Summary of Proposal

Host institution name

Kyoto University

Head of host institution Kazuo Oike, President of Kyoto University
Prospective center
director

Norio Nakatsuji, Ph. D.

Prospective
administrative director

Wataru Soga

Title of center project

Institute for Integrated Cell-Material Sciences

Center nameInstitute for Integrated Cell-Material Sciences

Project Summary

Research fields

This proposal is a response to the government initiative to foundworld-premier research institutes to explore interdisciplinary fields, which
will be placed within the global career-development flow of young scientists.
We will accumulate a critical mass of leading scientists for the symbiotic
integration of material and cell sciences (focusing on mouse, monkey ,and human pluripotent stem cells), based on the notion that thefundamental understanding and control of molecular complexes in themeso-scale of 10-100 nm is critical for creating the science andtechnology of the next generation. We will achieve this goal by taking
cross-disciplinary approaches, with the following inter-related targets. For
basic science:
1) Chemistry in nano-meso space in aqueous media; 2) Cellularmeso-biophysics; and 3) Stem-cell-differentiation meso-engineering. We
will contribute to human wellness by developing A) environmentally-friendly
chemical reaction systems, B) drug-synthesis/controlled-releasemicrovessels working in the body, and C) regenerative medicine based on
regulated cell-material complexes.
An interdisciplinary research field, spanning Biosciences, Chemistry,
Material Sciences, and Physics (selected from the provided list of fields).
The scientific direction of this proposed Institute was conceived based on
TWO KEY CONCEPTS. They are MESO-SPACE and STEM CELLS.
(1) Meso-space is the space of 10-100 nm. Between the two well-walked
lands of bulk- and nano-spaces, there is the vast unexplored field of
meso-space. However, we can find fledgling developments there in various
branches of science. The cooperative structural changes of porous
coordination polymers present good examples. Many key functions of thecell, such as transcription (mRNA synthesis using a DNA template) andsignaling, are achieved by large molecular complexes of 10-100 nm, rather
than simple bimolecular collisions. In this Institute, we will develop afundamental understanding and control of the key molecular (weakly
cooperative) interactions occurring in the meso-space, throughout
cellular, chemical, physical, and materials sciences. By taking
interdisciplinary approaches, we will establish a unified view of themolecular interactions in the meso-space in all of these fields, and willdevelop a variety of unprecedented technologies based on the meso-scaleinteractions.
(2) Mouse, monkey, and human pluripotent STEM CELLS will be used
as an important paradigm of the cell throughout the research in thisInstitute. A unified cellular paradigm is critical for fostering the collaborative

research by investigators with various backgrounds. This would enable theapplication to regenerative medicine using human embryonic stem (ES)cells.
Kyoto University has been known worldwide for its excellence in bothmaterial and cell sciences. Physics and chemistry-related departments
have produced four Nobel Laureates, and the times cited for Chemistry of
Kyoto University was fourth in the world and first in Japan in 2006. Its
Institute for Frontier Medical Sciences is a strong world leader in pluripotent
stem cell research. Many faculty members of Kyoto University are active
leaders in the forefront of such scientific integration, and thus will enable a
critical mass of researchers to establish an ideal research environment.
Research objectives

The same as those described in the “Project Summary” and “Research fields”i) Composition of administrative staff (Sentences in blue represent those in the formats)
The Administration Director and the Associate Administration Director, together withadministrative staff (27 members), will be hired. They together should have anexperience in international scientific collaboration, as well as the knowledge on
administration affairs within the Japanese national university setting. There will be six
administrative sections in charge of Personnel and General Matters, Planning, Business,
Intellectual Property, Public Relations and Industry Liaison, and Research Ethics andSafety. All sections will have at least two members with a good command of English.
ii) Decision-making system
The Center Director is responsible for all aspects of the Institute, with the aid of the
Deputy-Center Director and the Administration Director. A steering committee,
consisting of both scientists and non-scientists from within and outside Kyoto University,
has the authority to advise the Center Director. They will meet twice a year on a regular
Outline of management basis as well as upon the Center Director’s request. Scientific advice will be given by thecore committee, which consists of all of the Principal Investigators (see the next box).
iii) Allocation of authority between the Institute and the host institution
In the organizational structure of Kyoto University, this Institute will occupy a special
position, freed from binding rules of the classical Japanese university archetype, topresent a futuristic model of a highly authorized research institute, not only to Kyoto
University but also throughout Japan and the world. For this purpose, flexible rules ofa new paradigm, as for the relationships with the university headquarters, will becreated. The reforms include merit-based salary, reduced duties for various
committees and undergraduate education. These rules will be applied for any otherfoundation of research institutes within Kyoto University in the future. Although theCenter Director will report directly to the President of Kyoto University and the
Executive Board Member in charge of research and education, the Institute willbasically be run autonomously.
Twenty (20) Principal Investigators (PIs)(including three from abroad and one located at a satellite location)
Total of 135 Investigators (including 40 investigators from abroad)
Total of 250 members (as of 2009.4)
Principal Investigators (20)
From Kyoto University (13)Norio Nakatsuji, Center Director(Institute for Frontier Medical Sciences, Stem-Cell Biology, 57)
Susumu Kitagawa, Co-Center Director
Researchers and other(Graduate School of Engineering, Inorganic Chemistry, 56)
center staffs
Motonari Uesugi (Institute for Chemical Research, Chemical Biology, 40)
Koichiro Tanaka (Graduate School of Science, Terahertz Optical Physics, 44)
Shinya Yamanaka (Institute for Frontier Medical Sciences, Stem-Cell Biology, 45)
Hiroshi Imahori (Graduate School of Engineering, Photochemistry, 46)
Hiroshi Sugiyama (Graduate School of Science, Gene Chemistry, 51)
Kazumitsu Ueda (Graduate School of Agriculture, Cellular Biochemistry, 53)
Akihiro Kusumi (Institute for Frontier Med. Sci., Single-Molecule Nanobiology, 54)
Mitsuru Hashida (Graduate School of Pharm. Sci., Drug Delivery/Targeting, 56)
Kiyoshi Tomioka (Graduate School of Pharm. Sci., Medicinal Chemistry, 59)
Tamio Hayashi (Graduate School of Science, Synthetic Organic Chemistry, 59)（Host institution：Kyoto University

