Ambassadors and Councillors, like all GHI members, do not represent their employers.
Membership is individual and contributions to GHI are based on the scientific conscience of the members.

Ambassador’s

Prof. Jun Nishihira, MD, PhD
Professor, Department of Medical Management and Informatics
Hokkaido Information University
Ebetsu City, Hokkaido, Japan

Abdel Rahman Elamin, PhD
Japan

Ambassador’s Report

On 4 March 2016, the clinical trial system “Ebetsu Model,” which was developed by Hokkaido Information University (HIU) to evaluate safety and functionality of foods, was commended as the winner of the Innovation Net Award 2016 by the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Technology and Science of the Japanese government. The awards ceremony was held in Tokyo in the presence of government officers and top ranking scientists.

Dr. Jun Nishihira, MD, PhD, HIU professor and GHI Ambassador to Japan, established this clinical trial system in 2007, and has facilitated this system in collaboration with the Hokkaido local government, the NOASTEC Foundation and the Hokkaido Food Complex. At present, the system consists of more than 6,000 volunteers who actively participate in the clinical trial system for food safety and efficacy. Test foods are mostly agricultural, and marine products are prepared by local food suppliers in Hokkaido. The aim of the clinical trial is to collect clinical data about the safety and functionality of foods successfully used for healthcare of local people and that promotes a healthy lifestyle for communities.

To commemorate this prize, the forum “Global Healthcare Based on Food and Information” was held on 10 March 2016 in Sapporo, Japan. This forum was jointly organized by HIU and the Global Harmonization Initiative (GHI), and was moderated by the GHI Ambassador to Japan, Dr. Jun Nishihira. More than 120 scientists, public officers and people interested in food science participated in this forum. After the forum, the award reception was held in the presence of the Mayor of Ebetsu City, public officials of the Hokkaido local governments, staff of the Noastec Foundation, and other dignitaries.

GHI Ambassador to Japan Dr. Jun Nishihira receives the Innovation Net Award on behalf of Hokkaido Information University at the 4 March awards ceremony in Tokyo.

The bureau director of Japan’s Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Technology and Science (left) poses with Dr. Nishihira, who holds the Innovation Net Award plaque.

Dr. Nishihira displays the testimonial for the Innovation Net Award 2016.

Dr. Nishihira displays his GHI Ambassador certificate at the HIU-GHI co-sponsored Forum on Global Healthcare Based on Food and Information held 10 March 2016 in Sapporo, Japan.
The 8th Teikyo University Research Exchange Symposium(Abdel Rahman Elamin, PHD)

Activities and Presentations

Dr. Jun Nishihira

Conference: Forum on Global Healthcare Based on Food and Information | 10 March 2016 | Sapporo, Japan
Organizers:Hokkaido Information University and the Global Harmonization Initiative (Moderator: Dr. Jun Nishihira)

Downloads

 Presentation: Development of a Total Health Care System Based on Research of Food Safety and Functionality/Ebetsu Model (Nishihira)
 Japanese translation of above presentation

Abdel Rahman Elamin, PHD

• Mechanisms of Aflatoxin and Ochratoxin Contamination of Medicinal Herbs
Date: 17–20 November 2025
Event: The 7th International Conference of Mycotoxicology and Food Security
(ICM 2025)
Location: Hangzhou, China

• Mechanism of Mycotoxin Contamination of Medicinal Herbs
Date: 21–22 August 2025
Event: The 7th IUMS Outreach Program 2025
Location: Universitas Gadjah Mada, Indonesia

• Evaluation of the Susceptibility of Artificially Inoculated Ziziphus jujuba var.
spinosa Seeds to Aflatoxin Contamination
Date: 26–27 August 2024
Event: 50th Anniversary International Symposium & 91st Annual Meeting of the
Japanese Society of Mycotoxicology
Location: Utsunomiya, Japan

• Keratitis-derived Fusarium solani Strains Produce Cyclosporin In Vitro (Poster,
Japanese)
Date: 8–10 February 2024
Event: Japan Cornea Conference 2024 (角膜カンファランス 2024)
Location: Fujita Health University, Haneda, Japan

Publications
1. Publications Related to Food Safety, Mycotoxins, and Applied Mycology
• Inflammatory Pathology and Mechanisms of Filamentous Fungal Infection in
Breast Implants: A Commentary
Pathogens, 2026, 15, 362.
• Acetaminophen and Neurodevelopmental Risk: A Commentary on
Confounding, Causality, and Methodological Approaches
Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine, 2026, 32, 6–10.
• Mechanism of Mycotoxin Contamination of Medicinal Herbs
Toxins, 2025, 17, 139.
• Susceptibility and Mechanism of Aflatoxin Contamination of Ziziphus jujuba var.
spinosa
Toxins, 2025, 17, 113.
• Evaluation of the Susceptibility of Lotus Seeds (Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn.) to
Aspergillus flavus Infection and Aflatoxin Contamination**
Toxins, 2024, 16, 29.