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Held at Nagasaki: 26th Meeting of the Nagasaki Local Liaison Council

The 26th meeting of the Nagasaki Local Liaison Council was held on February 7, 2019, at RERF’s Nagasaki Laboratory. The gathering was attended by 14 of 21 council members, including three acting councilors, and resulted in active deliberations.

Proceedings were led by Chairperson Shigeru Kohno, President of Nagasaki University, with RERF making reports on the following six topics: Status of progress made after the previous Council meeting held in May 2017; recent study results; the Research Resource Center (RRC); the Epidemiological Study of Health Effects in Fukushima Emergency Workers; the Stakeholder Committee on Usage of RERF’s Stored Biosamples; and RERF’s future concept and strategic plans. In the talk about the future concept and strategic plans, a first-ever topic for the Council, the need was raised for an integrated scientific approach, combining natural sciences and social (human) sciences, for radiation effects research.

Council members commented on their expectations of the RRC, the need for collaboration between RERF and medical institutions in Nagasaki, and their interest in future genetic studies. However, they also expressed concerns about diminished interest in RERF among Nagasaki residents, requesting that RERF perform research with the primary goal of moving ahead together with the local communities of Nagasaki and Hiroshima, including A-bomb survivors and their children who participate in RERF studies.

Upon conclusion of the proceedings, Chairperson Kohno gave a closing address: “We hope that RERF reviews and utilizes the comments expressed at today’s meeting when determining RERF’s future direction and work operations.”