Stream Outline

Healthy Society makes a direct contribution to Target 1: Healthy Mind, which aims to advance cognitive and mental well-being through a multi-modal, systems-based strategy. The need for this proposal arises from the urgent and multifaceted pressures currently undermining mental health at both individual and societal levels. While biomedical and neurological perspectives remain essential, they cannot fully explain or address the broader drivers of cognitive and emotional well-being. Inequality, environmental change, cultural disruption, and sensory environments all play critical roles in shaping collective resilience. Without integrating these factors, responses to mental health challenges risk remaining fragmented and insufficient.
At the time of the original proposal, the Healthy Society Stream did not exist as a standalone category. The Healthy Mind target was initially addressed through the Healthy Mind Stream, which emphasized biological and neurological health. However, as research progressed and additional projects were launched in FY2024, it became evident that many promising solutions to mental well-being emerged from the societal perspective. Four of the five projects in this Stream were introduced during this expansion, reflecting this broadened scope.
 

 

R&D Leader

Jamila RODRIGUES（OIST, COI-NEXT Fellow）

 

PROJECTS

Life is About Timing: Health Shocks and Socioeconomic Inequality Across the Life Cycle

Examining how socioeconomic inequality shapes the timing and impact of health shocks, and how these shocks cascade through health, labor market outcomes, and fiscal systems.
PI: Yuliya KULIKOVA

Systems-Science Simulators Supporting One Health

Developing predictive simulators for fisheries and ecosystems under climate change, linking environmental sustainability with social well-being.
PI: Ulf DIECKMANN

Coastal Fishers’ Perceptions of Climate Change and Its Impact on the Future of the Fishing Industry & Fishers’ Well-Being

Investigating how climate change and ecological stress affect mental health in Okinawa’s fishing communities, which have historically embodied resilience but are now under increasing pressure.
PI: Jamila RODRIGUES

Enhancing Community Resilience: Bridging the Science-to-Practice Gap for ADHD

Translating neuroscience into practical interventions for families, schools, and communities, strengthening inclusivity and mental health support.
PI: Gail TRIPP

OIST Sonic Lab: Exploring the Impact of Acoustic Environments on Mental Well-Being

Studying how natural and cultural soundscapes shape mental well-being and developing strategies to incorporate beneficial acoustic environments into daily life.
PI: Shunichi KASAHARA

 

Partner (Academic)

Meisei University (Japan)

 

Partner (Business)

Sony Computer Science Laboratories, Inc. (Japan)