OUTLINE OF THE PROGRAM

ORGANIZATION

1 Scientific Advisory Committee

Scientific Advisory Committee for the Cancer Research Program was established in 1974 in accordance with the Agreement for the United States-Japan Cooperation for Cancer Research. Under the Agreement, NCI and JSPS appointed approximately ten scientists from their respective countries in appropriate disciplines to the Committee. All recommendations and reports of the Committee are submitted to the Director, NCI and the President, JSPS. The Committee has the following functions: to identify and recommend subject areas for joint activity and support scientific seminars under the program; to identify and recommend scientists and other professional personnel under the exchange of personnel program; to make recommendations regarding the inclusion of representatives from other countries in the seminars and other meetings sponsored under this program; to assess periodically the effectiveness of activities carried out under this program; and to recommend necessary changes.
Since its organization, the U.S-Japan Cooperative Cancer Research Program has operated in accordance with principles of mutuality and equality. The United States supports the participation of the US. scientists in this program and Japan supports the participation of Japanese scientists. The Committee will meet annually as Joint Committee with the meeting place alternating between the United States and Japan.

2 Implementing Agencies

The implementation and funding of the actual cooperative cancer research program is accomplished through appropriate agencies of the two countries. In the United States the implementing agency is the NCI, while in Japan, it is the JSPS. The implementing agency in each country appoints a program coordinator in each of the program areas, who is in charge of the program development and implementation in the area. In Japan JSPS established its Advisory Committee for the U.S.-Japan Cooperative Cancer Research Program in 1974 when the joint program was launched. The JSPS Committee consists of the coordinators of the program areas and other few scholars and two representatives from the Ministry of Education, Science and Culture and the Ministry of Health and Welfare, and deliberates a scientific policy of the program and planning of the implementation of the scientific activities under the program. The NCI Scientific Group is chaired by the Deputy Director, NCI and the membership is composed of the U.S. Program Coordinators.

3 Joint Staff Meeting

The U.S. and Japanese implementing agencies adopted the practice of holding joint meetings of staff members from the two countries at appropriate intervals to maintain liaison and to coordinate their activities on behalf of the program. The first joint staff meeting was held in San Francisco in October 22, 1975 on the occasion of the Second Joint Meeting of the Scientific Advisory Committee and agreed on the adaptation of procedures of implementing of the program (Appendix V), which has brought common understanding for both agencies.