When I first arrived at the iPS Cell Research Fund Office, I was new to both iPS cell research and charitable funds management. I have been mindful of the questions and uncertainties I felt during that time and try to provide explanations that will be understood by those who contact me.

I find it extremely rewarding to talk directly with our donors. I receive feedback regularly on how they came to make their donations and their expectations and thoughts on our research. Some donors have lost someone close due to an illness and want to help reduce the number of people who will feel the same sadness, while others are former medical doctors who have high hopes for future treatments for intractable diseases. I am always humbled by such comments because they remind me that I, as a member of CiRA, am helping to turn the cutting-edge technology into real-world medical care. My work has a real impact on patients.

Since most research funds from the government have limited terms and could be unstable at times, we are grateful that, through our donors’ generous support, CiRA can promote stable research toward the medical applications of iPS cells. We will carefully make use of the donations to CiRA to advance our research on diseases and injuries for which there are still no cures or treatment options.

I was assigned to the iPS Cell Research Fund Office about a year and a half ago after working at the administrative department of the Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University. As a member of this fundraising office, I have still many things I would like to do. Until now, I have not had many opportunities to meet directly with donors due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but I hope to be involved in lectures by CiRA researchers and other events where I can report directly to our donors on the impact of their wonderful gifts to CiRA and the progress of the research they are helping to fund.

• iPS Cell Research Fund

(Translation: CiRA International Public Communications Office, Research Promoting Office)