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Title of Center Project：Institute for Integrated Cell-Material Sciences）

Outline of research
environment

Outline of indicators forevaluating a center’s
global standing

Securing researchfunding

Mikio Takano (Institute for Chemical Research, Solid-State Chemistry, 63)
From other institutes (6 including 3 non-Japanese scientists, 1 Japanese to beannounced)
Takashi Hiiragi (Max-Planck Institute, Münster, Developmental Biology, 39)
Yoshie Harada (Tokyo Metropol. Inst. of Med. Sci., Single-Molecule Physiology, 47)
Konstantin Agladze (George Washington University, Biophysics, 51)
Yong Chen (Ecole Normale Supérieure, CNRS, Nanotechnology, 50)
John Heuser (Washington University, School of Medicine., Biophysics, 65)
Principal Investigator at the satellite institute (1: Faculty of Appl. Biol. Sci., Gifu Univ.)
Makoto Kiso (Faculty of Appl. Biol. Sci., Gifu University, Bio-Organic Chemistry, 60)#To make this Institute an attractive center that provides a career path for young
investigators around the globe, the independent Super Postdoc positions will beoffered with an annual salary and a research fund (a type of Career Development
Award). These will be independent positions, but an awardee will choose amentor, from among the PIs, to help him/her out.
1) To minimize the administrative workload of the researchers, the administration officewill be adequately staffed with qualified workers. 2) Start-up funds for researchers
from other institutions will be guaranteed by the Institute and Kyoto University. 3) All
positions will be disclosed and advertised internationally. 4) The official language will
be English, for both research and administration. 5) Official evaluations for the Instituteand the members will be conducted in the years 3, 5, 8, and 10 by an international
committee, and the results will be used for determining the salary levels. 6) Kyoto
University will provide office and lab spaces, and a research environment suitable fora first-class research institute. 7) International Symposia to promote the Integrated
Cell-Material Sciences will be held at least twice a year, inviting world leaders from
related fields.
An evaluation committee consisting of both domestic and international members will
evaluate the Institute based on the following five criteria.
(1) Have the individual investigators carried out research that could impact the field?
(2) Have the individual investigators originally from different disciplines worked
collaboratively to produce important results?
(3) Has the administration properly supported the investigators, in a manner suitable fora premier international research center?
(4) Has the Institute become recognized by researchers around the globe as an
excellent place for young investigators to establish their career paths?
(5) Has the Institute sufficiently promoted the interactions with researchers from theeastern and Asian countries?
In addition to the funds from this program, we expect to obtain extramural supports
which researchers will procure, and active supports from Kyoto University forinstitute’s expenses.

(1) Kyoto University will provide the Institute with buildings located near the“International Zone of the university”, where Institut Franco-Japonais du Kansai, Centro
Culturale Italo Giapponese di Kyoto, and Göthe-Institut Kyoto are located, i.e., thebuildings that previously housed the Institute for Research in Humanities and theEngineering Bldg. 9, plus the Sub-Center lab at the Institute for Frontier Medical
Sciences (animal and ES cell facilities). In addition, the following supports will be
provided by Kyoto University.
(1) Anti-vibration (earthquake) retrofitting of the buildings and remodeling for theSummary of hostlaboratory. (2) Most of the utility bills and building maintenance expenses.
institution’s commitment(2) Kyoto University will provide at least five principal investigator-class positions. Also,
it will cover the salary for the PIs from Kyoto University, as well as necessary means tofill the vacancies within the former departments of PIs. PIs will keep affiliation with theirformer departments for graduate education.
(3) As for the administration, Kyoto University provides the full-time administrative staff
and necessary personnel expenses in order to establish an independent administrative
organization.
(4) Kyoto University will provide the Center Director’s discretionary fund.

