2025 Masao Horiba Awards
＜2025 Theme＞
Analysis and Measurement Technologies Contributing to Next-Generation Healthcare
Still fresh in our memories is the breakthrough in infection prevention through the expanded adoption of messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines as a global response to the new SARS-COV 19 (COVID-19) virus. Also, the gain in popularity of tests such as PCR testing and antibody testing has allowed for a simplified screening for infection. On the other hand, the inability to sufficiently supply vaccines and the challenges to develop and manufacture therapeutic drugs is apparent, thus the importance of novel testing and measurement solutions has, once again, been recognized.
In the current post-COVID era, countries all over the world have established state-of-the art dual use production facilities enabling production of biomedicines and vaccines. In these facilities during ordinary times, biomedicine products, such as cell and gene therapeutics, and antibody therapeutics that are essential for next-generation treatment, are being produced. But when a pandemic occurs, a system is prepared for rapid vaccine production. Government and commercial investment in research, development, production, and QA/QC solutions to actively advance capability and capacity is happening locally and each country is giving an all-out effort to support vaccine and biomedicine from development to production.
In today's world, analytical and measurement technologies need to support basic research, such as methods to check the safety and effectiveness of genetically modified cells and ways to confirm immune function to decide if a drug should be used. There is also a need for technologies that allow for easy and simple testing without requiring large equipment or special training, while still enabling fast and accurate diagnosis. Furthermore, applied research and production process development of the next-generation therapeutics are necessary. This includes creating evaluation methods to ensure quality from the early stages of biopharmaceutical development and establishing techniques to monitor products from cultured cells and components of the culture medium. For these efforts, it is essential to develop new methods to analyze and measure cells, biomolecules, and culture environments.
The 2025 Horiba Masao Award, in light of the above background, has chosen the main theme “Analytical and Measurement Technologies Contributing to Next-Generation Medicine” and is looking for new analytical and measurement technologies for cells and biomolecules that contribute to next generation medicine (basic research), and new analytical and measurement technologies for cells and biomolecules that contribute to biomedicine product development and production process (applied research/production process development). The awards committee welcomes applications from domestic and international researchers who willfully strive for the advancement of analytical and measurement technologies that contribute to people's health, safety, and well-being.
Research outputs that do not focus primarily on analytical and measurement technologies such as those purely on development of treatment methods, or development of new drugs, are not within the scope of the award theme.
Masayuki Adachi, Dr., Eng.
Chief of the Organizing Committee for 2025 Masao Horiba Awards
President & COO
HORIBA, Ltd.