NATIONAL INSITUTE FOR BASIC BIOLOGY  


National Institute for Basic Biology

INTRODUCTION


W e present here the 1998 Annual Report of the National Institute for Basic Biology (NIBB). NIBB, a government-supported, basic research institute, was established in 1977. It aims to stimulate and promote the biological sciences by conducting first-rate research on site as well as by cooperating with other universities and research organizations. The Institute concentrates on the study of cellular functions, reproduction and development, neuronal and environmental control, gene expression and regulation, and molecular evolution of eukaryotic organisms.

I n 1998, the Center for Transgenic Animals and Plants was established. Dr. E. Watanabe was appointed as an Associate Professor of the Center in September. At the end of March, Professor Masayuki Yamamoto (University of Tokyo) of the Adjunct Division of Cell Proliferation and Professor Masatoshi Takeichi (Kyoto University) of the Adjunct Division of Behavior and Neurobiology successfully completed their terms at NIBB. In turn, Professor Motoya Katsuki of the University of Tokyo, Professor Mitsumasa Wada of the Tokyo Metropolitan University and Professor Fujio Murakami of the Osaka University were respectively appointed as Adjunct Professors in the Division of Cell Proliferation, the Division of Cellular Regulation and the Division of Behavior and Neurobiology in April. In September, Professor Ken-ichirou Morohashi of the Division of Speciation Mechanisms II moved to the Division of Cell Differentiation. Drs. Y. Ozeki and M. Nakafuku were appointed as Associate Professors of the Adjunct Division of Cell Proliferation and the Adjunct Division of Behavior and Neurobiology, respectively. The positions were vacated when Adjunct Associate Professors M. Maejima and H. Kobayashi departed the NIBB. We have also recently appointed 6 research associates, 8 institute research fellows and 1 technician to replace 7 research associates, 9 institute research fellows and 2 technicians who moved to other positions (e.g. associate professors, senior scientists, research associates, etc.) either within or outside of NIBB. In addition numerous postdoctoral fellows are actively engaging in various research at NIBB. The activities and future goals of NIBB, especially in the field of plant science, were subjected to an external peer review.

N IBB plays an important role as a national and international center for biological research and is responsible for conducting research projects in cooperation with various research groups. As a part of such cooperative activities, NIBB carried out a Special Program which is currently focused on "Adaptation and Resistance to the Environment." In support of this program, NIBB held the 40th NIBB Conference entitled "Stress Responses. Sensing, Signal Transduction and Gene Expression" (Professor Norio Murata, organizer). The 41st NIBB Conference was an International Symposium sponsored by the Ministry of Education, Science, Sports and Culture and entitled "Frontier of the Genome Biology of Escherichia coli" (Professor Takashi Horiuchi, organizer). In August, the Director-Genelas of NIBB and the Biological Research Center of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences signed a "Memorandum of Understanding between the NIBB and the Biological Research Center of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences" to promote international cooperation between the two institutions. A similar agreement between NIBB and the Australian National University allowed the Australia-Japan Binational Seminar entitled "Molecular Physiology of Photosynthesis in Stress Environments" (Professors C. Barry Osmond and N. Murata, organizers) to be held in 1998. In addition, NIBB continues to sponsor interdisciplinary symposia and study meetings on current topics by inviting leading scientists from around the world to the institute. NIBB also provided a training course in biological sciences for young investigators. To continue our improvement welcome any suggestions concerning the research activities of NIBB.

F inally, I would like to congratulate Drs. S. Itoh, H. Shibuya and M. Hayashi for being awarded the Plant and Cell Physiology Award, the Young Investigator Award of the Japanese Biochemical Society and the Botanical Awards for Young Scientists, respectively. Mr. Y. Tomoyasu received the Nagakura Award. Following Drs. T. Kinoshita and J. Yuasa, he is the third graduate student from NIBB to win the Award.


Hideo Mohri, D. Sc.
Director-General



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Last Modified: 12:00, May 28, 1999