（Host institution：Kyoto University

3

Title of Center Project：Institute for Integrated Cell-Material Sciences）

Research Center Project
Host institution name

Kyoto University

Head of host institution Professor Kazuo Oike, Ph. D., President of Kyoto University
Title of center project

Institute for Integrated Cell-Material Sciences

Center nameInstitute for Integrated Cell-Material Sciences

1. Overview
Our new institute, iCeMS, aims to become a world-premier research
institute to create interdisciplinary fields, which will be placed within
the global career-development flow of young scientists. Leading
scientists will gather in Kyoto and work together for the synergistic
integration of cell and material sciences, including chemistry, physics
and cell biology and focusing on pluripotent stem (ES and iPS) cells andmeso-control, based on the notion that the fundamental understanding
and control of molecular complexes in the meso-scale of 10-100 nm is
critical for creating the science and technology of the next generation.
We will take cross-disciplinary approaches to create following newscience fields and their applications. We will create 1) new chemistry
and physics of meso-space, 2) cellular meso-biophysics, and 3) stem-cell
control by meso-engineering.
Furthermore, we will contribute to human wellness by developing A)
environmentally-friendly chemistry by meso-control, B) detoxicationand drug synthesis in the body, and C) regenerative medicine bycontrolling stem cells with smart materials.
Project summary

Also, we are going to create novel management system and thefollowing new initiatives in our iCeMS, so that it will be able to serve asa model for global premier research centers in Japan.
1) Kyoto iCeMS Fellows (independent superpostdocs): International
advertisement and searching will create a global career hub for the best
and brightest among very young researchers.
2) Common-use laboratories and open offices will remove physicaland mental walls between research groups and enable flexible allocationof research spaces, thus promoting cross-disciplinary research throughcollaboration of researchers from different fields.
3) Special supports for nurturing and promoting female researchers to
top-level scientists.

2. Purpose and Mission of the iCeMS
Our project is a response to the Japanese government initiative tofound world-premier international research centers, (1) to explore
interdisciplinary research fields, and (2) to place themselves within the
global career-development flow of top scientists in their own
generations.

To address the first point, “to explore interdisciplinary field”, theproposed institute aims to attain a critical mass of leading scientists forthe creation of a new research field, “the Integrated Cell-Material
Sciences”. This is based on the notion that the fundamental
understanding and control of molecular complexes in the meso-space of
10-100 nm is critical for creating the science and technology of the next
generation.
Therefore, meso-space is one of the two key concepts in this proposal.
Meso-space is greater than the nano-space, which nanotechnology andmolecular biology have extensively explored. It is smaller than the bulk
space greater than 1 micron, where there are sufficient numbers ofmolecules for ensemble averaging. Between these two well-traveledlands, there is the vast unexplored land of meso-space of 10-100 nm.
Although molecular, atomic, and ionic interactions occurring in
nano-space are interesting subject of research, they are generally
elementary processes. Non-linear, weakly-cooperative events, which
present challenging problems and can be the seeds for the tomorrow’s
technology, take place in meso-space.
Using the notion of meso-space, the biological and non-biologicalworlds can be united to learn from each other, and to elucidate thephysical and chemical processes characteristic of meso-space, including
the formation and functional mechanisms of the meso-scale molecularcomplexes in the cell. We envisage that such a study would develop a
new realm of science and technology, in the cross-disciplinary field of
biosciences, physics, chemistry, and materials science.
The second key concept is the stem cells. Since we will be a group ofinvestigators with a variety of backgrounds, standardized paradigm forstudying the cell must be established. This is indispensable for fosteringcollaborative research, by enhancing the ease of sharing knowledge on
cells, biological tools, samples, and communication among researchers
working in different fields in this Institute. For this purpose, all of thePIs will use pluripotent stem cells, either embryonic or
artificially-induced pluripotent stem cells. These cells grow rapidly;
their genes can be manipulated easily, and then with the same
manipulated genes, they can be differentiated into various cell lineages.
Therefore, using pluripotent stem cells for the research would accelerate
the development of regenerative treatments.
To address the second point of this government initiative, “to place
itself within the global career-development flow of young scientists”, I
would like to express my strong personal belief in Japanese science. The
most critical problem with Japanese science is its exclusion from theglobal career-development flow of young scientists. Without attracting
the best and brightest young researchers to Japan, and having some ofthem stay in Japan, Japanese science would lag behind that in otherdeveloped countries. In the first sentence of the call for the application,from the Program Committee of the Word Premier International
Research Center (WPI) Initiative, it was stated as “we will need toposition ourselves within the global flow of outstanding humanresources while creating research platforms that will naturally attract and）amass such human resources in Japan.”

