Since LINK-J and UCSD have signed MOU in 2016, we cooperated in many ways and the life science symposium in Tokyo is the great annual collaboration.
This year, the third symposium, we focused on the topic 'Engineered Nanomedicine: Drug Delivery Systems and Platforms', having two top researchers from UCSD and three from Japan.
Lectures given by
Dr. Liangfang Zhang（Professor of Nanoengineering, Bioengineering, and Chemical Engineering, University of California San Diego）
Dr. Ester Kwon（Assistant professor, Nanoscale Bioengineering, University of California San Diego）
Dr. Kazunori Kataoka（Director General of Innovation Center of NanoMedicine (iCONM), Kawasaki Institute of Industrial Promotion/ Professor at Institute for Future Initiatives, The University of Tokyo）
Dr. Kanjiro Miyata（Associate Professor, Department of Materials Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo）
Dr. Hiromichi Kimura（Project Leader and Visiting Professor, Innovation Center of NanoMedicine (iCONM), Kawasaki Institute of Industrial Promotion / Professor at Institute for Future Initiatives, The University of Tokyo / CEO and Managing Partner, Fast Track Initiative, Inc.）
Ms. Miwako Waga, Director, International Outreach, University of California San Diego, made an Opening Remarks and Akihiko Soyama, President & CEO, Director, LINK-J, introduced LINK-J's aim and vision.
Lectures
Dr. Lianfang Zhan
"Discovery and Translation of the Cell Membrane Coating Nanotechnology"
Dr. Zhang's unique researches are exploring new approaches for 'Drug Delivery System（DDS)', 'Nano Medicine' and 'Technology for Vaccination' utilizing nanoparticles made from biomaterials.
Dr.Kazunori Kataoka
"Self-assembled Supramolecular Nanosystems for Smart Diagnosis and Targeted Therapy of Intractable Diseases"
Dr. Kataoka introduced the Innovation Center of NanoMedicine （iCONM） in Kawasaki city, very close to Haneda International Airport. The biggest project at iCONM is 'COINS （Center of Open Innovation Network for Smart Health）'. There are six ongoing researches using Polymeric Micelles called 'Smart nanomachines' to make 'In-Body Hospitals' realize.
Dr. Kanjiro Miyata
"Nanopharmaceutical design to break through biological barriers"
Dr. Miyata's research is Nano Materials for DDS system, materials especially enables to overcome Biological Barriers, such as Blood-Brain Barrier (BBB).
Dr. Ester Kwon
"Bioinspired nanomedicine that interacts with host biology"
Dr. Kwon explores the usage of Nano Materials for Diagnostics and Therapeutics by using their physical and biological characteristics.
Dr. Hiromichi Kimura
"Developing Social Experiments in Tonomachi: Destinations for the Next Generation Ecosystem"
Dr. Kimura told how to implement the researches developed at iCONM in Tonomachi, Kawasaki city. The aim of iCOMN is contribution to society as an incubation center.
Panel Discussion
Having Dr. Kimura as a moderator, they discussed how to make success in one's startup activity and the difference of circumstances to create eco system in Japan and U.S.
Dr. Zhang and Dr. Kwon described 'what is going on' in San Diego. There are over 600 startup companies in San Diego, most of them from UCSD. It could be said that the UCSD students who specialize in Medicine, Pharmacology, Biology and Engineering have not much troublesome in implementing one's research. That is because they have taken business startup class and have quite knowledge in business. Recently the number of entrepreneurs is growing, there are capable students and young generation who find promising in start-up business than research jobs.
On the other hand, Dr. Kataoka indicated that the education in Japanese Universities make students intend to choose working at big scale companies, not at startups. Dr. Miyata told there is a tendency in Japanese students to prefer doing basic researches instead of business. He suggested that Researchers and Faculties should have a point of view that implementation of science is of consequence.
We very much appreciate over 70 people who participated the symposium and the networking reception as well.
It was great time for all having conversation each other and also with the lecturers. We have plenty of feedbacks from those who attend the symposium, here are some, "I saw the light", 'The cutting-edge technology was incredible' and 'Realized the necessity of the implementation of Nano technology'.
