Progress Plan for Maintaining Academy Center Certification
World Premier International Research Center Initiative (WPI)
Host Institution

Kyoto University

Research Center

Institute for Integrated Cell-Material Sciences (iCeMS)

Host Institution Head

Yamagiwa Juichi

Center Director

Kitagawa Susumu

Administrative Director

Ueda Kazumitsu

Please prepare this Progress plan based on your application for WPI Academy. Summarize the Center’s future plans with regard to thefollowing 8 items within five A-4 pages. (Also fill out the appendices at the end of this form.)

1. Overall Image of Your Center* Describe the Center’s overall image including its identity.

After iCeMS was certified for “WPI Academy” in 2017, young ambitious researches have been employed
as PIs from outside iCeMS and also newly appointed to PIs. As a result, among 10 core PIs 30% areinternational researchers and 20% are female researchers. Their average age is 42.1. The environment ofiCeMS that values diversity of scientific field, nationality, gender and age makes it possible to achieve true
integration of “cell biology” and “materials science”. iCeMS concentrates on the study of threeessential properties of cells: Cell Communication; Nucleus Information; and Membrane Compartments.
Generation of Smart Materials with functionalities equivalent to those of membrane compartments inliving cells, which simultaneously “select” and “condense” molecules, and their application in the fields of
medicine, energy and environment. To further promote the integrative cell-material studies, iCeMS has set
up the “iCeMS Analysis Center”, which facilitates atomic/molecular characterization of materials anddetailed observation of biological activities of cells. iCeMS also founded the Research Administration Office(RAO) to promote the WPI Academy program such as international brain circulation, outreach activity, andfundraising.

2. Mid- to Long-term Research Objectives and Strategies* Describe new challenges in the Center’s research objectives and plans after FY 2020.
* Describe your future research strategy and plans and research organization including your line-up of Principal Investigators, and youroutlook for fostering and securing the next generation of researchers.

The long-term research objective of iCeMS is true integration of fundamental cell science and materials
science, which makes ground-breaking contributions to both sciences and becomes relevant to global
issues such as disease or diet, energy or the environment. One of the most important mid- to long-term
strategies is the further facilitation of five collaboration laboratories with overseas research institutes. The“Smart Materials Research Center” with Vidyasirimedhi Institute of Science and Technology (VISTEC)
in Thailand, which is aiming the synthesis of new materials inspired by the biological reactions to solve
environmental and energy problems. As a future development, Horike focuses on the education of
doctoral students and also works on the technical needs of the Thai chemical companies that arecollaborating with VISTEC. At the “Center for Integrated Biosystems”, collaborative researches with
Academia Sinica researchers are on-going. Especially, a joint research based on unbiased screening to
identify new molecules which regulate and control important physiological reactions, which is Suzuki's
specialty, will be conducted. The iCeMS Taiwan Office, which was established last year, is also expected todeepen exchanges between universities in Taiwan and Kyoto University. In the “Kyoto University
Shanghai Lab”, Uesugi, an iCeMS Deputy Director and also a specially-appointed associate professor at

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Fudan University, is conducting advanced collaborative research (three fields of chemical biology, newmaterials, and energy conversion) between Shanghai area universities, and utilizing this On-site Lab togive lectures and interviews to attract international students from top Chinese schools. He is expanding
his chemical biology joint research to the fields of new materials and energy conversion. The“Quantum
Nano Medicine Research Center” was established by cross-appointed professor Tamanoi for acollaboration between iCeMS and California Nano-Systems Institute (CNSI) of UCLA. The aim of the Center
is to highlight recent emergence of a new field of science that is created by the convergence of quantum
beams research and nanomaterial studies. It is now operated as an in-bound type laboratory, but he isplanning to develop this center to cross-bound type by establishing a laboratory in UCLA. The “Small
Molecule Laboratory (Smolab)” as a International Associated Laboratory (LIA) with French National
Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS) is aiming the synthesis of new materials inspired by the biologicalreactions to solve environmental and energy problems. These five collaborative laboratories promote theinternational brain circulation and stimulate the interdisciplinary research of iCeMS.

3. Management System of the Research Organization* Describe the system of organizational management via which the Center will execute the above-described research strategy and plans.
* In Appendix 1-3, list the Principal Investigators, enter the number of Center personnel (researchers, research-support staff, andadministrative staff), and provide a diagram of the Center’s organizational management system.

