title: The first clinical trial in Tohoku University Hospital after the Great East Japan Earthquake: the heroic efforts of my friend, Professor Masashi Aoki.
abstract: The Great East Japan Earthquake of 2011 seriously jeopardized our collaborative       research with Professor Masashi Aoki (Tohoku University School of Medicine) on the development       of new therapies for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) using hepatocyte growth factor. After       the earthquake struck, Professor Aoki made a tremendous contribution to saving patients' lives       and to recovering from the disastrous situation. Thanks to his strong leadership and support       from many reliable colleagues, we could finally start new clinical trials for ALS patients. In       this article, I wish to introduce Professor Aoki's heroic efforts.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Keio University, Tokyo, Japan. hidokano@a2.keio.jp
authors.forename: Hideyuki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Okano
mesh_terms: D000690:Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000266:history; D017321:Clinical Trials, Phase I as Topic / Q000266:history*; D004190:Disasters / Q000266:history*; D055866:Earthquakes / Q000266:history*; D049674:History, 21st Century; D006785:Hospitals, University / Q000266:history; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D012066:Relief Work / Q000266:history