We present here the Annual Report 1995 describing the research
activities of the National Institute for Basic Biology (NIBB)
during the past year.
The NIBB is a government supported basic research institute in
the field of biology. It aims to stimulate and promote studies
of biology, by conducting first-rate research as a center of excellence,
and by cooperating with other universities and research organizations.
The Institute concentrates on the studies of cellular functions,
reproduction and development, homeostatic control, and gene expression
and regulation in eukaryotic organisms, to elucidate the fundamental
mechanisms underlying various biological phenomena at the molecular
level.
During the past year, the turnover of personnel has been very
high. At the end of March, the former Director-General, Dr. Ikuo
Takeuchi retired from the NIBB due to his appointment as the President
of the Okazaki National Research Institutes. His position was
taken over by Dr. Hideo Mohri from the beginning of April. Professor
Yoshihiko Fujita of the Division of Bioenergetics also retired
at the end of March and became Emeritus Professor. His successor
as well as the new professor of the Division of Gene Expression
and Regulation I will be appointed in the coming April. Professor
Masaki Iwabuchi (Kyoto University) of the Adjunct Division of
Developmental Biology completed his term of office and was followed
by Professor Kenzo Nakamura of Nagoya University. Two associate
professors, Drs. K. Okada and H. Hayashi, and a research associate,
Dr. T. Kondo, moved as full professors to Kyoto University, Ehime
University, and Nagoya University, respectively. Drs. M. Yoshikuni,
H. Iida and K. Ogawa were appointed as Associate Professor of
the Division of Reproductive Biology, the Division of Cellular
Regulation and the Radioisotope Facility, respectively. Furthermore,
we newly appointed 6 research associates and 8 institute research
fellows, while 10 research associates other than Dr. Kondo and
two institute research fellows moved to other institutions.
The NIBB plays important roles as a national and international
center for the biological research and is responsible for conducting
research projects in cooperation with research groups of various
universities and institutes. As a part of such cooperative activities,
the NIBB carried out Special Programs which are currently directed
to "Adaptation and Resistance
to Environment " and "Trans-differentiation
of Tissue Cells". Based on these
programs, the NIBB held the 34th and 35th Conferences entitled
as "Responses of the Photosynthetic
Apparatus to Environmental Light Conditions"
(organized by Professor Kimiyuki Satoh) and "Mechanisms
of Cell Commitment in Differentiation"
(organized by Professor Goro Eguchi), respectively.
In addition, the Institute sponsors symposia and study meetings
on current topics at the interdisciplinary level by inviting leading
scientists in various related fields, both nationally and internationally.
In 1995, the 11th International Symposium in conjunction with
the Award of the International Prize for Biology "Dynamics
of the Cell" was organized by
the NIBB, inviting the laureate of the 1995 Prize, Professor I.
R. Gibbons, and many distinguished investigators in the field
of cell biology. The NIBB also provided a training course in bioscience
for young investigators and participated in the International
Science School for high school students of Asian-Pacific countries.
Fortunate enough, the construction of a new building for the Laboratory
of Gene Expression and Regulation (about 2500m2) has
been decided by the government, and institution of the new division,
Speciation Mechanisms II, is expected in the coming year. At the
end of the year, the NIBB had a symposium about the future of
its own by inviting authorities in various fields of biology.
Discussion at this symposium was quite stimulative and would be
utilized for making the future plan of the Institute.
Finally, I would like to congratulate that Emeritus Professor
T. S. Okada, the past President of Okazaki National Research Institutes
and the past Director-Genaral of NIBB, was honored as Person of
Cultural Merit and Professor G. Eguchi was awarded a Purple Ribbon
Medal and Palmes Academique, Chevarier, from the Government of
France.
Hideo Mohri, D.Sc.
Director-General