Nomination Guidelines

March 2012

PURPOSE AND DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIZE

The spread of infectious diseases presents a common threat to all humankind. Mindful that Africa faces this scourge most acutely, the Government of Japan established the Hideyo Noguchi Africa Prize in July 2006 in memory of Dr. Hideyo Noguchi (1876-1928) whose belief in medical advancement and self-sacrificing activities in Africa remain a beacon of inspiration to all. Guided by these ideals and mindful of the ominous human suffering persisting in Africa, the region facing the most serious health challenge on the globe, the Prize aims to honour individuals with outstanding achievements in the fields of medical research and medical services to combat infectious and other diseases in Africa, thus contributing to the health and welfare of the African people and of all humankind.

The Prize consists of two categories: Medical Research honouring individual(s) and Medical Services honouring individual(s) or organization(s)

The Prize is awarded every five years and the second award will be presented in June 2013. (The first award was presented in 2008.)

The Prize consists of a citation, a medal and an honorarium of 100 million yen (≒1.18 million dollars).

The selection process comprises two stages, namely: (a) recommendation of a maximum of three candidates by two sub-Committees, one established under the auspices of the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) and the other established under the auspices of the African Regional Office of the World Health Organization (AFRO), which are responsible for the above-mentioned two categories respectively; and (b) finalization of the candidates(s) by the Hideyo Noguchi Africa Prize Committee to be referred to the Prime Minister for final decision.

NOMINATION GUIDELINES AND REQUIREMENTS

1.  SCOPE

Medical Research

  • Basic medical research
  • Clinical medical research
  • Research in all fields of science closely related to medicine

Medical Services

  • Field-level medical/public health activities to combat diseases and advance public health

2.  ELIGIBILITY

Medical Research

  • No distinction will be made according to nationality, age or gender.
  • Nominee(s) shall be limited to people still living.
  • Nominee(s) shall be in principle one individual per one research theme. However, in the case of a joint research, a maximum of three individuals will be considered.

Medical Services

  • No distinction will be made according to nationality, age or gender.
  • Nominee(s) shall be limited to people still living. In case of organization(s), nominee(s) shall be limited to currently active organization(s).
  • Nominee(s) shall be in principle one individual or one organization per one activity. However, under exceptional circumstances where more than one individual or organization work in a team, a maximum of three individuals or organizations will be considered.

3.  NOMINATION/SELECTION CRITERIA

Medical Research

  • The research has established original and/or milestone concepts for better understanding of the pathology or the human and environmental ecology of infectious or other diseases prevalent in Africa, or has improved (1) clinical management, (2) ecological management, (3) patient therapy relevant to such diseases;
  • The research results have in practice contributed, or will contribute in the near future, to improving measures for controlling or treating infectious or other diseases prevalent in Africa.

Medical Services

  • The activity is aimed to fight against infectious or other diseases prevalent in Africa or improve public health in Africa;
  • The activity has broad/direct impact on the improvement of health and welfare of the African people, particularly the poor;
  • The activity has been carried out on-site for more than 5 years, under a defined goal and structured plan.

4.  NOMINATION INFORMATION

Please fill in the attached HIDEYO NOGUCHI AFRICA PRIZE NOMINATION FORM  following the instructions below. Please note that the evaluations of the contributions of the nominees depend heavily on the quality of information supplied in the nomination forms.  Therefore, the nomination should be accurate, detailed, current and complete. Nominator and nominee cannot be the same person.

  • Please present a brief biography including academic, administrative and research positions, awards or recognitions and identify main publications, if any.
  • Please provide a short introduction and summary of the nominee’s contribution in medical research or medical services in the context of the purposes of this Prize with a list of supporting publications or papers.
  • Please outline how and why the research/activity of the nominee has contributed to the advancement and improvement of counter-measures against infectious and other diseases prevalent in Africa.
  • Please arrange for supporting letters from colleagues familiar with the nominee’s work, if any.
  • Please prepare all documents in English.
  • Please write your nomination within about 1,000 words (excluding the list of publications).

Please note that nomination forms may be downloaded from either the Cabinet Office website or the JSPS website. (Closed)

5. SUBMISSION ADDRESS

Please mail your nomination form with attachments to the following address. Also, you might send an e-mail to the below address (in either MS Word or PDF format). However, submissions via fax are not accepted:

  • Medical Research
    Hideyo Noguchi Africa Prize Medical Research Selection Committee
    Japan Society for the Promotion of Science
    8 Ichibancho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 102-8472
    E-mail:nh-africa@jsps.go.jp
  • Medical Services
    Hideyo Noguchi Africa Prize Medical Services Selection Committee
    Regional Office for Africa, World Health Organization
    Cité du Djoué, P.O.Box 06 Brazzaville, Congo
    E-mail:noguchiprize@afro.who.int(to be accessible from mid-April, 2012)

6. DEADLINE

The nominations and supporting letters should reach each secretariat by no later than July 31st, 2012.
(The deadline is extended from July 10th 2012 to July 31st 2012. )

7. ENQUIRIES

  • Medical research nominations:
    Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS)
    Tel: +81-3-3263-1722
    E-mail:nh-africa@jsps.go.jp
  • Medical services nominations:
    Regional Office for Africa, World Health Organization
    Tel: + (47 241) 39100 / + (242) 665 65 00
    E-mail:noguchiprize@afro.who.int(to be accessible from mid-April, 2012)
  • General information about the Prize:
    Office of Hideyo Noguchi Africa Prize, Cabinet Office, Tokyo
    Tel: +81-3-5501-1742,  Fax: +81-3-3502-6255
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