3. Administration Programs and Goals
We will run the proposed Institute as a future-model-institute at
Kyoto University and in Japan. In the organizational structure of Kyoto
University, this Institute will occupy a special position, freed from many
binding rules of archetypical Japanese universities, and flexible
management rules will be introduced. Although the Director will report
directly to the President of Kyoto University, the Institute’s autonomy
and the Director’s leadership in making decisions on the overall
operation of the Institute will be ensured.
The followings are examples of our novel administration policy. 1)
English will be used as the official language. 2) Swift decisions will bemade by the Director. Major decisions will be made by the Director withthe aid of the executive board of the Institute. 3) A merit-based salarysystem will be introduced. 4) Open positions for scientists will be
disclosed and advertised internationally. 5) Start-up funds forresearchers from other institutions will be provided.
In addition, we are going to create special programs for our iCeMS.
Given the geographical, linguistic, and cultural barriers of Japan, eventhe best institutions in Japan carrying out top-level research may havedifficulty attracting scientists from abroad to work at their institutions.
To improve this situation, the Institute will additionally implement thefollowing programs and strategies.
1) A career-development superpostdoc system: Kyoto iCeMS Fellow
Award : We will create a career-development superpostdoc system,
called “Kyoto iCeMS Fellow.” This is a program to provide great
resources and autonomy for talented young researchers for theirscientific development. Candidates will be selected from theinternational pool of excellent scientists who have recently acquired
their doctoral degrees. The successful applicants will be awarded 5 years
of salary, together with funds to run small, independent research groups.
Since these excellent young scientists will eventually move on to thenext phase of their illustrious international careers, the Institute’s roleand reputation as a prominent global scientific center will be widely
acknowledged.
2) Common-use laboratories and open offices: Physical distanceamong research groups will be reduced to encourage interactions andcollaborations on daily basis, which would eventually contribute to
making major scientific breakthroughs. To enhance the communication
among researchers, the iCeMS will provide common-use laboratories
with bench space allocated among all of the research groups, includinggroups led by the Kyoto iCeMS Fellows. The space allocation to each PI
will be merit-based, and this could be instituted more easily with suchflexible allocation in the common-use laboratories.
3) Scientific integrity and science communication program: Althoughscience and technology have greatly contributed to the advancement of）human health and welfare, we are also aware of society’s concerns forthe inadequate progress of science and technology. Some of theseconcerns may be groundless, but might have been inspired by the words
and deeds of the scientists who lack scientific integrity. Another reason
for the public concern may be due to the lack of communication fromthe scientists’ side, to provide informed lay individuals adequate andbalanced information about science and technology. We will initiate a
program to educate scientists on scientific integrity and ways tocommunicate with society.

