JSDB Members Visit OIST

Campus tour by Dr. Masahisa Yamada of the Common Resources Group

On Wednesday, May 18, the participants of the 44th annual meeting of the Japanese Society of Development Biologists (JSDB) visited OIST. The chair of this year's annual meeting is Dr. Ichiro Masai, Principal Investigator of the Developmental Neurobiology Unit.

The group was made up of twenty-one visitors, including principal investigators and graduate students from RIKEN, Hokkaido University, Tohoku University, Tsukuba University, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Nara Women's University, University of Hyogo, and University of the Ryukyus.

The program began with a greeting by Executive Director Dr. Robert Baughman, who gave an overview of the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST) highlighting the founding principles of OIST and the world-class research and education. He also pointed out that over half of OIST faculty and students will come from abroad.

The visitors took a tour of the OIST campus. During the tour, the participants visited the zebrafish facility used by the Developmental Neurobiology Unit, where they were introduced to the research of Dr. Masai’s group. The participants also met with Dr. Noriyuki Satoh, Principal Investigator of the Marine Genomic Unit, and Dr. Mitsuhiro Yanagida, Principal Investigator of the G0 Cell Unit. The researchers answered questions about research and life in Okinawa, and a vigorous exchange of opinions took place.