NATIONAL INSITUTE FOR BASIC BIOLOGY
National Institute for Basic Biology
INTRODUCTION
We present here the 1997 Annual Report 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 established in 1977. It aims to stimulate and promote the biological sciences, by conducting first-rate research as a center of excellence, and by cooperating with other universities and research organizations. The Institute concentrates on the study of cellular functions, reproduction and development, neuronal and environmental control and gene expression and regulation in eukaryotic organisms at the molecular level..
In May of 1997, we celebrated the twentieth anniversary of the foundation of the NIBB together with the opening of the newly built Okazaki Conference Center on the campus of the Okazaki National Research Institutes. At the end of July, Professor Yoshiaki Suzuki of the Division of Cell Differentiation left the NIBB. Thus, the first professors of all Divisions, except those of the Laboratory of Gene Expression and Regulation which was established more recently have completely retired, and the NIBB has entered into a new era. We are now making up future plans for the NIBB including establishment of new divisions such as molecular environmental biology, neurobiology and mechanism of biodiversity. At the start of 1997, the activities and the future plan of the NIBB were subjected to a peer review and highly rated by authorities outside the institute.
The turnover of personnel was high during the past year. At the beginning of the year, Associate Professor M. Mimuro moved to Yamaguchi University as a professor. In May, Professor Naoto Uneno of Hokkaido University was appointed as Professor of the Division of Morphogenesis, the position formerly occupied by Professor Goro Eguchi. As Associate Professor of the same Division, Dr. H. Shibuya was appointed in July. At the end of March, Professor Hitoshi Sakano (University of Tokyo) of the Adjunct Division of Cell Fusion and Professor Kimiyuki Sato (Okayama University) of the Adjunct Division of Biological Regulation completed their terms of office. The former position was filled by Professor Issei Mabuchi (University of Tokyo) in April. Drs. I. Nishimura, N. Maeda, K. Mikami, K. Owaribe (Nagoya University), H. Abe (Chiba University) and Y. Ozeki (Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology) were respectively appointed as Associate Professors in the Division of Cell Mechanism, the Division of Molecular Neurobiology, the Division of Cellular Regulation, the Adjunct Division of Cellular Communication, the Adjunct Division of Cell Fusion and the Adjunct Division of Behavior and Neurobiology. On the other hand, Adjunct Associate Professors T. Takai and H. Wada left the NIBB. In addition, we recently appointed 5 research associates and 2 institute research fellows, while 3 research associates and 2 institute research fellows moved to other institutions.
The NIBB plays important roles as a national and international center for 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 Cell." Based on these programs, the NIBB held the 38th Conference entitled "Plasticity in Differentiation and Morphogenesis" (organized by Professor G. Eguchi and Dr. R. Kodama) and the 39th Conference "Dynamic Aspects of Seed Maturation and Germination" (organized by Professor Mikio Nishimura). In September, the Director-General of the NIBB and the President of the Korea Basic Science Institute (KBSI) signed a "Memorandum of Understanding between the NIBB and the KBSI" in order to promote international cooperation between the two institutions.
In addition, the Institute sponsors interdisciplinary symposia and study meetings on current topics by inviting leading scientists national and international in various related fields. In 1997, an International Symposium "Dynamic Aspects of Lysosomal/Vacuolar System " (organized by Professor Yoshinori Ohsumi) was held at the Okazaki Conference Center, sponsored by the Ministry of Education, Science, Sports and Culture. The NIBB also provided a training course in biological sciences for young investigators.
Our efforts in the future will continue to be directed at supporting leading research in various fields of biological sciences. We welcome suggestions and criticisms concerning the activities of the NIBB.
Hideo Mohri, D. Sc.
Director-General
webmaster@nibb.ac.jp
Last Modified: 12:00, May 28, 1998