ネコ治療薬研究に多額の寄付　加藤官房長官「着実な進展期待」

　東大大学院の宮崎徹教授が取り組むネコの腎臓病治療薬の研究が愛猫家らの注目を集め、全国から研究費として多額の寄付が集まっている。研究の対象は、ネコの腎臓の働きを改善し、寿命を大きく延ばす可能性があるタンパク質製剤の開発で、宮崎教授は１６日、「皆さまのご温情に心から感謝申し上げている」とするメッセージを東大の公式サイトを通じて公表した。
　宮崎教授の研究は同日の加藤勝信官房長官の定例記者会見でも取り上げられた。加藤氏は「大学における研究に対し、その趣旨に賛同して短期間で多額の寄付が集まったことは大変喜ばしい」と表明。「今回の研究が着実に進展することを期待するとともに、引き続き寄付文化が広がるよう取り組みを進めていきたい」と語った。（2021/07/16-18:32）

High-profile research by a Japanese professor to develop a remedy for kidney disease in cats has been attracting huge donations from around Japan.
   "I sincerely thank everyone who has offered generous support" for the research, Toru Miyazaki, professor at the University of Tokyo's Graduate School of Medicine, said in a message released through the university's website Friday.
   Miyazaki is working to develop a medicine based on a protein that could improve the function of cats' kidneys and greatly extend their life spans. Cats tend to develop kidney disease when they become old, and many with the illness die after suffering for long periods.
   Miyazaki's research, which has already been drawing huge attention from cat lovers and owners, was taken up at a press conference by Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Katsunobu Kato on Friday.
   "It's very good that a university research project has attracted a large amount of donations in a short period of time," the top government spokesman said. "I hope the research (by Miyazaki) will make steady progress," Kato said, adding, "The government will make efforts to help further spread a culture in Japan in which people actively make donations."