RIKEN launches operation of a secure analysis environment (HOKUSAI-SR) to securely conduct research using personal information

In October 2024, RIKEN Information R&D and Strategy Headquarters (R-IH) began operating HOKUSAI-SR, a secure analysis environment that makes it possible to conduct research while securely managing research data containing personal information.

Research involving human subjects is becoming more active not only in the medical science field but also in AI and robotics research. At the same time, it is important to ensure the protection of personal information, compliance with bioethics, and information security for the human-derived information used in such research.

The Medical Data Sharing Unit (Unit Leader: Dr. Jun SEITA), Infrastructure Research and Development Division, R-IH, RIKEN has developed a secure analysis environment (HOKUSAI-SR: High-performance cOmputing and networK, Unified Storage And Infrastructure - Shielded Room) that enables secure management and analysis of research data containing personal information while properly and smoothly addressing personal information protection, bioethics, and information security. The unit started the operation of HOKUSAI-SR in October 2024.

HOKUSAI-SR is equipped with functions to safely store research data, including personal information, in a highly secured controlled area, to analyze research data by utilizing CPUs (Central Processing Units), GPUs (Graphics Processing Units), and FPGAs (Field Programmable Gate Arrays)^*, and to safely support researchers’ operation of the system. By greatly simplifying the complicated procedures related to personal information protection, bioethics, and information security that have been dealt with by individual laboratories in RIKEN, HOKUSAI-SR will contribute to the acceleration and the effectiveness of research activities. It will also reduce the risk of personal information leaks, etc.

* FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array): A server equipped with an integrated circuit that can be programmed with circuits according to its purpose. It allows specific tasks to be processed at high speed.