"LINK-J Networking Night with the National Institutes of Natural Sciences (NINS) and Princeton University at the Forefront of Life Science: Mechanism of the Baton of Life in the Light of Stem-Cell Research" was held at the Conference Room 1004, Nihonbashi Life Science Building on October 31 (Thursday). (Host: LINK-J, In Cooperation with NINS)
【Speaker】
Dr.Ileana M. Cristea
（Professor, Department of Molecular Biology and Lewis-Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics, Princeton University）
Dr.Naoto Ueno (National Institutes of Natural Sciences National Institute for Basic Biology Professor(Deputy Director General))
Dr.Kitadate Yu (National Institutes of Natural Sciences National Institute for Basic Biology Assistant Professor)
Professor Ileana M. Cristea of Princeton University was invited this time and Professor Naoto Ueno of the National Institute for Basic Biology (NIBB), NINS who is undertaking international joint research with Prof. Cristea and Assistant Professor Yu Kitadate of NIBB gave an introduction to the front line of stem-cell research.
Dr. Kiwako Sakamoto (NINS)
Before the lectures, Associate Professor Kiwako Sakamoto of NINS provided a description of NINS. NINS operates the headquarters of the 5 research institutes of the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan (NAOJ), National Institute for Fusion Science (NIFS), NIBB, National Institute for Physiological Sciences (NIPS), and Institute for Molecular Science (IMS) that are in charge of life-science research, in addition to the 4 centers which conduct interdisciplinary research across the institutes. Associate Professor Sakamoto presented a brief summary of what research is conducted in each research institute and center.
Dr. Ileana M. Cristea (Princeton University)
In the lectures, Professor Cristea who mounted the podium at the beginning conducts research in an approach with mass analysis and imaging. The latest research developments on various postviral intracellular protein interaction and transformation of organelle formation were presented in this lecture. In addition, Professor Ueno of NIBB, NINS gave an introduction to the products of international joint research on the "Meaning of Physical Force Involved in Development".
Dr. Naoto Ueno (National Institutes of Natural Sciences National Institute for Basic Biology Professor(Deputy Director General))
Professor Ueno, who followed up the lecture, expounded upon the spread of future joint research with Princeton University commencing with an academic background of joint research with Professor Cristea. Furthermore, he introduced a couple of key points to make international joint research more rewarding.
Dr. Kitadate Yu (National Institutes of Natural Sciences National Institute for Basic Biology Assistant Professor)
Finally, Assistant Professor Kitadate, who was the main speaker of these lectures, is normally engaged in day-to-day research in NIBB which is located in Okazaki City, Aichi Prefecture to know how germ cells (sperms and eggs) which link life through future generation are formed and how a great number of sperms is formed in a succession. This lecture introduced the mechanism to maintain sperm-producing stem cells and mechanism controlling the number of sperms on the basis of the latest research developments.
After the lectures, a reception was held on the 10th-floor lounge. On this day, there were about 40 participants from a variety of backgrounds including people involved in the academia and R&D department of private companies. Aside from the participant opinion of the theme being fantastic and interesting, there were numerous questions on future prospects of cancer treatment. The lectures were very impressive.LINK-J intends to hold various events to continue to cooperate with the academia. Come and join us.