Regenerative medicine for radiation emergencies

Hiroshima University is a ‘medical institution for tertiary radiation emergencies’ and a ‘medical support organization as a part of the International Atomic Emergency Agency Emergency Preparedness Response–Response and Assistance Network (IAEA EPR-RANET)’. To establish a system of regenerative medicine for radiation emergencies with treatment by implantation of various types of cells derived from induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells, it is necessary to establish methods of defense against and treatment for radiation-induced damage from nuclear power plant accidents and nuclear terrorism. It is also necessary to develop cell therapy, cellular repair technology and regenerative biotechnology as regenerative medicine for radiation emergencies. Such applications have not been established yet. To develop a regenerative medical system, by using the existing one, for radiation emergencies, we will attempt to manage the cell-processing center to establish a safe and secured iPS cell bank for radiation medicine. By using this iPS cell bank as the central leverage, we will develop an education program for radiation emergency medicine and construct a network of regenerative medicine for radiation emergency medicine.