Call for Joint Research Projects FY 2024
Exploratory Research Center on Life and Living Systems (ExCELLS)
National Institutes of Natural Sciences (NINS)
1. Joint research projects to be proposed(1) ExCELLS Project Research [ Exploration of the Boundary between Matter and Life ](2) ExCELLS Themed Research (Seeds Discovery)(3) General joint research

2. Project term
(1) From 1st April 2024 to 31st March 2027
(2)(3) From 1st April 2024 to 31st March 2025
* ExCELLS participates in The Glyco Science Network; J-GlycoNet (https://j-glyconet.jp/en/), andsome projects would be handled as part of the J-GlycoNet project. If you are considering anapplication that includes research in the field of glycoscience, please consult with an ExCELLS
researcher or the Strategic Research Administration Office of ExCELLS.
3. Eligibility
A researcher at a research institution, such as a university or a national or public research
institute, or whose research capability is approved as equivalent by the Director ofExCELLS.
Researchers belonging to NIBB, NIPS, IMS, or ExCELLS are not eligible to apply for thisproject.
4. How to apply
Proposals for joint research projects must be submitted to ExCELLS online via the NaturalScience Collaborative Research Management System (NOUS). NOUS can be accessedfrom the login page (https://nous.nins.jp/user/signin). Before submission, every person must
consult beforehand with an ExCELLS researcher who is most relevant to the intended
research, regarding details such as the research theme, research plan, visit term, travel
expenses, etc.
The names of principal investors in research groups, their research themes, and their contact details
are as shown on the website of ExCELLS (https://www.excells.orion.ac.jp/en).
Web Application System NOUS Application Manualhttps://www.excells.orion.ac.jp/en/application/nous_manual
5. Deadline for proposals
17:00 Friday, 1st, December, 2023 (JST)Even after the deadline, you may apply Proposals for General joint research at any time after April
1, 2024. In this case, the submission should be completed at least one month before the proposed
project's scheduled start.
6. Determination of proposal acceptance
The Director of ExCELLS will accept proposals based on reviews by ExCELLS Joint Research
Project Committee.
7. Date of decision regarding proposal acceptanceAround March 2024

8. Travel expenses
Travel expenses are reimbursed within the budget according to the NINS Regulations for TravelExpenses.
No additional budget will be added after acceptance.
9. Certificate application for individuals working with radiation
When the project accepted involves an experiment using a radioisotope at ExCELLS, all the persons
who work under a radioactive condition are strictly required to be registered at ExCELLS.
10. Gene recombination experiments
When the project accepted involves an experiment using gene recombination or gene editing atExCELLS, the experiment plan should be reviewed and approved beforehand by the Gene
Recombinant Experiments Safety Committee of the Three Okazaki Institutes before staring.
11. Animal experiments
When the project accepted involves an animal experiment at ExCELLS, the experiment planshould be reviewed and approved beforehand by the NINS Animal Experimentation
Committee before staring.
12. Any projects involving human subjects or specimens obtained from human bodies
When the project you are planning to submit involves human subjects or specimens obtained
from human bodies or related fields, it should be approved by the ethics committee of yourinstitution before submission. After approval by ExCELLS, it should be next approved by thethe Ethics Committee for Human Research of National Institutes of Natural Sciences beforestarting.
When a project is classified as "clinical research" by the Ethical Guidelines for Medical andHealth Research Involving Human Subjects issued by the Ministry of Health, Labour, andWelfare of Japan, please consult with an ExCELLS researcher beforehand.
13. Human genome or gene analysis research
When the project accepted involves an experiment on human genome/gene analysis atExCELLS, the experiment plan should be reviewed and approved by the Ethics Committee for
Human Research of National Institutes of Natural Sciences before staring.
14. Submission of the research report
After the project term, please submit your research report using NOUS within 30 days. Moreinformation on the report form and other details are available on the website(https://www.excells.orion.ac.jp/).
Please be aware that your research project title, the names of the representative and joint
researchers, as well as other details about job titles may be disclosed by the ExCELLS Information
and Outreach departments. If all collaborators do not agree with the disclosure of this information, inaddition to submitting standard reports you must also submit a separate report [Report (for PressRelease)] indicating what information should be redacted.
15. Clarification of supports by ExCELLS
If you publish any outcome of the proposed joint research in academic papers, please be sure
to clearly indicate in the Acknowledgments that the work was performed as joint research hosted
by ExCELLS.
※Example
This research was supported by Joint Research of the Exploratory Research Center on Life andLiving Systems (ExCELLS). (ExCELLS program No.***)*Please replace *** with the project number, which will be provided when the project is adopted.

