The Protein Engineering Research Institute (PERI) is a consortium of the Japanese government's Key Technology Program and 14 industrial companies, whose object is to design and engineer active proteins. PERI is a joint-stock corporation funded by The Japanese Key Technology Center (Japan Key-TEC) and the participating companies. Japan Key-TEC was founded in October of 1985 as a center for the comprehensive promotion of privatesector research and development of fundamental technologies. Some background facts about the Institute are presented in the box.
Steps Leading to the Formation of PER1
Protein engineering is based on the integration of multidisciplinary technologies such as structural analysis, molecular dynamics, molecular biology, computer technology, and so on. The close cooperation between experts in various fields and the research management of the project is indispensable. In Japan, research in protein engineering has taken place only sporadically in the academic sector. Because further progress in protein engineering requires the integration of diverse technologies, major financial support, and facilities and human resources for its practical application, a basic research project for protein engineering has been felt to be necessary and one that would involve the cooperation of industry, government and the academic sector. A plan to make the protein engineering concept one of the first-year projects of Japan Key-TEC was conceived by the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI) and a few private companies. After refining the plan, PERI was founded in April 1986.
Following its inception, the head office was located in Tokyo, and six laboratory annexes have been created at the institutes of contributing companies. Research work has been initiated by researchers brought in from industrial companies or invited from universities. At the same time, basic