[Philosophy regarding Research]

Although our hospital is small, we receive many patients with intractable diseases. Through making use of this characteristic, we aim to master methods for engaging in research that can be useful in patients' everyday lives by various professions.
There are very few hospitals that are able to collect enough cases of patients with intractable diseases to allow for statistical investigations. Within Japan, our hospital is extremely rare in that we receive large numbers of patients with intractable diseases, centering on neuromuscular disease patients. The progression of such diseases tends to be slow, so we are able to diligently clinical diagnostic data. Thus, our hospital seems to truly be a gold mine for various types of clinical data that can serve as research materials. Furthermore, serving patients who have intractable diseases requires one to grow in terms of one's philosophy of life. Therefore, through performing research at the Division of Clinical Research, one naturally cultivates a mindset that has a robust philosophy of life at its core.
It seems that dedicating oneself to research activities in such an environment during one’s life—even if it is just for a few years—can feed one’s spirit and bring richness to one’s life going forward. We provide guidance to a wide range of people regardless of their occupation on topics such as preparing papers in English. These people include persons who wish to experience the abovementioned research, persons who have gathered data but lack the time to compile it, persons whose term at graduate school will soon be ending, and persons who would like to come face-to-face with the meaning of "living".
We place great importance on people who have a desire to engage in research, even for a short period of time. If you think you might be interested in the above, we would love to hear from you.

[Organizational Details]

Neuromuscular Treatment Research Laboratory

This laboratory carries out the elucidation of the pathophysiology of neuromuscular disease patients, multi-center joint clinical research, and research on topics such as improving the quality of life of patients through cooperation among staff members of multiple disciplines.
Furthermore, in joint basic research with Nagoya University, the laboratory has been shedding light on the relationship between neuromuscular disease genotype and clinical pathology features, and has been carrying out research on new communication tools for neuromuscular disease patients that make use of the electric potential of limbs.

Neuropathology Research Laboratory

This laboratory carries out pathological studies on neuromuscular disease conditions based on performing dissections of deceased patients. It regularly participates in joint conferences with the Aichi Medical University Institute for the Medical Science of Aging, Oyamada Memorial Spa Hospital, and Yokkaichi Municipal Hospital. Furthermore, it contributes to the improvement of diagnostic abilities and elucidation of pathological conditions through diagnoses during inpatient treatment (clinical diagnoses) and diagnoses based on dissections (pathological diagnoses).

Respiratory Disorders Treatment Research Laboratory

This laboratory carries out research on topics such as the treatment of respiratory diseases accompanied by severe motor and intellectual disabilities, the management of the approximately 100 artificial ventilators that are in use at the hospital, pulmonary rehabilitation, and respiratory disease nursing care.

[Activities]

○Survey research on SMON

Our hospital is active as a base for the research project on the rare/intractable disease policy of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare of Japan (SMON). In regard to this research, President Satoshi Kuru is serving as the principle investigator and Vice President Makoto Minamiyama is serving as a co-investigator.
Information on this research is available via the banner of the SMON Research Group on our hospital’s website.

○Clinical research currently underway

Our hospital is currently participating in joint research, mainly with neuromuscular disease-related hospitals of the National Hospital Organization.
President Satoshi Kuru is serving as a co-investigator of three muscular dystrophy research teams: the Komaki team, Takahashi team, and Matsumura team. Furthermore, our hospital has made contributions in relation to researching muscle imaging, creating diagnostic algorithms regarding limb-girdle muscular dystrophy, developing muscle mass measurement methods, and performing clinical trials regarding TAS-205 of Taiho Pharmaceutical. In addition, our hospital is active as a member of a committee for preparing guidelines on the medical examination and treatment of myotonic dystrophy and Duchenne muscular dystrophy, and plays a key role in the field of muscular dystrophy research.

○Gait treatment with cyborg-type robot HAL

In 2017, we introduced the cyborg-type robot Hybrid Assistive Limb (HAL) for neuromuscular disease patients with the objective of improving their walking function. Although this robot is currently being applied to eight types of diseases, including muscular dystrophy, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and inclusion body myositis, using it to improve walking function in relation to other neuromuscular diseases is being considered.

○Academic society activities

Each year, our hospital gives numerous presentations at multi-disciplinary conferences centering on those of the Japanese Society of Clinical Myology and the Japanese Society of National Medical Services.

[Education]

○Suzuka Hospital Summer Season Myopathy Seminar

This seminar on muscular diseases is held for young doctors each year. Lectures are given on topics such as clinical condition, pathology, and treatment, and facility tours are carried out. Since our hospital is one that specializes in muscular diseases, doctors from the Tokai and Hokuriku regions often participate in this seminar.

○Other

In the hope of providing people with skills that are useful for society regardless of their occupation, our hospital diligently provides guidance on topics ranging from "planning research" to "preparing application forms". Our other activities in this regard include providing education to undergraduate and postgraduate doctors, implementing in-house training for hospital staff members, and giving lectures to persons outside of the hospital.