Life Science and Technology News
IIR's Cell Biology Unit holds kickoff symposium
The Cell Biology Unit at the Institute of Innovative Research (IIR) held a symposium to mark the unit's foundation on April 16, attracting around 80 participants from within and outside of the Institute.
Prof. Hideki Taguchi giving the opening address
The symposium began with an address by the leader of the unit, Honorary Professor Yoshinori Ohsumi, who gave a brief description of the unit's activities. Ohsumi explained that the group aims to study the fundamental unit of life, the cell, by assembling leading researchers from within and outside Tokyo Tech. Through an understanding of the phenomena that occur within cells, the unit will make contributions to advanced fields including medicine and the biosynthesis of pharmaceutical products, returning the fruits of cutting-edge basic research to society.
After Ohsumi's introduction, Tokyo Tech President Yoshinao Mishima described the university-wide reforms introduced on April 1, 2016, while also outlining his excitement at the establishment of the Cell Biology Unit.
The academic staff of the unit then delivered 30-minute lectures on the research foci of each laboratory associated with the unit.
The topics of research are:
- Honorary Professor Yoshinori Ohsumi: The physiological function of autophagy
- Professor Hideki Taguchi*: The biology of nascent polypeptide chains and the life of proteins in the cell
- Professor Hiroshi Iwasaki*: The molecular mechanisms of spatiotemporal regulation of chromosome dynamics
- Professor Masayuki Komada*: Growth factor receptor degradation and the molecular mechanism of cellular growth and cancer development
- Professor Hiroshi Kimura*: The regulation of epigenetic dynamics in vivo
- Associate Professor Fumi Kano*: Investigation of the mechanisms of cellular functional regulation using cell editing and next-generation imaging technologies
*Asterisks denote professors who teach Life Science and Technology.
Attendees demonstrated their interest during the lively question and answer session that followed. The symposium was combined with an inspection of the unit's facilities, providing attendees with the opportunity to visit laboratories in the S2 building and witness the excellent infrastructure available to unit members.
Following the facility visits, a social gathering was held at the Mototeka Cafe at Suzukakedai Campus. Opening remarks were given by IIR Director-General Kazuya Masu and Dean Hisakazu Mihara of the School of Life Science and Technology before attendees engaged in vigorous debate.
School of Life Science and Technology
—Unravel the Complex and Diverse Phenomena of Life—
Information on School of Life Science and Technology inaugurated in April 2016
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