））Center Director’s Vision
Statement of my View for the Proposed“Institute for Integrated Cell-Material Sciences”
a World Premier International Research Center
Center Director
Norio Nakatsuji, Ph. D.
Professor and Director
Institute for Integrated Cell-Material Sciences
Kyoto University
Forewords
This proposal is a response to the Japanese government initiative to foundworld-premier international research centers, (1) to explore interdisciplinary
research fields, and (2) to place themselves within the global
career-development flow of top scientists in their own generations.
To address the first point, “to explore interdisciplinary field”, the proposed
institute aims to attain a critical mass of leading scientists for the creation of a
new research field, “the Integrated Cell-Material Sciences”. This is based on
the notion that the fundamental understanding and control of molecularcomplexes in THE MESO-SPACE OF 10-100 NM is critical for creating thescience and technology of the next generation.
Therefore, MESO-SPACE is one of the two key concepts in this proposal.
Meso-space is greater than the nano-space of 1-10 nm, which nanotechnology
and molecular biology have extensively explored. It is smaller than the bulk
space greater than 1 micron, where there are sufficient numbers of molecules for
ensemble averaging. Between these two well-traveled lands, there is the vast
unexplored land of meso-space of 10-100 nm. Although molecular, atomic, andionic interactions occurring in nano-space are interesting subject of research,
they are generally elementary processes. Non-linear, weakly-cooperative events,
which present challenging problems and can be the seeds for the tomorrow’s
technology, take place in meso-space.
Using the notion of meso-space, the biological and non-biological worlds can be
united to learn from each other, and to elucidate the physical and chemical
processes characteristic of meso-space, including the formation and functional
mechanisms of the meso-scale molecular complexes in the cell. As detailed in
the later sections of this statement, we envisage that such a study would
develop a new realm of science and technology, in the cross-disciplinary field of
biosciences, physics, chemistry, and materials science.
The second key concept is the STEM CELL. Since we will be a group ofinvestigators with a variety of backgrounds, standardized paradigm for studying
the cell must be established. This is indispensable for fostering collaborative
research, by enhancing the ease of sharing knowledge on cells, biological tools,
samples, and communication among researchers working in different fields inthis Institute. For this purpose, all of the PIs will use pluripotent stem cells, either
embryonic or artificially-induced (one of the PIs for this proposal, Dr. Shinya
Yamanaka, was the first to produce such a cell line; Cell 2006, Nature 2007).
These cells grow rapidly (1000-fold within a week for mouse ES cells); theirgenes can be manipulated easily, and then with the same manipulated genes,
they can be differentiated into various cell lineages. Therefore, using pluripotent
stem cells for the research would accelerate the development of regenerative
treatments.
To address the second point of this government initiative, “to place itself
within the global career-development flow of young scientists”, I would like toexpress my strong personal belief in Japanese science. The most criticalproblem with Japanese science is its exclusion from the global
career-development flow of young scientists. Without attracting the best andbrightest young researchers to Japan, and having some of them stay in Japan,
Japanese science would lag behind that in other developed countries. This
problem could be much more serious problem than the one about years ofgovernment underspending on scientific research.
In the first sentence of the call for the application, from the Program
Committee of the Word Premier International Research Center (WPI)
Initiative, it was stated as “we will need to position ourselves within the global
flow of outstanding human resources while creating research platforms that will
naturally attract and amass such human resources in Japan.” This is exactly
what I have been considering for a long time, and because of this statement, I
have decided to contribute to this proposed Institute and to commit as the Center
Director.
Therefore, I have organized this Statement of my View for this proposed
Institute IN AN UNUSUAL WAY. Although I am strongly confident that scientificcontent of our proposal is outstanding, and would appeal to bright young
scientists around the world, I would like to begin this statement by explaining theadministrative programs, systems, and reforms that will take place in thisInstitute. In addition to the science conducted in this Institute, these newprograms and reforms would make this Institute more attractive to the foreign
researchers, and make scientists from abroad free from general stumbling
blocks of cumbersome administrative procedures, worry for the start-up fund,and linguistic barriers. I will also explain how this proposed Institute could work
as a beach head to revolutionize the administration archetype of Japanese
Universities.

I. Administration Programs and Goals
We will run the proposed Institute as a future-model-institute at Kyoto University
and in Japan. In the organizational structure of Kyoto University, this Institute will
occupy a special position, freed from many binding rules of archetypicalJapanese universities, and flexible management rules will be introduced, as
described below. It will have minimal hierarchical layers so that information flow
and decision making processes will be facilitated, both in the administration
offices and in the laboratories. These rules will be applied for the foundation ofother research institutes within Kyoto University in the future. Although theCenter Director will report directly to the President of Kyoto University and the
Executive Board Member in charge of research and education, the Institute’s
autonomy and the Center Director’s leadership in making decisions on theoverall operation of the Institute will still be ensured.
[1] Compliance with all of the recommendations made by this government
initiative
I totally agree with the recommendations made by the program committee forthis government initiative. Therefore, all the recommendations will be entirely
implemented in our Institute, at much higher levels than those anticipated by thecommittee. Here is the list. (For the reviewers from abroad, the emphasis onthese points may sound strange, because these points might be quite usual tothem, but these are all new to the Japanese university system, and some ofthem are totally unheard of in Japanese universities.)
1. English will be used on all occasions, in all of the meetings and documents,
including e-mail announcements. Two members in each section of theadministrative office will be fluent in English. However, what will happen if theresearchers cannot communicate with the lab technicians in the lab? Importantly,
in the international and academic environment of the city of Kyoto, theconcentration of laboratory technicians who can communicate well in English isvery high. Quite a few technicians have had the experience of working outside ofJapan as laboratory technicians. In many cases, they are married to Japanese
researchers, who worked in overseas laboratories, and they also chose to work
there. Many laboratory technicians working at Kyoto University have Master of
Science degrees.
2. Swift decisions will be made by the Center director. Major decisions, including
the level of the Institute’s support (funding) and the space allocation for each PI,
will be made by the Center Director with the aid of the executive board of theInstitute, consisting of the Center Director, the Deputy Center-Director, and theAdministration Director.
3. Steering and evaluation committees, consisting of a group of learned
individuals from both outside and within the University, will be established.
4. A merit-based salary system will be introduced. The salaries of theinvestigators transferred within Kyoto University will be paid directly by Kyoto
University, according to its rules. However, merit-based compensation, in theform of a bonus, will be introduced. In parallel, a total merit-based annual salarysystem will be implemented for researchers relocating from outside the hostinstitution. Rigorous, objective evaluations will be conducted by the Evaluation
Committee. Based on the report from the Evaluation Committee, the final
evaluation will be given by the Center Director, with the help of the Center
Executive Board and the Steering Committee.
5. All positions will be disclosed and advertised internationally.
6. The principal investigators (PIs) are professors of Kyoto University, but will be
freed from all of the duties for various committees and undergraduate education.
7. International Symposia to promote the Integrated Cell-Material Sciences will
be held at least twice a year, inviting world leaders from related fields.
8. To minimize the researchers’ administrative workload, the administration

