German Regenerative Medicine Scientists Take Part in iCeMS Seminar During METI-Sponsored Tour

July 1, 2010

As part of the "Invest in Kansai" initiative of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry's Kansai office (METI-KANSAI), three German researchers in the field of regenerative medicine visited Kyoto University's Institute for Integrated Cell-Material Sciences (iCeMS) on June 30 for meetings and to give a seminar.

The delegation, consisting of Prof. Dr. Konrad Kohler of the Center for Regenerative Biology and Medicine (ZRM) at Tübingen University, Prof. Dr. Elke Guenther, Head of Cell Biology at Tübingen's Natural and Medical Sciences Institute (NMI), and Dr. Cornelia Kasper of the Institute of Technical Chemistry at Leibniz University of Hannover, accompanied by Dr. Takashi Asada, Life Science Ambassador at the Foundation for Biomedical Research and Innovation (FBRI) in Kobe, met with iCeMS Director Norio Nakatsuji and Assoc. Prof. Shintaro Sengoku to speak about projects underway at the iCeMS and to share opinions on developments in the field of stem cell reseach.

Following this meeting the three visitors took part in the 52nd iCeMS Seminar, delivering talks on regenerative medicine, cell biology, and tissue engineering, as well as engaging the audience in an active discussion.

Subsequently the delegation joined a larger group of visitors with the Association of German Biotechnology Companies (VBU) and other German industry and academic representatives from the biomedical field for an informal exchange event in the iCeMS Lounge along with iCeMS and Kyoto University Center for iPS Cell Research and Application (CiRA) scientists. This larger group was in Japan as part of METI-KANSAI's Germany-Kansai Bio Exchange Program.

Prof. Nakatsuji (left) and Assoc. Prof. Sengoku	Prof. Dr. Kohler
Prof. Dr. Guenther	Dr. Kasper
A scene from the iCeMS Seminar held in the Main Building Seminar Room