Research Review Committee of the Neuronal Circuit Mechanisms Research Group
The Neuronal Circuit Mechanisms Research Group (Group Director Masao Ito, group composed of 4 laboratories and 6 units) underwent a research review from May 9 to 11. The 12-member committee included Chairman John H. Byrne (Professor, University of Texas Medical School at Houston, USA). Results are summarized here.
The Neuronal Circuit Mechanisms Research Group is a core group for BSI. It aims to elucidate those mechanisms of the neuronal circuit and those that modify neuronal circuits to enable and influence behavioral changes. Taking an interdisciplinary approach, the laboratories in this group have achieved a variety of results that help address those issues, including verifying the roles of specific genes and proteins in the neuronal circuit functions using voltage-sensitive molecular probes to image neural activity in combination with animal studies. The review committee expects that this research group will continue to produce high-level results. The reviewers highlighted three units focusing on the interaction between neurons and the glia "support" system and expressed hopes for these units to expand their activities in the future. Hence, the reviewers recommended restructuring the group and developing a mentoring system to support young researchers in planning research. They also suggested providing young post-doctorate researchers with career training to help them become successful independent researchers. These suggestions will be considered as changes in leadership and laboratories take place in the near future.
Research Review Committee of the Advanced Technology Development Group
An 11-member committee of non-RIKEN experts reviewed the research progress of the Advanced Technology Development Group (Group Director Atsushi Miyawaki, 5 laboratories) in June 2007. George J. Augustine (Professor, Duke University Medical Center, USA) chaired the review committee. Their findings follow.
The committee was impressed by the conceptual arrangement of the Advanced Technology Development Group and its important contribution to BSI and neuroscience. The reviewers acknowledged the challenges being faced by the group as its laboratories seek to develop new technologies and applications of those technologies for neuroscience. They also commended Dr. Miyawaki's leadership of the group, which has successfully met its targets.
Research Review Committee of the Neural Growth and Regeneration Research Group and the Brain Development Research Group
The research review of the Neural Growth and Regeneration Research Group (Group Director Hiroshi Okamoto, 3 laboratories) and the Brain Development Research Group (Group Director Katsuhiko Mikoshiba, 3 laboratories and 2 units) took place in mid-July. The 12-member committee included Lynn T. Landmesser (Professor, Case Western Reserve University, School of Medicine, USA) who served as committee chair. The results of the review of the groups' activities follow.
Neural Growth and Regeneration Research Group
The review committee strongly proposed that this group continue for another five years. The group tackles important issues in neuroscience and provides intellectual and expert technological support to scientists within and beyond BSI. Two of the group's young laboratory heads also show signs of a promising future and indicate Japanese neuroscience is advancing.
The committee also praised the leadership and mentorship demonstrated by group leader Dr. Okamoto. His active role in arranging conferences has helped forge a large number of productive collaborations and exchanges as well as provided intellectual wells to be drawn on by students, doctoral course students and other research staff of the group.
Brain Development Research Group
This prominent and productive group was also well reviewed by the committee. The group conducts research into various aspects of brain development at various levels of biological complexity. The laboratories also use animal models to study the higher brain functions that are impaired by some brain diseases. Skilled in genetics, cytophysiology, molecular biology, bioinformatics and animal modeling the group has the expertise to tackle some key issues in neuroscience. Dr. Mikoshiba has manifested exemplary leadership and has shown an excellent environment for younger researchers within laboratories inside and outside of BSI.
RIKEN BSI Summer Program 2007
The RIKEN BSI Summer Program 2007 was held over a period of about two months from early July 2007. 53 participants from twenty countries attended either a Lecture Course or the Internship Course. In addition, four undergraduates of Harvard University interned at BSI from June 10 to August 19 as part of an agreement between BSI and Harvard University.
The Lecture Course marked the 10th anniversary of BSI by exploring "Brain Science: Mystery and Mission" with lecturers selected to present broad concepts within the research that illustrated the interdisciplinary character of BSI. "Mystery" evokes the self-confidence with which the brain science and research at BSI have clarified many previously unknown fields over the past decade and the word "Mission" expresses the determination of scientists as they pursue answers.
Poster sessions that coincided with the Lecture Course served to promote research exchange the participants and BSI members. Dr. Mahathir bin Mohamad, the former prime minister of Malaysia, received the title of RIKEN Honorary Fellow on July 31. Participants of the summer program were invited to meet the doctor and his wife and exchange ideas with him. Internship Course participants worked in laboratories for about two months and gave oral and poster presentations on their research results during the internship. Future BSI summer programs hope to continue bring together researchers from around the world with researchers from BSI not just to foster global relationships and partnerships for science but to strengthen BSI position in the world. Next year's theme is "The Developmental Foundations of Brain Function and Dysfunction." The lecturers, schedule outline and application conditions, will be announced on the RIKEN BSI website: http://www.brain.riken.jp/summer.html