office will be adequately staffed with qualified personnel.
9. Start-up funds for researchers from other institutions will be guaranteed by theInstitute and Kyoto University.
[2] Special programs instituted in the proposed Institute
Given the geographical, linguistic, and cultural barriers of Japan, even the best
institutions in Japan carrying out top-level research may have difficulty attracting
scientists from abroad to work at their institutions. To improve this situation, theInstitute will additionally implement the following programs and strategies.

[2A] A career-development superpostdoc system: Kyoto iCeMS Fellow
Award
We will create a career-development superpostdoc system, called “Kyoto
Integrated Cell-Material Sciences Fellow” or “Kyoto iCeMS Fellow” at a cost of
2.6-million-USD/year. This is a program to provide great resources, autonomy,
and accountability for talented young researchers for their scientific development.
They will have free access to equipment and facilities in affiliated departments,
as well as in any PI’s laboratory and the shared-instrumentation laboratory in theInstitute. Therefore, with this budget, we will have about 8 Fellows working in our
Institute at any one time. Candidates will be selected from the international poolof excellent scientists who have recently acquired their doctoral degrees. This
career phase is the prime period for ambitious scientific challenges based on
fresh and original ideas. The successful applicants will be awarded 5 years ofsalary (70-100 k USD/year), together with funds to run small, independent
research groups (100-300 k USD/year for supplies, technician’s salary etc.).
They will also have opportunities to supervise graduate students. Since these
excellent young scientists will eventually move on to the next phase of their

illustrious international careers, the Institute’s role and reputation as a prominent
global scientific center will be widely acknowledged.
[2B] The Institute funds set aside for supporting long-term and short-term
visiting scientists and graduate students
Apart from the funds for international symposia held twice a year, we set aside
half million USD (60 million Japanese yen) per year for inviting long-term andsort-term visiting scientists and graduate students.

[2C] Common-use laboratories
Physical distance among research groups will be reduced to encourageinteractions and collaborations on daily basis, which would eventually contributeto making major scientific breakthroughs. To enhance the communication
among researchers, the Institute will provide common-use laboratories withbench space allocated among all of the research groups, including groups led bySuper-Postdocs or Kyoto iCeMS Fellows. Moreover, the additional space atcommon-use laboratories will allow flexibility to meet the changing needs andsize of each group. The space allocation to each PI will be merit-based, and this
could be instituted more easily with such flexible allocation in the common-use
laboratories.

[2D] Model mentor development program
The importance of finding a mentor early in the career for scientists is very wellknown, but the necessity for cultivating competent mentors is rarely discussed.
Though it may be true that the greatest mentors are born with qualities, but theskills of professors and PIs for mentoring could be greatly improved by proper
education.
We plan to set up an educational program in the Institute, inviting worldprominent scientists who are working in the fields related to the Integrated
Cell-Material Sciences and are known to be excellent mentors. The main feature
here is to invite their previous students and postdocs at the same time. This
would provide interesting opportunities to learn about mentorship while
participating in interesting scientific sessions. The mentoring session will be
open to any of the scientists and professors in Japan and more.

[2E] Model Scientific integrity and communication program
Although science and technology have greatly contributed to the advancementof human health and welfare, we are also aware of society’s concerns for the
inadequate progress of science and technology. Some of these concerns may
be groundless, but might have been inspired by the words and deeds of thescientists who lack scientific integrity.
Another reason for the public concern may be due to the lack of communicationfrom the scientists’ side, to provide informed lay individuals adequate andbalanced information about science and technology.
We will initiate a program to educate scientists on scientific integrity and ways tocommunicate with society, in collaboration with Assoc. Prof. Kazuto Kato fromthe Institute for Research in Humanities at Kyoto University. He was originallytrained as a developmental biologist (Ph.D. from Kyoto University), and after
completing postdoctoral research, he started working on the subjects of science
communication and ethics. He will help us and we start this program by firstinviting prominent scholars in this field, journalists, and other informed
individuals interested in these aspects of science. This Institute, with its
cross-disciplinary scientific capabilities, will be an ideal institution as an advocate
to speak for scientific integrity as well as to enhance communication with society.

