Key Facts
The Kumamoto University Graduate School of Medical Sciences’ Center for Bioinformatics, located in Chuo Ward, Kumamoto City, is seeking operational funding to maintain and strengthen its testing capabilities. The center played a critical role during the COVID-19 pandemic, conducting 18,931 PCR tests by March 2024 as a temporary public health testing facility under contracts with Kumamoto Prefecture and Kumamoto City. However, with the pandemic’s decline, the center has lost its primary source of income from testing services.
Established in 2021, the center focuses on advancing clinical testing technologies through education and research. It currently employs ten professors from the university’s Graduate School of Medical Sciences. To prepare for future infectious disease outbreaks, the center signed a testing agreement with the prefecture in May 2024, ensuring a rapid response system remains in place.
Despite these efforts, the center faces financial challenges due to reduced eligibility for grants and subsidies. To address this, it has launched a crowdfunding campaign to raise 2.7 million yen, which will cover two years of operational costs. The funds will be allocated to research, personnel training, equipment maintenance, and the stockpiling of essential supplies.
Deputy Director Masayoshi Tazaki emphasized the importance of clinical testing, stating, “Without testing, we cannot understand the body’s condition. We also aim to develop new testing methods.” Director Masahiro Yamamoto highlighted the center’s commitment to protecting public health, saying, “We are dedicated to research and training to ensure residents can live with peace of mind.”
The crowdfunding campaign is hosted on the platform “Readyfor” and will run until May 30, 2025. Contributions will help the center sustain its operations and prepare for potential future health crises.
For more details, visit the official campaign page.
The Kumamoto University Graduate School of Medical Sciences’ Center for Bioinformatics, established in 2021 in Kumamoto City, is addressing financial challenges following the decline of COVID-19. The center, which conducted 18,931 PCR tests by March 2024 as a temporary public health testing facility, has lost its primary income source from testing services. To sustain operations, it launched a crowdfunding campaign on the platform “Readyfor,” aiming to raise 2.7 million yen by May 30, 2025. The funds will support research, personnel training, equipment maintenance, and stockpiling essential supplies.
The center, staffed by ten professors, focuses on advancing clinical testing technologies through education and research. In May 2024, it signed a testing agreement with Kumamoto Prefecture to ensure a rapid response system for future infectious disease outbreaks. However, reduced access to grants and subsidies has made maintaining operations difficult.
Deputy Director Masayoshi Tazaki emphasized the importance of clinical testing, stating, “Without testing, we cannot understand the body’s condition. We also aim to develop new testing methods.” Director Masahiro Yamamoto reiterated the center’s commitment to public health, saying, “We are dedicated to research and training to ensure residents can live with peace of mind.”
For more details, visit the official campaign page.
