SiRIUS
We Are at the Frontline
of Creating Innovative
Medical Care
What is SiRIUS?
Letʼs Start Research Today
that Shapes Tomorrow
A clinician is a person who can accurately grasp issues in the field of medicine and look for practical and effective solutions. SiRIUS provides an environment in which young “physician scientists” can concentrate on their research, and supports the practical application of emerging, innovative research profiles through collaboration with the various departments of Tohoku University Hospital. Under the guidance of outstanding mentor teams, SiRIUS aims to foster top-tier physician scientists who will open up the future of Japan and create truly valuable innovations.
Top Message
I am Hideki Katagiri, the first director of SiRIUS Institute of Medical Research. The concept of SiRIUS originated from the ideas of Tohoku University President Teiji Tominaga and Tohoku University Hospital Director Hideo Harigae. Under their initiative, SiRIUS was established on the occasion of Tohoku University's accreditation as the first University for International Research Excellence by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology. In establishing SiRIUS, I would like to introduce its purpose, philosophy and dream.
The field of medicine is increasingly sophisticated and specialized, and this trend is expected to accelerate in the future due to further advances in biotechnology, medical engineering, and information science. This means that physician scientists, who have the perspective of clinicians and are well versed in clinical practice, are essential to reform and develop medicine, and their opportunities will expand in the future. They are greatly expected to play an active role, but at the same time, the increasing sophistication and specialization of medicine are making it increasingly difficult for clinical faculty staff to multitask simultaneously in medical treatment, research and teaching. The purpose of establishing SiRIUS is to solve this problem by providing young physician scientists who are strongly oriented toward research with an environment that frees them from such multitasking and allows them to concentrate on their research.
The entire system of SiRIUS has been set up to achieve this purpose. In order to identify problems and needs in the medical field and to provide feedback on the results, we always collaborate with each clinical department and focus on enabling physician scientists to conduct research based on emerging, innovative ideas in an independent environment. The experienced mentor teams provide substantial support for young researchers to improve their research capabilities so that their research profiles will be highly evaluated and will lead to acquisition of external funding for continued research development. In addition, young researchers will receive extensive support from the Clinical Research, Innovation and Education Center, Tohoku University Hospital (CRIETO) as well as assistance with intellectual property strategies, clinical trials, commercialization, and startups. They can also receive advice from the Tohoku University International Advisory Board members, including prominent overseas researchers and businesspersons. We will also create an environment where promising physician scientists in sophisticated medical specialties can gather and have free and vigorous discussions based on their knowledge, ideas, and technologies. It is my great hope that SiRIUS will become a place where novel ideas that lead to medical innovations are spontaneously generated through such discussions.
The institute is named after Sirius, the brightest first-magnitude star in the sky. We believe it is the most appropriate name for the institute, whose principal philosophy is to bring together first-class talents in their respective fields with great promise for the future, and to provide them with support and inspiration for their research capability enhancement and practical applications, so that they will become the brightest stars in their respective fields and move on to future careers. We hope that many first-class physician scientists from Japan and abroad will apply.
These are also the embodiment of Tohoku University's three principles of “Research First,” “Open Door” and “Practice Orientation.” We hope that stars like Sirius who engage in research will become leaders in many areas of clinical medicine and will shine brightly in the academic and practical spheres.
Concept of the Logo
The letter SiRIUS in the logo grows larger as it progresses to the right; this represents young researchers who, while engaging in research at SiRIUS, receive diverse support to enhance their research and application capabilities and grow and develop as top-tier researchers. The second letter of SiRIUS (“I,” which means Institute) is made into a lowercase letter (“i”), and a shining star, Sirius, was placed at the “dot” position. The light of the star Sirius is also spread to the right of the last letter, indicating a bright future that will continue to develop even after leaving SiRIUS.
We also placed the Big Dipper at the base of SiRIUS. This is because the Big Dipper has been considered a symbol of Tohoku University since its foundation. On the other hand, the Big Dipper is a star in the northern sky and Sirius is a star in the southern sky, and you may think that they should not be in the same field of view. However, you are right only if you are standing and looking at the sky. If you look up at the night sky from the ground, there are times you can see them in just such an arrangement! The logo design represents the wonder of research that can break the conventional wisdom by changing the point of view and expanding the field of vision. It is our hope that young researchers in various fields of specialization will gather at Tohoku University’s SiRIUS, where they will stimulate each other to broaden their perspectives, create new ideas, and make great discoveries and breakthroughs that will overturn conventional wisdom.