iCeMS Retreat 2025 Held at Awaji Yumebutai
The annual iCeMS Retreat was held on September 29–30, 2025, at Awaji Yumebutai in Hyogo Prefecture, bringing together researchers, students, and staff for two days of scientific exchange and community building.
The event opened with remarks by Prof Ganesh Pandian Namasivayam, the Organizing Chair, followed by a message from Prof Motonari Uesugi, Director of iCeMS. The program began with Flash Talks in chemistry, where young researchers gave two-minute presentations introducing the topics of their posters.
After lunch, participants took part in an icebreaker session, working in teams to tackle quizzes and mini-games while earning points through friendly competition.
In the first invited talk, Prof Ken J Ishii (Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo) discussed research on nucleic acid-based vaccines and adjuvants. This was followed by Flash Talks in biology. The day continued with the Diversity & Inclusion Session, featuring a lecture by Asst Prof Soto Tsuruta (Center for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Tohoku University) on “Gendered Innovations,” along with a panel discussion. A poster session further showcased iCeMS research, and the evening concluded with dinner and networking.
Day two began with an invited talk by Prof Yoshie Harada (WPI-PRIMe, Osaka University) on intracellular thermal signaling and its role in neuronal differentiation. Then doctoral student Karnjana Atthawilai, who conducts research at iCeMS’ on-site laboratory the Smart Materials Research Center in Thailand, presented her work.
After a short break, Assoc Prof Masakazu Higuchi (iCeMS Innovation Unit) introduced the institute’s startup support initiative, the iCeMS Venture Studio. After that, the Industry & Startups Panel, facilitated by Prof William Baber (Graduate School of Management, Kyoto University), brought together Carlos Correa (Tachi-Aoi), Daisuke Asari (Atomis), Prof Ken J Ishii (The University of Tokyo), Prof Easan Sivaniah (iCeMS/OOYOO), Assoc Prof Yousuke Katsuda (Kumamoto University/StapleBio), and Prof Ganesh Pandian Namasivayam (iCeMS/ReguGene), who discussed perspectives on connecting academic research, entrepreneurship, and innovation.
In the afternoon, Assoc Prof Peter Carlton (Graduate School of Biostudies, Kyoto University) and Assoc Prof Yousuke Katsuda (Faculty of Advanced Science and Technology, Kumamoto University) gave Alumni Talks, reflecting on how their time at iCeMS shaped their careers as researchers. Dr Risa Matsui (Suzuki Lab, iCeMS) then presented her study on cellular systems linking ion balance and membrane lipid distribution, and shared her experience from a research visit to Germany this summer through iCeMS’ support program.
The retreat concluded with the poster award ceremony (awardees listed below) and closing remarks by the organizing chair, and Assoc Prof Daniel Packwood was introduced as the organizing chair for the next retreat. The two-day event reaffirmed iCeMS’s commitment to advancing science through multifaceted approaches—from research collaboration and inclusiveness in science to fostering innovation across disciplines.
Poster Awardees
Chemistry
- Sooyeon Kim “Real-time stain-free imaging of self-assembly formation” (Grand Prix)
- Yuta Suzuki “Nature-Inspired Design of Protein Self-Assembly: Toward Dynamic and Life-Mimetic Functional Materials” (Excellence Prize)
Biology
- Shen Mianning “DNA for DNA: Programmable Nano-Architectures as Space-Pores for Nucleobase and Modification Sensing” (Grand Prix)
- Jaeyeon Suh “Investigating a Lipid Scramblase in the Golgi Apparatus” (Excellence Prize)