3-1. Basic Organization
In order to make prompt decisions, iCeMS continuously empowers the Director with strong decisionmaking authority. At the same time, the Director’s decision is supported by the Executive Board Meeting,which consists of the Director, Deputy Directors, PI Board Chair, Research Administrative Director, and
Deputy Research Administrative Director. In the PI Meeting, the decisions are shared with PIs andresearchers, while management tasks suggested by PIs are brainstormed and brushed up. Since 2019,
iCeMS set up three committees; the Facilities Management Committee, the Outreach Committee, and theFundraising Committee, each are comprised of PIs, the RAO members, and the administration to discuss
improvement plans and solutions to various problems. The committees will be further activated in orderto smoothly realize various ideas by researchers. Furthermore, iCeMS is to establish another one, “Onsite Laboratories Steering Committee”, to plan the strategy for the management of the overseas
collaboration.
3-2. COVID-19 Task Force Committee
Immediately after the nationwide spread of COVID-19, iCeMS set up the “COVID-19 Task Force
Committee” to protect researchers from infection, to collect and share correct information, and to maintainthe minimum research activity. Because iCeMS has open offices without physical walls between researchgroups, it was an urgent issue to make rules on how to use the offices and labs efficiently without spreading
infection. The Committee has made prompt decision-making in response to ever-changing situations of
the spread of COVID-19. Another important task is to secure the safety of overseas researchers. Many of
the researchers from abroad, about 30% of the iCeMS researchers, have difficulties in understanding
information from Japanese government and the local government related to COVID-19, because most of
the information is released in Japanese. The Committee distributes correct information about the current
situation and also provides information about medical institutions providing English support.

4. Plan for Promoting the International Circulation of World’s Best Brains* Describe your policy and concrete plan for promoting the international circulation of the world’s best brains, which is an importantfunction of the WPI Academy.

4-1. iCeMS Internationalization Program
iCeMS will continue to offer the researchers a grant program for inviting prominent researchers fromoverseas institutes and supporting travel of iCeMS researchers to overseas institutes. Other than aid fortravel expenses, iCeMS will also actively support global exchanges that contribute to the

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internationalization of research activities such as expansion of the research network and promotion of theiCeMS visibility.
4-2. International Symposia Held for Brain Circulation
iCeMS will actively host international research meetings both in Japan and abroad. This provides aplace not only for the young researchers of iCeMS to hunt a next job by presenting their works, but also
for researchers from different disciplines to gather and exchange to acquire new insights. Especially,
iCeMS places emphasis on the opportunities to hold international symposia with the partner institutes of
On-site Laboratories. In addition, iCeMS is discussing ways to hold international online meetings involving
hundreds of researchers, which can provide the same effect as real symposia. Through such an attempt,
iCeMS will propose a new model of a symposium in combination with the advantages of real meetings andvirtual ones.
4-3. iCeMS Retreats with Inviting Overseas Prominent Researchers
iCeMS holds its annual retreats for the purpose of sharing the on-going, unpublished multidisciplinary
research activities. At this opportunity, iCeMS is planning to invite several overseas cutting-edge scientists
to encourage iCeMS young researchers.

5. Plan for Disseminating the WPI Program Achievements* Describe your policy and concrete plan for disseminating WPI center achievements both within the host institution and to otheruniversities, especially their experience and know-how accumulated on establishing top world research institute and advancing system
reforms.

5-1. Cooperation with ASHBi in Kyoto University
In 2018, a new WPI research center, Institute for the Advanced Study of Human Biology (ASHBi) was
founded in Kyoto University. iCeMS and ASHBi, both of which are organized under the Kyoto University
Institute for Advanced Study (KUIAS), cooperate with each other through in-depth exchange of information.
In particular, their cooperation such as holding of symposia and outreach activities is expected to have asynergistic effect.
5-2. Cooperation with URA in Kyoto University
Kyoto University Research Administration Office (KURA) facilitates the environment where researchers
can concentrate on their research activities by supporting the planning and operating research projects
and returning the benefits of research to society. The iCeMS RAO cooperates with KURA to support grantapplication by iCeMS PIs and to share the experience and knowledge gained through the establishment of
the iCeMS On-site Laboratories with other departments in Kyoto University. Furthermore, several new
attempts by iCeMS such as introduction of virtual communication will be shared to KURA to suggest toother departments in Kyoto University.
5-3. Analysis Center
The iCeMS Analysis Center operates several characteristic analytical instruments both for materials
science and for cell biology. The Center includes the “Zeiss-iCeMS Innovation Core”, where thedevelopment of new bio-imaging techniques has been
conducted in collaboration with Carl-Zeiss.
Toeffectively use the instruments, the Center has alreadybegun sharing its equipment based on a billingsystem. Through this procedure, the Center is
expected to function as a hub for domestic andoverseas instrumental analysis in the cell-materialscience.
5-4. Cooperation with Other WPI Centers
Since iCeMS covers a wide range of scientific fields,
iCeMS has a high potential to promote collaboration

