6th Five Year Report
Preface

In the early 1960's, President Lyndon B. Johnson and Prime Minister Eisaku Sato suggested that a joint effort be initiated between the United States and Japan to develop a health program to aid the people of Southeast Asia. Under the leadership of Dr. Colin MacLeod, Science Advisor to the President, a team of distinguished U.S. scientists was assembled and met in 1964 with its Japanese counterparts at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Tokyo. This Joint Delegation defined the mission of what was to be the U.S.-Japan Cooperative Medical Science Program (USJCMSP). With the advice of panels of experts from both countries, five categories of illness were judged to be of great importance: cholera, tuberculosis, leprosy, parasitic diseases, and viral diseases. Symposia were organized and convened that provided new insights on the research being done. The knowledge derived from such meetings enabled the Joint Delegation to devise and implement a broad and comprehensive Health Science Program. Although members of the Joint Delegation met annually to evaluate the progress made in research on these infectious diseases, smaller joint subcommittee meetings also were held annually to collate pertinent information for consideration by the full delegation. More critical and detailed reviews of each area of research were conducted every 5 years by panels of experts from both countries. These reviews sought to assess quality of research, evaluate the degree of progress being made, and determine whether new or additional approaches were indicated to ensure continued advancement in the field. This report describes collaborative studies conducted by leading American and Japanese scientists during the last 5 years (1990-1995) and those conducted during the entire 30- year period (1965-1995) since the inception of this joint cooperative program. It documents many of the accomplishments made by these scientists on research, prevention, and control of specific infectious diseases. These achievements would not have been possible without the inspired leadership of both delegations and the exemplary work performed by the members of the various panels of experts. Excellence in performance has been the standard for the USJCMSP. Indeed, both nations can be proud of the work accomplished. It has benefitted the people of Southeast Asia and other regions of the world. Members of the Original Delegation October 1965

Delegation Chairs

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