NEKKEN Bio-Resource Center (NEKKEN BRC) collects and preserves culture strains of human pathogenic protozoa. NEKKEN BRC supports research and education on pathogenic protozoa by distributing a variety of strains and microscopic specimens. NEKKEN BRC also accepts pathogenic protozoan strains from researchers for deposit.
NEKKEN Bio-Resource Center (NEKKEN BRC) was established in 2015 to take charge of National BioResource Project (NBRP) mission in Institute of Tropical Medicine (NEKKEN). NBRP constructs the framework for systematic collection, preservation, and distribution of bio-resources with a focus on those that required strategic development by the National Government. To promote life sciences it is important for researchers to share the various bio-resources necessary for pursuing researches and developments. NEKKEN has participated to NBRP services since 2002 when it was initiated by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT), and has been maintained by Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development (AMED) from 2015. In 2021, it will be under the direct control project of the MEXT again. We have been serving as Division of Protozoa in “Pathogenic Eukaryotic Microorganisms of a Core Facility Upgrading Program” under Medical Mycology Research Center (MMRC), Chiba University.
NEKKEN BRC supports the research and education on pathogenic protozoa by providing following services; (1) web-based database of pathogenic protozoa maintained in Japan, including NEKKEN BRC, with their owner and strain information (2) acceptance of pathogenic protozoa for deposit, (3) preservation of protozoan strains, (4) distribution of a variety of protozoan strains, and (5) distribution of their microscopic specimens for education in academic organizations.