Host Institution’s Commitment
Date October 1,2007
To MEXTName of host institution
Name and title of head of host institution

Kyoto University
Kazuo Oike, President
Signature

I confirm that the measures listed below will be taken faithfully if “(project title)” is adopted under theWorld Premier International Research Center (WPI) Initiative.
＜Provision in host institution’s mid-to-long-term plan＞
・

Describe clearly the host institution’s mid-to-long-term strategy plan and how the center is positioned within thatstrategy.

Kyoto University distinctively places the “World Premier International Research Center Initiative”
as its top priority program in the current (2004 to 2009) and the next (2010 to 2015) mid-termplans. As clearly defined in its mission statement, the university has strived for sustainablehuman societies, which are featured by harmonious coexistence within human and ecologicalcommunities on this planet, by bringing forth its outstanding research and education programs
generating world-class knowledge. Kyoto University believes that establishing a world top-level
academic research center within the university is an indispensable step to further promote thismission and to achieve the ultimate goal for the sustainable human societies. Under the strong
leadership of the president, Kyoto University is vigorously committed to promote this program,and to actively take concrete and responsible measures, such as preparation of researchsystems and provision of resources, for establishing the world premier international research
center to lead the world’s research activities.
＜Concrete Measures＞
・Describe the concrete measures that the host institution will take to satisfy the following requirements.

(1) How it will support the center’s need to secure resources that match or exceed the project grantthrough such means as competitive grants obtained by researchers participating in the project,in-kind contributions and other forms of assistance by the host institution ( including partial
payment of salaries, provision of research space), and/or external donations.

To secure resources for center operation and research activities, the university takes the following
measures:a) Provision of expenses of infrastructure to support the center’s operation
As a necessary financial measure for the center’s operation, the university provides
indirect costs related to this program by the associated overheads as well as by the ones
associated with competitive grants obtained by the center’s researchers. Infrastructure
costs including building maintenance and utility fees will be allocated from the university
budget. In addition, we will provide, with an appropriate measure, fundamental research
grants for young researchers.
b) Support in obtaining external funds such as competitive grants
To facilitate the center’s researchers obtaining external funds, the university provides thevarious supports including startup funds. The funds will be used to support young
researchers and foreign researchers to pursue research until they obtain their own
external funds. The university will also provide researchers with various supports in every
aspect of preparing the applications.

c) Support for center management to attract world top-level researchers
1) Provision of personnel expenses
The university provides five positions and expenses for principal investigator-classpersonnel in order to enable Kyoto University’s world-leading researchers to conduct
academic research at the center while cooperating with their original departments, as wellas to minimize the impact of the absences of top-level researchers on their departments’
educational and research activities.
For administration, the university provides full-time administrative staff and necessary
personnel expenses in order to establish an independent administrative organization. Fivecurrent university staff members will be allocated for major functions such as
general affairs, planning, finance, research support and facilities. University stafferswith a good command of English will be preferentially selected. As for the position of vicecenter director in charge of administration, a director-class personnel from the university
will be allocated initially at the time of the center’s establishment. This person will soon be
replaced by a full-time vice center director, recruited from outside the university, as soon as
he/she is appointed.
2) Provision of research space
Kyoto University provides a high-quality research environment with the total area of
about 12,000m2 by ensuring exclusive facilities with fully equipped infrastructure.
Details are described in the following section (5-a).
As well, the center’s head office will be located on the university’s main campus to makeavailable the university’s diverse facilities, including conference halls for international
symposiums and other academic meetings, the university hall, library, and cafeteria.
(2)How it will institute a system under which the center’s director is able to make substantive
personnel and budget allocation decisions necessary to implementing the center project—asystem, which in practice, allows the center director autonomy in making decisions regarding thecenter’s operation.

To ensure autonomy of the center’s operation, the university takes the following measures:a) Flexible management of organization and operation system
An autonomous and independent management system that plays a role equivalent to thefaculty will be implemented, to ensure the center’s autonomy and the center director’sleadership in making decisions regarding the center’s overall operation. Decisions onimportant matters (personnel, budget, etc.) of the center will be made by the center
director through discussions with vice center directors, who assist and support the center
director, in order to ensure appropriate operation.
At the same time, to enable the university to provide various support and advice
promptly, the university president and executive vice-presidents meet the director of thecenter on a regular basis.
b) Introduction of flexible salary system to allow researchers’ easy transfers(1) The world’s leading foreign researchers, Japanese researchers who are highly recognizedworldwide, and postdoctoral and other promising young researchers will be assembled at
this center. For these researchers, whether from inside or outside the university, Kyoto
University will allow applying a new personnel system that can appropriately reflect theirachievements. To attract various researchers both from Japan and around the world, theuniversity will accept the center director’s request to implement a variety of salary payment
systems. The university also introduces a flexible personnel system in which the center
director can select a salary system appropriate for each researcher that will assure themaximum flexibility for researchers in transferring to the center.
 The annual salary system that the university has already introduced (a fixed-term
employment contract and an annual salary system based on achievements) will beapplied.
 The current salary system will be applied to the researchers while they will be allowed
to concurrently remain in the original departments if approved. These systems will
（Host institution： Kyoto University

