Toyota Central R&D Labs., Inc. (TCRDL) conducts research involving human participants to advance the scientific understanding of human behavior, cognition, emotions, perceptions, comfort, fatigue, and related phenomena, thereby contributing to the development of technologies that address future societal challenges.
Such research is conducted in accordance with the Ethical Guidelines for Life Science and Medical Research Involving Human Subjects issued by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT), the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW), and the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), as well as our internal regulations. To ensure the ethical, scientific, and appropriate conduct of research involving human participants, TCRDL has established a Research Ethics Review Committee ~{*1}, which reviews research protocols prior to implementation.
TCRDL does not conduct clinical research or clinical trials, nor do we perform studies involving invasive procedures. For studies involving only minimal invasiveness, appropriate safety measures are implemented through ethical review to minimize risks while achieving the intended scientific objectives.
All researchers, engineers, Research Ethics Review Committee members, and administrative personnel involved in research involving human participants are required to complete research ethics education and training at least once each fiscal year. Through these activities, we promote respect for the rights and dignity of research participants and strengthen awareness of research ethics and regulatory compliance.
- The Research Ethics Review Committee is registered with the Research Ethics Review Committee Reporting System operated by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare.
TCRDL considers the use of animals in research only when it is scientifically indispensable for advancing the understanding of biological processes relevant to human health, welfare, and environmental conservation and restoration.
Animal experiments are conducted in accordance with the Act on Welfare and Management of Animals, other applicable laws, regulations, standards, and guidelines, as well as our internal regulations. TCRDL has established an Animal Experiment Ethics Review Committee to ensure the ethical and appropriate conduct of animal research. Our internal regulations apply not only to mammals, birds, and reptiles covered by applicable legislation, but also to fish, amphibians, and invertebrates.
The Animal Experiment Ethics Review Committee reviews research proposals based on the internationally recognized principles of the 3Rs (Replacement, Reduction, and Refinement), together with TCRDL’s additional principle of Responsibility, which together constitute our 4R framework ~{*2}.
At present, TCRDL does not maintain animal housing or research facilities for mammals, birds, or reptiles covered by applicable legislation and does not conduct experiments involving these animals on its premises.
All personnel engaged in animal research, including researchers, engineers, members of the Animal Experiment Ethics Review Committee, and administrative staff, are required to complete education and training on laboratory animal science and animal experimentation at least once each year. In addition, internal inspections are conducted annually to verify compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and institutional policies.
- TCRDL’s 4R framework
Replacement – Use scientifically valid alternatives to animal experiments wherever possible.
Reduction – Minimize the number of animals used while obtaining scientifically valid results.
Refinement – Refine procedures to minimize pain, suffering, and distress, and to improve animal welfare.
Responsibility – Emphasize the ethical accountability of researchers and personnel engaged in animal research.