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with researchers at other WPI centers. In addition to collaboration by individual researchers, iCeMS isplanning to have opportunities of joint symposia with other WPI centers.
Outreach activities will also be collaborative with other WPI centers. iCeMS regularly takes part in
exhibition booths at WPI Science Symposia and at AAAS Annual Meetings. iCeMS also presents a booth at
the European Materials Research Society (E-MRS)’ conference to introduce the research environment inJapan and WPI to materials scientists from all over the world. Furthermore, this year iCeMS and iFReC
started to deliver a series of lectures for general public together in the center of Osaka. We are planningto give lectures via webinar this summer. Other WPI centers could join in this activity in the future.

6. Plan for Sustaining the WPI Brand* Describe your plan for sustaining and enhancing the WPI brand.

6-1. Research Administration Office
The iCeMS Research Administration Office (RAO) is responsible for planning of the international brain
circulation, outreach activity, and fundraising. The RAO also plays a role in practicing various new efforts
to improve the environment for researchers and staff at university. Successful cases are to be recognized
as the achievements of the WPI Academy, and will be shared with other WPI centers as well as otherdepartments in Kyoto University.
6-2. Publication of Brochures and Newsletters
iCeMS publishes its brochures with the general information on the institute, and the newsletters "OurWorld Your Future" (two or three times a year) to reach high school students and other general public, allin both English and Japanese, both in electronic media and in print media.
6-3. International and Domestic Dissemination of Research Results
iCeMS actively disseminates research results, both domestically and internationally. Each press releaseis distributed along with an artistic and approachable illustration to represent the news. Using illustrations
increases the visibility of press releases on science press release portals such as Asia Research News andEurekAlert!, and web-based international news sites tend to share the story with the image provided withthe press release. An attractive image makes the news easier to be shared and featured.
6-4. Posting Information through Social Media
iCeMS makes frequent postings to its social media; Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Instagram. iCeMS’postings have been viewed by many people and have received active responses. iCeMS is also utilizing thesocial media as tools to acquire research resources, such as recruitment of young researchers, donation,and opportunity of collaboration. Especially for the international recruitment, iCeMS is planning to construct
a dissemination platform to reach overseas young researchers and graduate students utilizing social media,
in cooperation with overseas consulting company. This approach is expected to promote the recruitmentof motivated young and excellent researchers.
6-5. Activation of Fundraising
iCeMS has always been accepting donations through the “iCeMS fund”. In the near future, iCeMS will
join the donation project by an internet portal site well-known in Japan. This contributes to not only
increase of the donation, but also improvement of the iCeMS visibility for the general public. iCeMS willhold the “Thanks Gathering for iCeMS Donors”, for the same purpose as the event we physically held inMarch 2019, but not a physical one. It is now being planned to include online events such as a virtual labtour for the donors to enjoy even if they cannot get together at iCeMS in order to avoid coronavirus
infections.
6-6. Construction of Alumni Database
iCeMS started to construct a database of alumni, who are currently, or were formerly, associated with
iCeMS. The purpose of this database is to provide centralized management of iCeMS member informationand to use this to send the iCeMS alumni attractive news regarding various events, donation opportunities,

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WPI-iCeMSrecruitment, and other relevant information. After the database is almost completed, the operational rules
for updating the data will be set, and posting various information to alumni will be started. It is expected
to enhance the interactive exchange of research resources (manpower, donation, and information)
between iCeMS and its alumni, and among the alumni in the near future.
6-7. Trial for “New Normal”
The RAO is making trials to make suggestions for the “new normal” working style without reducing thequality of communication. One of the attempts is the introduction of a virtual office application, which canfacilitate the communication among the office members during telework. The other is the further effective
utilization of a chat tool, which has already been used by the faculty and the RAO members. The RAO will
evaluate such online tools including web conferencing, and will suggest the most effective communication
procedure, which may stand between real and virtual.

7. Support by Host Institution* Describe measures that the host institution is and will take to support and sustain your Center.

