It is our distinct honor and pleasure to submit the United States-Japan Cooperative Cancer Research Program Progress Report for 1978 to the Director of the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and the President of the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS). The first and second reports covered the years 1974 to 1975 and 1976 to 1977. Together, these reports present the significant progress that has been made since the initial Agreement was signed on May 14, 1974, and bring us into the fifth and final year of the initial Agreement. The purposes of the initial Agreement were threefold: (1) to sponsor scientific seminars to exchange information; (2) to support the exchange of scientists; and (3) to exchange materials and information to facilitate research of common interest. We believe these purposes to be more valid now than when they were conceived. They are all directed toward communication among scientists of different cultural backgrounds and wide geographic separation. Yet these purposes share a common bond in their fight against a dread disease shared by both countries. It is ironic that as the world "grows smaller" communication seems to be more difficult. However, communication is the heart of common problem solving among people of a single country, let alone two or more countries. We believe that great progress has been made during the past five years of the U.S.-Japan Joint Agreement in Cancer Research. Although the numbers of seminars, meetings, scientific workshops, scientist exchanges, and material exchanges speak well for the progress of the Program, they do not tell the whole story. What is not adequately conveyed in the numbers, or in the scientific progress, is the deep feeling of mutual respect among individuals from both countries that has evolved during the past five years. In sharing science, we also shared cultures and individual feelings. We made lasting friendships. In so doing, we not only contributed to science but, we believe, we also contributed to world peace. A world free of cancer should also be a world at peace.
The conclusion of the first phase of the initial formal Agreement provides us with five years upon which to reflect and learn in anticipation of a renewed agreement. We should strive to make future years even more productive. The next year will provide an opportunity to strengthen our combined efforts based on changing emphasis in the field of cancer research. Emphasis has shifted toward epidemiology and prevention, chemicals and their contribution to environmental carcinogenesis, nutrition and its role in cancer prevention, and combined modality treatment for some of the more common types of cancer afflicting all peoples. This change in emphasis reflects the fact that the ultimate control of cancer lies either in its reduced incidence through prevention or in its reduced mortality through effective treatment. In the coming years, some streamlining of our current program areas may be desirable. This does not necessarily imply less emphasis in any area, but rather a heightened emphasis in some areas. At certain critical points in time, change is healthy. It reflects progress. We must strive to maintain our strengths of the past while at the same time improving our ability to have an even more productive Program for the future.
We would like to give special recognition to Dr. Frank J. Rauscher, Jr., former Director, National Cancer Institute, for his involvement in the initiation and the enthusiastic support of the Program.
Dr. Gregory T. O'Conor, Director, Division of Cancer Cause and Prevention, National Cancer Institute (NCI), was instrumental in initiating this Program. We gratefully express our appreciation to Dr. O'Conor for the interest and moral support he has provided during his tenure as the Associate Director for International Affairs, NCI.
We gratefully acknowledge Mr. Genkichi Hara and Mr. Kichimasa Soda for enthusiastic support of the Program during their tenures as Head of the Science Department, Japan Society for the Promotion of Science.
Since 1974, Dr. Arthur C. Upton has played an important role in the Program as the United States Program Coordinator for Chemical Carcinogenesis. We would like to extend our warmest congratulations to Dr. Upton upon his appointment as the Director of the National Cancer Institute and express our deep appreciation for his continuing support.
We especially wish to acknowledge the diligent work of the Joint NCI-JSPS Scientific Group and each of the Program Area Coordinators.
We are also very grateful for the special efforts and the endeavors of Mr. Nagahide Onozawa, Mr. Iwao Abe, Mrs. JoAnne W. Day, Mrs. Yuko K. Furukawa, and Dr. Robert R. Omata.
Guy R. Newell. M.D.
Haruo Sugano. M.D.
Co-Chairmen, U.S.-Japan Cooperative
Cancer Research Agreement
