RIKEN Brain Science Institute (RIKEN BSI) RIKEN BSI News No. 17 (Aug. 2002)



A new team takes over at the Advanced Technology Development Center
On April 1 of this year, the Neuroinformatics Technology Development Team (Shiro Usui, Team Leader) was inaugurated as the Advanced Technology Development Center's fifth team. The team will address the issue of how to systematize the vast amount of neuroinformatics research results that are accumulating. The focus at present is on the optic system, and the team will promote research and development in such areas as database building, development of relevant mathematical models and data analysis tools, in an integrated environment. The Team Leader's idea is to create an environment in which "if you enter the lab, you can do something interesting". His aim is to make the Center one of the world's hubs for discussion, competition, and cooperation and that will make the most of youthful sensibilities in the new field of neuroinformatics.
RIKEN-MIT Neuroscience Research Center Retreat
A retreat was held for 3 days, from June 10-12, by the Picower Center for Learning and Memory (PCLM, Susumu Tonegawa, Director) of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in Cambridge, MA, USA. Since the RIKEN-MIT Neuroscience Research Center is part of PCLM, 8 researchers from the RIKEN Brain Science Institute (BSI) also

participated. We, the participants arrived at Kennebunkport, ME (about a 2-hour drive from Boston) where the retreat was being held on June 10th. It was the perfect location to hold leisurely discussions, with the Atlantic Ocean spread out in front of us - a retreat in the

true sense of the word. There were 1 or 2 speakers from each lab, and poster sessions were held as well. Particularly impressive was the fact that the young researchers and graduate students were the main participants in speeches and poster sessions. In all, there were 140 participants, and lively Q&A sessions and discussions went on day after day. We firmly believe that sessions such as these will play a key role in developing the human resources that will become the driving force of neuroscience, provide more opportunities for the birth of new sciences, and contribute to the growth of sciences worldwide.

Advanced Technology Development Center Research Laboratories
(Group Director: Chitoshi Itakura; four laboratories in the group)
The Committee met from June 17 through 19. It comprised 12 members and was chaired by Prof. Alexander Robert Lieberman (University College London).
The Gist of the Evaluation:The Committee has found the Review to be a challenging task, in part because the concept of the dual remit of the ATDC research laboratories was novel, in part because of the marked difference in the nature and extent of the technical base in the individual laboratories, and in part because of the tensions and problems that the dual remit can cause. Nevertheless, and despite some disagreements and the need for some compromise, we have reached consensus on most matters.

- We conclude that the research laboratories of the ATDC, in broad terms, are meeting the objectives set when they were established. These laboratories serve a useful function and support research activities in many other laboratories. We recommend that the ATDC be retained for the next 5 year period.

- The four constituent laboratories provide different levels and types of research support and are involved in technology development and dissemination to varying degrees. However, all fulfill to a substantial extent the expectation that they will be such a resource to the wider research community of the BSI. At the extremes, the Laboratory for Neural Architecture provides a particularly high level and wide range of research support to other laboratories, and the Laboratory of Cell Culture Development a limited range of such support.

- We think that all four laboratories will continue for at least the next 5 years to play an important role in research support, and in some cases technological innovations, that will be important for the work of other BSI laboratories. We therefore recommend that it would be appropriate for all 4 laboratories to remain within the ATDC. The Committee noted, however, that because of its specific research focus, and the relatively minor role it plays in supporting research in other laboratories, the Laboratory for Cell Culture Development could function as effectively under the umbrella of the Developmental Brain Science Group as it does within the ATDC.

- We understand that it is very difficult for the Laboratory for Neural Architecture with such a wide research support remit to maintain as tight a research focus as other laboratories, but we recommend that over the next 5 years this laboratory seeks to develop one or more strongly identifiable research foci and that its commitments to technology development are driven by clear and significant research problems.

- The Laboratory for Cell Function Dynamics is constrained by lack of space for new instruments. Because the Committee considers the achievements and potential of this laboratory to be outstanding, we draw this matter to the attention of the Group Director and the Director of the BSI.
RIKEN-MIT Neuroscience Research Center Review
(Group Director: Susumu Tonegawa ; six laboratories in the group)

RIKEN-MIT Neuroscience Research Center Review
(Group Director: Susumu Tonegawa; six laboratories in the group)
The Committee met from June 17 through 18. It comprised 6 members and was chaired by Prof. Eric Shooter (Stanford University).
The Gist of the Evaluation:

- The Committee was impressed by the superb quality of the research presented by each member of the Center and by the equally superb leadership of Dr. Tonegawa. It was abundantly clear that RIKEN-BSI is supporting high-level, innovative science, and that it should feel very good about the impact of the Center on the mission of RIKEN-BSI in particular, and on the field of neuroscience in general.

- The four senior members of the Cen ter are outstanding and productive scientists. Each one is a leader in his field, and is highly regarded in the neuroscience community. The Committee was aware that one senior and one junior member of the Center (Drs. Sheng and Hayashi, respectively) were fairly recent additions, and that it was evaluating them mainly for the research that they had conducted prior to joining the group. Nevertheless, the Committee agreed that both of them had strong research programs, and had integrated very well into the Center.

- The RIKEN-MIT Center is acting in a very effective and successful way to increase the international scope of the RIKEN Brain Sciences Institute. The members of the Center greatly value and enjoy their many interactions with RIKEN-BSI scientists at BSI retreats, symposia and summer programs, and through numerous exchange visits between BSI and MIT. Considering the relatively short time scale involved, the exchange of research personnel and the collaborations between groups at the BSI and the Center are off to a good start, and shall certainly increase. The elements that will allow for the natural evolution of increased scientific contacts are in place, namely common research interests in brain and behavior, and top quality research in both places.

- The Review Committee was very impressed by Professor Tonegawa's leadership of the RIKEN-MIT Center. By his enlightened direction, and through his own collaborative spirit, he has developed a group of scientists who operate in an atmosphere of cross-disciplinary cooperation and collaboration, collectively pursuing studies of learning and memory on an almost unprecedented scientific level. In its organization and effectiveness, and in its leadership, the RIKEN-MIT group serves as a model for new programs in this kind of cross-disciplinary neuroscience, for laboratories in Japan, and throughout the world.
Group Director Dr. Mikoshiba Awarded the Purple Ribbon Medal
Upon an announcement of the Biannual Medals in the spring, in April 29, 2002 Dr. Katsuhiko Mikoshiba, a group director (Developmental Brain Science Group and Recovery Mechanism Research Group) was awarded the Honor of Japan: Purple Ribbon Medal, which rewards distinguished professionals such as contributing invention, development, and creation in Art & Science.
This reward praised his innovative work achievements in developmental brain science, in particular, discovery of IP3 receptor and the intensive study of its structure and function, discovery of molecules which determine neuronal positioning, and the molecules regulating development and differentiation of the brain. These results have changed traditional concept and have further made a great contribution in understanding of the mechanism for development and differentiation in the brain. His work also contributed in understanding of the mechanism of brain disability. His endeavors for promoting new talents was also highly evaluated.
Miwako Ozaki, Researcher, Winner of the Society of Japanese Women Scientists' Award
On June 16, Researcher Miwako Ozaki (Neural Architectural Technology Development Team) received the 7th Society of Japanese Women Scientists' Award from the Society of Japanese Women Scientists (Masuko Suzuki, President). Ms. Ozaki was awarded for her internationally acclaimed achievements in research on the architecture and plasticity of the neural network. There were two winners this fiscal year.


RIKEN BSI NEWS

RIKEN BSI HOME
RIKEN Brain Science Institute (RIKEN BSI)
Copyright All Rights Reserved.