7-1. Support Policy of Host Institution to Sustain the Center
To secure resources for operations and research activities of iCeMS, Kyoto University will continuously
implement the following measures:
1. As a necessary financial measure for the iCeMS’ operation, the university will provide indirect costs
associated with competitive grants to iCeMS.
2. The university will provide 12 positions and expenses for principal investigators (PIs).
3. The university will provide 10 young researchers.
4. The university will provide 9 full-time positions and expenses to support the administrative part.
5. The university will offer a research environment of the highest quality, with a total area of about
11,000 square meters and fully-equipped facilities for exclusive use.
6. The university will support maintenance cost for large-scale facilities and equipment.
7-2. Operation of On-site Laboratories
The pursuit of “a flexible and dynamic approach to knowledge creation” is one component of Kyoto
University’s strategy as a Designated National University. As part of those efforts, the university isimplementing an initiative to establish locally-managed “On-site Laboratories” in cooperation with overseas
partner universities and research institutions. By the end of FY2019, Kyoto University has authorized atotal of ten centers for this project. Four of these are run by researchers belonging to iCeMS (Smart
Materials Research Center, Kyoto University Shanghai Lab, Quantum Nano Medicine Research Center, andCenter for Integrated Biosystems). Kyoto University will provide financial support for these On-site
Laboratories continuously after 2020.

8. Resource Allocation Plan

* Describe your plans over a 5-year period for allocating resources acquired from the host institution (e.g., financial resources andpositions) and from external research funding to use in carrying out the Center’s functions and activities described above.
* In Appendix 4, enter concrete numbers in the Resource Allocation Plan.

8-1. Funding Support by Host Institution
Until FY2024, Kyoto University plans to continuously support more than 1.6 billion yen annually for
iCeMS. iCeMS draws a blueprint for self-reliance by increasing large-scale external funds acquired by iCeMS
active researchers, most of whom are in their forties, though the support by the university will be declining
gradually.
8-2. Personnel Support by Host Institution
Kyoto University plans to maintain the current status of personnel support for five years from FY2020.

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Appendix 1

List of Principal Investigators   If the number of principal investigators exceeds 10, add columns as appropriate.
   Give age as of 1 April 2020   For investigators who will not participate in the Center project at the time of submission of this Progress Plan, indicate
the time that their participation will start in the “Notes” column.
Name

Age

1 Kitagawa Susumu

68

2 Kengaku Mineko

53

3 Sivaniah Easan

48

4 Suzuki Jun

42

5 Fukazawa Aiko40

6 Tamanoi Fuyuhiko72

7 Ueda Kazumitsu

66

8 Nakanishi Kazuki

59

9 Furukawa Shuhei

42

10 Horike Satoshi

42

11 Kamei Kenichiro

44

12 Wang Dan Ohtan

44

13 Sugimura Kaoru

41

Affiliation(Position title, department,
organization)
Director, Institute for Integrated CellMaterial Sciences, Institute forAdvanced Study, Kyoto University
Professor, Institute for Integrated CellMaterial Sciences, Institute forAdvanced Study, Kyoto University
Professor, Institute for Integrated CellMaterial Sciences, Institute forAdvanced Study, Kyoto University

Academic degree,
Specialty
Ph.D.
Coordination
Chemistry
Ph.D.
Developmental
Neurobiology
Ph. D.
Physics

Ph.D.
Professor, Institute for Integrated CellMedical
Material Sciences, Institute for
Biochemistry, Cell
Advanced Study, Kyoto University
Membrane Biology
Professor, Institute for Integrated CellPh.D.
Material Sciences, Institute for
Organic Chemistry
Advanced Study, Kyoto University
Program-Specific Professor, Institute for
Ph.D.
Integrated Cell-Material Sciences,
Nanoparticles andInstitute for Advanced Study, Kyoto
Cancer Therapy
University
Program-Specific Professor, Institute for
Ph.D.
Integrated Cell-Material Sciences,
Cellular BioInstitute for Advanced Study, Kyoto
chemistry
University
Program-Specific Professor, Institute for
Ph.D.
Integrated Cell-Material Sciences,
Sol-Gel Science,
Institute for Advanced Study, Kyoto
Porous Materials
University
Ph.D.
Professor, Institute for Integrated CellChemistry ofMaterial Sciences, Institute for
Molecular
Advanced Study, Kyoto University
Assemblies
Associate Professor, Institute for
Ph.D.
Integrated Cell-Material Sciences,
Materials
Institute for Advanced Study, Kyoto
Chemistry
University
Associate Professor, Institute for
Ph.D.
Integrated Cell-Material Sciences,
Microengineering,
Institute for Advanced Study, Kyoto
Stem Cell
University
Research
Program-Specific Research Center
Associate Professor, Institute for
Ph.D.
Integrated Cell-Material Sciences,
Neuroscience
Institute for Advanced Study, Kyoto
University
Program-Specific Research Center
Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Institute forBiophysics,
Integrated Cell-Material Sciences,
Developmental
Institute for Advanced Study, Kyoto
Biology
University

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Effort(%)*(Notes)Enter "new" or"ongoing"

