Ceremony Marks Opening of iCeMS Gifu Univ. Satellite
July 22, 2009
A ceremony was held June 26 marking the completion of construction of a research laboratory for the Gifu University satellite of Kyoto University's Institute for Integrated Cell-Material Sciences (iCeMS).
The iCeMS Gifu University satellite is centered on the research team led by world-renowned Prof. Makoto Kiso. His group focuses on the chemical synthesis of sugar chains, in particular those that exist on cell surfaces. The varied functions performed by these compounds are expected to play a key role in the development of meso control and regenerative medicine applications involving embryonic stem (ES) cells and induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells. The structures of naturally occurring sugar chains are used as models for the creation of new and potentially more versatile, artificial sugar chains.
Reporters were given a tour of the new facility, which with its advanced hooded lab benches and other safety features ranks it among leading laboratories in Japan.
Prof. Norio Nakatsuji, director of the iCeMS, attended the event along with around 70 others from Gifu University and other related institutions. Gifu University was represented by, among others, President Hideki Mori, Dean of the Faculty of Applied Biological Sciences Prof. Akira Komiyama, Assoc. Dean Prof. Yoshihiro Kanamaru, iCeMS Principal Investigator Prof. Kiso, Prof. Hideharu Ishida, and Assoc. Prof. Hiromune Ando, all of whom expressed their gratitude for the backing the laboratory had received to date, as well as their determination to see the facility's mission succeed.
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 Gifu Univ. President Hideki Mori |
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 Assoc. Dean Prof. Yoshihiro Kanamaru |
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 Prof. Hideharu Ishida |
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 A hooded lab bench |
Attendees at the opening
Related coverage (in Japanese):
- The Asahi Shimbun (July 6, 2009)
- Nikkan Kogyo Shimbun (July 3, 2009, page 23)
- Chunichi Shimbun (June 27, 2009, page 20)
- The Yomiuri Shimbun (June 27, 2009)
- The Sankei Shimbun (June 27, 2009, page 26)
- The Kyoto Shimbun (June 27, 2009, page 29)
- The Gifu Shimbun (June 27, 2009)
- 47News/Kyodo Wire Service (June 27, 2009, web)
- The Kahoku Shimpo (June 26, 2009, web)
- The Chunichi Shimbun (June 11, 2009, page 1)