International Center for the Evaluation of East Asian Botanicals for Cancer

描述（由申请人提供）：我们建议成立一个由哈佛医学院（美国）、香港中文大学（中国）和庆应义塾大学（日本）的研究人员领导的国际补充和替代医学研究中心（ICRC），系统地评估东亚（中国和日本）传统使用的植物药物的抗癌特性。在红十字国际委员会赠款的第一阶段，共同调查人员发展了核心能力，以确定、采购、鉴定、提取、分离和测试候选植物药物，无论是单一的还是组合的，用于与癌症生物学有关的活动。45种传统上用于治疗癌症的植物被挑选、购买、提取并分离成馏分。总共对1025个组分进行了系统测试，根据一系列生物测定，发现许多组分具有抗癌特性。然而，在对第一阶段植物药的代金券样品进行鉴定时，发现其中一些是掺假或误认的。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，用于科学评估，从基于第一阶段数据选择的20种植物提取物开始（植物学核心）；(2)创建一个高通量和组合筛选核心，以单独和组合测试植物药物在与癌症有关的生物测定中的活性（项目1和2）以及对免疫调节剂的影响（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组分（项目1、项目2和项目3）；（四）提升香港中文大学及庆应义塾大学的研究能力。重要的是，将建立一个植物学核心，在认证和系统评估之前直接从中国已知的农场获得候选植物。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。红十字国际委员会召集了一支前所未有的调查小组，他们在传统中医和日本医学、亚洲植物药物的鉴定和获取、癌症研究和临床肿瘤学方面具有专业知识，系统地应用最先进的技术评估东亚植物药物的抗癌特性。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奖励。红十字国际委员会内部教员和研究员的交换将建立一支有能力在所有三个参与国继续进行合作研究的调查骨干队伍。这些研究人员将在未来几十年帮助塑造综合医学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，我们相信，这将有助于维持和进一步发展东亚的医学传统。

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.