# Funding Trends in Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development (AMED): Focus on Psychiatry

## TL;DR

This paper examines funding trends in Japan's AMED agency, focusing on psychiatry and the rise of digital mental health projects.

## Contribution

The paper provides an analysis of AMED's funding trends in psychiatric research, highlighting the growth in digital mental health initiatives.

## Key findings

- AMED has seen a significant increase in projects related to medical devices in psychiatry.
- Digital mental health is a growing focus within AMED's funding priorities.
- More social implementation studies in psychiatry are expected to gain regulatory approval.

## Abstract

The Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development (AMED) was established in April 2015 as a funding agency for medical research and development. AMED has been striving to ensure the provision of state-of-the-art medical services and the advancement of a society characterized by health and longevity. Furthermore, AMED facilitates the seamless integration of research projects, spanning the spectrum from basic to applied research and practical applications. The current article presents an overview of the trends observed in awarded projects related to psychiatric disorders. Consequently, there was a considerable rise in the number of projects pertaining to medical devices, particularly within the domain of digital mental health. It is anticipated that an increased number of social implementation studies will obtain regulatory approval under the Pharmaceutical and Medical Device Act.