[Okayama University] Professor Fumio Otsuka (Medicine) Selected for AMED's 'FY2025 Innovative Pharmaceutical Development Research Program for Emerging and Re-emerging Infectious Diseases'

Professor Fumio Otsuka of the Department of General Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, has been selected for the third additional call for proposals under the 'FY2025 Innovative Pharmaceutical Development Research Program for Emerging and Re-emerging Infectious Diseases' by the Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development (AMED). This program aims to promote foundational research for comprehensive infectious disease control, including epidemiological surveys, pathogen genome analysis, and pathological elucidation, to develop new diagnostic, therapeutic, and preventive methods. The selected research project is titled 'Longitudinal Observational Study on the Pathology and Biomarker Identification of Post-COVID-19 Condition Focusing on Inflammation and Stress Markers—Specifically Focusing on Symptom Prolongation.' From June 2026 to March 2027, Professor Otsuka's research group will integrate and analyze blood samples and clinical data from Long COVID patients who visited the 'Corona After-Care Outpatient Clinic' at Okayama University Hospital to elucidate the pathology and identify biomarkers. They also aim to determine the relationship between the severity of sequelae and prognosis, establish diagnostic algorithms, and clarify the pathology of chronic post-infection fatigue. Professor Otsuka stated, 'Long COVID has a serious impact on patients' lives due to its diverse symptoms and long duration. By integrating clinical data with the findings of basic research from our collaborators, we hope to objectively grasp the pathology, which will lead to improved diagnostic and treatment accuracy. Through this research, I want to contribute to patient support and the improvement of medical quality.'