International Center for the Evaluation of East Asian Botanicals for Cancer

简介(由申请人提供)：我们建议成立国际补充及替代医学研究中心(ICRC)，由美国哈佛医学院、香港中文大学(中大；中国)及日本庆应义乌大学的研究人员领导，以有系统地评估传统东亚(中国及日本)植物的抗癌作用。在红十字委员会这笔赠款的第一阶段，联合调查员开发了核心能力，以识别、采购、鉴定、提取、分离和测试与癌症生物学有关的活动的候选植物。45种传统上用于治疗癌症的植物药被挑选、购买、提取并分离成组分。总共对1025个组分进行了系统的测试，根据一系列生物测试，发现其中许多组分具有抗癌特性。然而，在对第一阶段植物制品的凭单样本进行鉴定时，发现其中一些被掺假或被错误识别。在第二阶段，我们的目标是：(1)建立和维持一个经认证的东亚植物提取物资料库，以供科学评估之用，从根据第一阶段数据(植物核心)挑选的20种植物开始；(2)创建一个高通量和组合筛选核心，单独和组合测试植物在与癌症相关的生物检测中的活性(项目1和2)以及对免疫调节的影响(项目3)；(3)在相关动物肿瘤模型中测试具有最佳活性的提取物和部分(项目1、2和3)；以及(4)提高中大和庆应大学的研究能力。重要的是，将建立一个植物核心，在认证和系统评估之前，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化验结果，行政核心将协调所有行政活动。这个红十字委员会汇集了一支史无前例的研究团队，他们拥有中国和日本传统医药、亚洲植物药鉴定和收购、癌症研究和临床肿瘤学方面的专业知识，系统地应用最先进的技术来评估东亚植物的抗癌特性。我们相信，这一方法将使我们的非美国合作机构能够独立申请后续的NIH奖项。红十字委员会内部教员和研究员的交流将造就一支能够继续在所有三个参与国开展合作研究的调查人员队伍。这些研究人员将帮助塑造未来几十年综合和全球医学研究的演变。这一国际伙伴关系的结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，我们相信，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.