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Academic-Industry Collaboration as a Path to Social Implementation
Shimadzu Review 82[3・4] (2026)
Abstract
This article looks at the past 8 years of research into objective markers of mental disorders, examining how academic-industry partnership has forged advancements in this field and brought the technology closer to broader acceptance and social implementation. Research into objective markers of mental disorders began in academia with the comprehensive analyses of blood-derived metabolites, and has now expanded to include psychological traits and behavioral indicators for a multi-factorial understanding of psychiatric symptoms and mental status. To translate these findings into new mental health-related clinical tests and develop services for health screening programs, efforts are now underway to automate these analytical procedures and create standardized systems of quality management. A new laboratory testing strategy is beginning to emerge thanks to a fusion of complementary expertise from academia and industry. Nevertheless, several challenges remain before this strategy can see frontline adoption, such as establishing a sustainable operational framework and broader industry acceptance. By tracing the history of this research, this article reaffirms the importance of academia-industry collaboration, and explores how emerging measurement technologies could ensure earlier access to better quality mental care.
1Department of Clinical Laboratory, Kyushu University Hospital, Fukuoka, Japan
2Clinical MS Solution Center, Diagnostics Management Department, Analytical & Measuring Instruments Division, Shimadzu Corporation, Kyoto, Japan
3Solutions Center of Excellence, Analytical & Measuring Instruments Division, Shimadzu Corporation, Kyoto, Japan
4Department of Psychiatry, Graduate School of Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
*The information contained in Shimadzu Review has not been modified since the original publication date. Please be aware that in some cases, products mentioned within the articles are no longer available.