[History and Recent Advancements of the Research Committee on Moyamoya Disease of the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, Japan].

The Research Committee on Moyamoya Disease(Spontaneous Occlusion of the Circle of Willis) of the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare of Japan was established in 1977. The committee has developed diagnostic criteria and therapeutic guidelines for moyamoya disease. Several multicenter clinical studies, conducted by the research committee, have clarified pathophysiological features of the disease and provided strong evidence for effective treatments.