Cooperative Medical Sciences Program (1965–present)

U.S. Agencies

Japan Agencies

Meeting Frequency

Context

• Established in 1965, funded by both governments, to jointly tackle health problems in Asia at the time.

Goals

• To help, in 1965, alleviate cholera, leprosy, parasitic diseases, tuberculosis, and viral diseases.
• To alleviate and address immunology, nutrition, metabolism, genes, and AIDS, among other current topics.

Significance

Premier scientists act as delegates to head the Joint Committee, which meets annually and determines the scope and direction of the program.

Not only has this program continued to sponsor international conferences and fostered scientific exchanges for years, but it has also contributed to major medicinal breakthroughs. For example, this program has resulted in new and improved vaccinations for cholera, hepatitis B viruses, and rotaviruses, as well as better treatments for leprosy, cholera, other diarrheal diseases, and filariasis.