60%

ongoing60%

ongoing60%

ongoing60%

ongoing60%

ongoing36%

ongoing60%

ongoing12%

ongoing60%

ongoing, promoted
from Associate
Professor to Professor

60%

ongoing60%

ongoing60%

ongoing60%

ongoing

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36

Associate Professor, Institute forIntegrated Cell-Material Sciences,
Institute for Advanced Study, Kyoto
University

Ph.D.
Supramolecular
Chemistry,
Chemical Biology

60%

ongoing

47

Ph.D.
Program-Specific Associate Professor,
X-ray
Institute for Integrated Cell-Material
Crystallography,
Sciences, Institute for Advanced Study,
Synchrotron
Kyoto University
Science24%

ongoing34

Ph.D.
Junior Associate Professor, Institute forAppliedIntegrated Cell-Material Sciences,
Mathematics andInstitute for Advanced Study, Kyoto
Theoretical
University
Chemistry

60%

ongoing

47

Program-Specific Research Center
Junior Assistant Professor, Institute forIntegrated Cell-Material Sciences,
Institute for Advanced Study, Kyoto
University

Ph.D.
Stem Cell Biology,
Stem Cell
Engineering, andDevelopmental
Biology60%

ongoing40

Junior Associate Professor, Institute forIntegrated Cell-Material Sciences,
Institute for Advanced Study, Kyoto
University

Ph.D.
Bio-inspired
therapeutics,
Epigenetics

60%

ongoing

53

Professor, Institute for Chemical
Research, Kyoto University

Ph.D.
Chemical Biology

32%

ongoing

20 Kageyama Ryoichiro

63

M.D.
Professor, Institute for Frontier Life and Ph.D.
Medical Sciences, Kyoto University
Developmental
Biology10%

ongoing

21 Imahori Hiroshi

58

Professor, Graduate School ofEngineering, Kyoto University

Ph.D.
Organic Chemistry10%

ongoing

22 Sugiyama Hiroshi

63

Professor, Graduate School of Science,
Kyoto University

10%

ongoing

23 Tanaka Motomu

49

Professor, Center for Integrative
Medicine and Physics, Institute forAdvanced Study, Kyoto University

10%

ongoing

24 Tanaka Koichiro

57

Professor, Graduate School of Science,
Kyoto University

10%

ongoing

25 Mori Yasuo

60

Professor, Graduate School ofEngineering, Kyoto University

Ph.D.
Chemical Biology
Ph.D.
Medical Physics,
Soft Matter
Physics
Ph.D.
Terahertz Optical
Science
M.D.
Ph.D.
Molecular Biology

10%

ongoing

Professor, Graduate School ofEngineering, Kyoto University

Ph.D.
Artificial
photosynthesis,
Solar hydrogenproduction,
Photocatalysts

10%ongoing

Professor, Graduate School of Science,
Kyoto University

Ph.D.
Solid-state
Chemistry:
Electron-proton
Coupled System

10%

ongoing

14 Fujita Daishi

15 Sugimoto Kunihisa

16 Packwood Daniel Miles

17 Hasegawa Koichi

18

Namasivayam Ganesh
Pandian

19 Uesugi Motonari

26 Abe Ryu

27 Kitagawa Hiroshi

46

58

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28 Hamachi Itaru

59

Professor, Graduate School ofEngineering, Kyoto University

29 Kageyama Hiroshi

50

Professor, Graduate School ofEngineering, Kyoto University

Ph.D.
Chemical Biology,
Supramolecular
Biomaterials
Ph.D.
Solid-state
ChemistryPh.D.
Bio-imaging,
Visualization ofinter- and intracellular signaltransduction

30 Matsuda Michiyuki

61

Professor, Graduate School of
Biostudies, Kyoto University

31 Carlton Peter46

Ph. D.
Associate Professor, Graduate School ofMolecular andBiostudies, Kyoto University
Cell Biology

10%

ongoing10%

ongoing10%

ongoing10%

ongoing*Percentage of time that the principal investigator will devote to his/her Academy center work vis-à-vis his/her total working hours.

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Appendix 3

Appendix 3

Diagram of Organizational Management System- Diagram separately the Center’s organizational management system and its position within the host institution in an easily
understood manner. If you are planning to change your organization management system and/or its position within the host institution inor after FY 2020 compared to their description in Appendix 3-1 of Activities report, show the changes in the diagram.

At the beginning of FY2020, iCeMS established COVID-19 Task Force Committee to protect researchers from
infection, to collect and share correct information, and to maintain the minimum research activity. iCeMS will set up
On-site Laboratories Steering Committee to plan the strategy for the management of the overseas collaboration.
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Appendix 3

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