NCBS-inStem Satellite Opens
December 28, 2010
On December 17th, Kyoto University's Institute for Integrated Cell-Material Sciences (iCeMS) hosted a ceremony commemorating the opening of its first satellite of an overseas institution. Representatives of the 
Tata Institute for Fundamental Research's National Centre for Biological Sciences (NCBS) and the Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine (inStem) in Bangalore, India travelled to Kyoto for the event, which was followed by the second NCBS-inStem/iCeMS joint symposium.
Cooperation between the iCeMS and the NCBS-inStem, which has developed over many years of joint research projects, accelerated significantly during 2010 with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding in April and a subsequent August visit to Bangalore of a delegation led by iCeMS Director Prof. Norio Nakatsuji. The first joint symposium also took place at that time.
On this present occassion the NCBS-inStem delegation to Kyoto was headed by NCBS-inStem director Prof. K. VijayRaghavan, and included NCBS Dean Prof. Satyajit Mayor and Research Development Head Dr. Savita Ayyar. Joining the ceremony were also Dr. Thadathil Pankajakshan, Science & Technology Counselor at the Indian Embassy in Tokyo, Prof. Gautam Ray, Graduate School of Management, Kyoto University and Indian Ministry of Finance, Dr. Toshio Kuroki, Deputy Director of the Research Center for Science Systems, Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) and Program Director, World Premier International Research Center (WPI) Initiative, Prof. Kiyoshi Yoshikawa, Kyoto University Executive Vice-President for Research, and Prof. Junichi Mori, Kyoto University Vice-President, among others.
Following planning meetings over lunch at the iCeMS Main Building, the delegation walked to iCeMS Complex 2 for an unveiling of the NCBS-inStem Satellite facilities, including laboratory space, a meeting room, and staff offices. The ceremony itself took place afterward in the Main Building Seminar Room, and was marked by Prof. VijayRahavan conferring honorary NCBS-inStem visiting professorships on Profs. Nakatsuji and Akihiro Kusumi. The joint symposium took place immediately afterward.
These concrete steps toward solidifying the partnership between Kyoto and Bangalore are slated to be followed next year with the opening of an iCeMS satellite at the NCBS, exchanges of personnel, and even closer collaboration and joint efforts.
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| The NCBS-inStem and iCeMS delegations in the satellite meeting room |
Touring the new iCeMS research building, including NCBS-inStem lab and office space |
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| At the entrance of the new research building |
Prof. VijayRaghavan (left) conferring a NCBS visiting professorship on Prof. Nakatsuji during the satellite opening ceremony |
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| Dignitaries at the opening ceremony (from left): Dr. Pankajakshan, Prof. Gautam Ray, Dr. Kuroki, Prof. VijayRaghavan, Prof. Nakatsuji, Prof. Yoshikawa, Prof. Mayor, Dr. Ayyar, Prof. Mori, Dr. Kenichi Suzuki, Prof. Akihiro Kusumi, and Prof. Shinji Tomita |
Television Coverage
Newspaper and Web Coverage
- Yomiuri Shimbun (December 18, 2010 page 33)
- The Sankei Shimbun (December 15, 2010 page 25)