Pages 564-567 in S. Chatwood, P. Orr and Tiina Ikaheimo, eds. Proceedings of the 14th International Congress on Circumpolar Health, Yellowknife, Canada, July 11-16, 2009. Securing the IPY Legacy: from Research to Action. International Journal of Circumpolar Health 2010; 69 (Suppl 7).
Pages 564-567 in S. Chatwood, P. Orr and Tiina Ikaheimo, eds. Proceedings of the 14th International Congress on Circumpolar Health, Yellowknife, Canada, July 11-16, 2009. Securing the IPY Legacy: from Research to Action. International Journal of Circumpolar Health 2010; 69 (Suppl 7).
Objectives: In Japan, Antarctic medical researchers are treated by Antarctic doctors employed by each expedition. In spite of many medical problems, Antarctic medical researchers are rarely assigned to permanent, specific departments. To deal with these difficulties, we set up the Japan Workshop of Antarctic Medical Research and Medicine.
Method: The task of this workshop was to discuss previous medical studies and to develop a research plan for future expedition doctors. Specialists were invited to lecture on various concerns in Antarctic medicine. We invited members from Asian nations to the workshop and aimed to conduct joint research between participants and the Antarctic medical group.
Results: We started the workshop in 2004 with 23 participants from 16 institutes, universities and hospitals. The workshop in 2008 gathered 63 participants from 38 different departments and 4 Asian nations involved in Antarctic wintering operations. The resident doctors in Antarctica joined the discussion through a videoconferencing system. Both issues of human biology and problems of medical operations were discussed. Several joint areas of research were identified and some are being studied now.
Conclusions: The Antarctic medical workshop succeeded in gathering many researchers from various institutes, universities and other Asian nations. Joint research has contributed significantly to Antarctic medical studies. We will pursue further cooperation in various fields including the Arctic.