrative Core will coordinate all administrative activities. This ICRC brings together an unprecedented team of investigators with expertise in traditional Chinese and Japanese medicine, authentication and acquisition of Asian botanicals, cancer research and clinical oncology to systematically apply state-of-the-art technologies to evaluate East Asian botanicals for their anticancer properties. We are confident that this approach will enable our non-US partner institutions to independently apply for subsequent NIH awards. The exchange of faculty and fellows within this ICRC will create a cadre of investigators equipped to continue their collaborative research in all three participating countries. These investigators will help shape the evolution of integrative and global medicine research in the coming decades. The results of this international partnership will contribute to our understanding of East Asian botanicals as potential cancer therapies and will, we believe, contribute to sustaining and further developing East Asian medical traditions.