INTRODUCTION

The National Institute for Basic Biology (NIBB) is a government-supported research institute established in 1977. The aim of the NIBB is the promotion and stimulation of studies in the field of Biology. As a Center of Excellence (COE), NIBB promotes not only the basic biology but also the modern biological sciences by conducting first-rate research on site as well as in cooperation with other universities and research organizations. Researchers at NIBB investigate cell structure and function, reproduction and development, neuronal and environmental biology, gene expression and regulation, and molecular evolution of eukaryotic organisms to elucidate the general and fundamental mechanisms underlying various biological phenomena. In the beginning of April, 2001, Dr. KATSUKI, Motoya, the former Professor of the University of Tokyo and the adjunctive Professor of the NIBB, took over the position of the Director-General from the former Director-General Dr. MOHRI, Hideo, who retired from the NIBB due to his appointment as the President of the Okazaki National Research Institutes.

In April, Dr. KOBAYASHI, Satoru, who had been an Assistant Professor of Tsukuba University, became the new Professor of the Division of Development, Differentiation and Regulation in the Center for Integrative Bioscience (CIB) and made a joint appointment for the NIBB. Dr. TAKADA, Shinji, who is a Professor of Kyoto University, was also joint-appointed as a Professor of CIB and Kyoto University in March. He will join the CIB in April, 2002, as a Professor.

Drs. MURATA, Takashi and KINOSHITA, Noriyuki were appointed as Associate Professors in the Division of Speciation Mechanisms II in April and the Division of Morphogenesis in September, respectively.

Drs. MUKAI, Masanori and KOSHIDA, Sumito, were appointed as Research Associates in CIB in April. Drs. SAKUTA, Hiraki and TSUGANE, Kazuo were also appointed as Research Associates in NIBB in October.

Congratulatingly, Drs. SAKAMOTO, Atsushi, INAGAKI, Yoshishige and NISHIYAMA, Yoshitaka were promoted to Associate Professors of Hiroshima University, Okayama University and Ehime University, respectively. Associate Professor Dr. MAEDA Nobuaki left NIBB and became a staff scientist vice-Director (equivalent to Associate Professor) of the Tokyo Metropolitan Institute for Neuroscience in November. Three research associates left their positions in NIBB to become the equivalent positions in other institutes or overseas. In addition, we replaced 2 research associates, and 2 institute research fellows with 2 research associates and 7 institute research fellows, and appointed 1 technician. The total number of personnels working at NIBB including graduate students and post doctoral fellows has been kept at approximately 300 for several years.

As a COE of the biological research institute, NIBB is responsible for conducting research projects in cooperation with various research groups. As a part of such cooperative activities, NIBB hosts International Conferences. In March the 45th NIBB International Conference was sponsored by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology and Ministry of Environment entitled "Recent Progress in Endocrine Disruptor Research" (Professor T. Iguchi, organizer). The 46th NIBB International Conference entitled "Genetics and Epigenetics: The First 100 Years" (Professors S. IIda, M. Katsuki, S. Inagaki, et al., organizers) sponsored by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology was also held in March. 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 provides a training course in biological sciences for young investigators. To assess our continuing improvement, the activities and future plans of two professors who have spent 10 years at NIBB were subjected to peer review by international scholars in related fields. Prof. NISHIMURA, Mikio and Prof. HORIUCHI, Takashi were reviewed on the 10-year Evaluation by the committee organized by the former Director-General Dr. MOHRI and the results were accepted by the Advisory Council of the NIBB held in March. We always welcome any suggestions concerning the research activities of NIBB.

Finally, we performed the "Open Institute" for local society on 13th of October to show our activities and about 1,600 people joined this event.

KATSUKI, Motoya, D.Sc.
Director-General