16. Handling of intellectual property rights
Intellectual property rights will be handled pursuant to the stipulations of the NINS
Regulations on Inventions by Employees (NINS-Regulations No. 12 of 2004).
When the proposal is adopted as a joint research project, the proposal representative and thejoint researcher will be assigned the status of "joint researcher" to research the adopted project,
and the intellectual property rights of the research will be handled in the same way as those of
the officers and employees in the above regulations. (For specific details, please contact usindividually.)
17. Accommodations
We have accommodations for use by researchers who participate in joint research.
Researchers who want to use the lodging facilities shall contact an ExCELLS researcher.
18. Childcare support
Depending on availability, researchers who participate in ExCELLS joint research projects can use
our onsite childcare facility. Researchers requiring childcare s contact the receptionist (detailsbelow) to make a booking at least 6 weeks in advance.
[Contact for childcare booking] NINS Okazaki Administration Center, General Affairs Section
TEL: +81-564-55-7122
19. Promotion of gender equality
NINS actively promotes gender equality. Please consider this when planning and conducting any
collaborative project with us.
20. Personal information
The personal information in your proposal shall be used limitedly for tracking research activities
originating from your project or for administrative procedures by NOUS.
Be aware that such information in "open" sections in your research reports, like the name andaffiliation of the representative researcher, the project title, or other related data, shall appear atthe ExCELLS website and in the ExCELLS publicity materials; information in the "closed"
sections shall not.
21. Consultant< Strategic Research Administration Office >TEL: +81-564-59-5201
E-MAIL: collabo@excells.orion.ac.jp―――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――ACCESS
From areas around Tokyo
Take JR Shinkansen to Toyohashi Station
Take Meitetsu Nagoya Honsen Line from Toyohashi Station to Higashi-Okazaki Station (about20 min with a Limited Express train)
From areas around Osaka
Take JR Shinkansen or Kintetsu Line to Nagoya Station
Take Meitetsu Nagoya Honsen Line from Nagoya Station to Higashi-Okazaki Station (about 30 minwith a Limited Express train)
From the south exit of Higashi-Okazaki station,
・By bus: Take Tatsumigaoka-junkan bus that departs from the No.11 bus station, get off at Tatsumikita-1chome (about 5 min) and walk east for about 3 min.
・On foot: About 20 min.

For more details, please refer to the ExCELLS website (https://www.excells.orion.ac.jp/en/contact).

Details of the Call for Proposals
1. ExCELLS Project Research [ Exploration of the Boundary between Matter and Life ](1) Outline
The ExCELLS aims to answer the fundamental question common to all humankind, "What is life? ".
For this purpose, we have established "the Advanced Co-creation Platform" to develop and promoteadvanced life science research. As part of this platform, the faculty members affiliated with the center andresearchers from external research institutions form a research team to work on a project-oriented
collaborative research. We refer to this collaborative research and the team as "the ExCELLS Project
Research. "The ExCELLS project research "Exploration of the Boundary between Matter and Life" will observe
the interactions between organisms and viruses living in extreme environments and the morphology,function, and dynamics of molecular complexes related to environmental responses, in order to elucidate
the essential or minimal mechanisms and principles necessary to maintain biological functions. Thisproject will conduct research for a systematic understanding of the boundary between matter and life. Weare calling research proposals for these goals.
We also welcome research proposals based on own original and novel ideas by young researchers.
(2) ExCELLS researcher in charge
When applying, you must choose one ExCELLS researcher that is participating the ExCELLS project
research "Exploration of the Boundary between Matter and Life" as an ExCELLS researcher in charge forfacilitating your participation in this ExCELLS project research.
For details of lists for the ExCELLS researchers that are participating the ExCELLS project research,please visit the ExCELLS website. (ExCELLS web site URL) https://www.excells.orion.ac.jp/en/list-ofadoption#1-1(3) Project term
From 1st April 2024 to 31st March 2027
(4) Research expenses
Up to 2.0 million yen will be allocated for research expenses during the fiscal year.
2. ExCELLS Themed Research (Seeds Discovery)(1) Outline
Collaborative research conducted by researchers at universities and public research institutes incollaboration with two or more research groups from ExCELLS on following research themes
related to ExCELLS's goal for understanding the design principles of life.
[Research themes]
1. Research and development of basic technology for creation of artificial cells(1) Theoretical and computational sciences and chemical approach(2) Molecular and cell biology approach
2. Research on artificial creation of cellular networks
3. Research on adaptation of life for extreme environments
4. Research on DX that contributes to the integration of the molecular-cell-tissue hierarchy(2) ExCELLS researcher in charge
For details of the acceptable research groups, please visit the ExCELLS website.
(ExCELLS web site URL) https://www.excells.orion.ac.jp/en/list-of-adoption#1-2(3) Project term
From 1st April 2024 to 31st March 2025

(4) Continuing research project
You can continue to apply for research project. Judgement is conducted every fiscal year, andit can be continued for up to three years.
(5) Research expenses
Up to 2.5 million yen will be allocated for research expenses during the fiscal year.
3. General joint research(1) Outline
Joint research projects conducted by researchers from universities/public research institutes incooperation with faculty members from ExCELLS. We provide opportunities to use state-of-theart equipment and advanced technical support.
For details of the equipment, please visit the ExCELLS website.
(ExCELLS web site URL) https://www.excells.orion.ac.jp/en/equipments-for-cooperative-studies(2) ExCELLS researcher in charge
For details of the acceptable research groups, please visit the ExCELLS website.
(ExCELLS web site URL) https://www.excells.orion.ac.jp/en/list-of-adoption#1-3(3) Project term
From 1st April 2024 to 31st March 2025
(4) Continuing research project
You can continue to apply for research project. Judgment is conducted every fiscal year.
(5) Research and travel expenses
Based on the visit plan stated in the application form, travel expenses will be allocated within
the budget of ExCELLS.
Research expenses will not be allocated.