Title of Center Project：Institute for Integrated Cell-Material Sciences）

2

promote; (1) intra-university cooperation among researchers, (2) integration ofdifferent academic fields, (3) human resource development through their participationin the university’s educational activities, (4) effective usage of university facilities, and(5) flexible transfer of researchers within the university.
 Salaries for foreign researchers will be paid in foreign currency of their home countries,
in principle.
 For qualified technical and administrative staffers, a special employment contract will
be arranged to extend a regular retirement contract.
(3)The support it will provide to the center director in coordinating with other departments within thehost institution when recruiting researchers for the center, while giving reasonable regard to theeducational and research activities of those departments.

The university takes the following measures with regard to educational and research activities
within the university:a) Support for researcher transfers to the centerTo support researchers on their smooth and flexible intra-university transfer to the center,five (at least) principal investigator-class personnel positions will be provided so that the
impacts on current educational and research activities, and administrative works will beminimized.
b) Support in relation to education and research activities
If approved by their original departments, researchers will be allowed to keep theirresearch in part and education concurrently in their original departments. This will facilitate
their participation in educational activities and their shared use of research facilities,
equipment, and materials. This will, in turn, contribute toward more active research
activities.
To support the center’s women researchers, the university provides effective assistancefor and consultations on their research, child/nursing care, and daily lives.
c) Support for foreign researchers
To support foreign researchers and their families, the university prepares a handbook that
explains immigration procedures, housing, the health-care system and other daily life
information at the time of call for positions. Direct assistance by a foreign mentor will also
be provided for a period of time immediately after their arrival in Japan.
To support education for their children, a system will be established incooperation with neighboring Doshisha University to provide them with education
services at its international junior/senior high school.
(4)Its flexibility in applying, revising, or supplementing the host institution’s internal systems asneeded for the center to effectively implement new management methods (e.g.,
English-language environment, merit-based pay, top-down decision making) unfettered byconventional modes of operation.
The university will accept necessary system revisions for implementation of new management
methods unfettered from conventional modes of operation
The university establishes an autonomous and independent management organization thatserves a role equivalent to that performed by the existing faculty. Important issues (personnel,
budget, etc.) will be discussed and decided by the center director and vice directors, in order toensure prompt and appropriate administrative actions. However, the center director makes
decisions on the following substantive matters necessary to promote this program.

 Matters related to recruitment of foreign and Japanese researchers, and postdoctoraland other young researchers Matters related to progress of research programs and evaluation of researchers’
achievements（Host institution： Kyoto University

Title of Center Project：Institute for Integrated Cell-Material Sciences）

3

 Matters related to adoption/modification of the center’s research programs Matters related to allocation and implementation of a budget for supporting researchand operational activities of the center Matters related to management of research space in the center
For matters that require revision of the university regulations, the executive vice-president of theuniversity in charge will provide specific consultation, and necessary administrative procedures
will be handled by the head office administration in coordination with the center administration.
For administration, the university will provide several administrative personnel and necessary
personnel costs while ensuring autonomy in administration. External personnel with a goodcommand of English will also be recruited.
(5) Its accommodation of the center’s infrastructural requirements (for facilities, e.g., laboratory
space; equipment; land, etc.).

Accommodation of infrastructure requirementsa) Provision of research space necessary to conduct the world top level research
It is important to establish a “globally acknowledged” center attracting top-classresearchers to conduct world leading research. To this end, Kyoto University provides ahigh-quality research environment with the total area of about 12,000m2 by ensuring
exclusive facilities with fully equipped infrastructure.
As well, the center’s head office will be located on the university’s main campus to makeavailable the university’s diverse facilities, including conference halls for international
symposiums and other academic meetings, the university hall, library, and cafeteria.

（Host institution： Kyoto University

Title of Center Project：Institute for Integrated Cell-Material Sciences）

4 Center’s main office space
In addition to the head office functions, core facilities for the center’s representative
functions including research meetings, literature/academic database and information
dissemination will be provided. To demonstrate autonomy of the center, a main officewill be established and provided as an exclusive facility on the university main
campus.
 Research project space
As the main space for the center’s research activities, the university provides
exclusive research facilities for researchers to concentrate on their own research
activities. The university also takes special efforts to provide and maintain astate-of-the-art research environment for the individual research, flexibly responding
to requirements from each project over its duration.
 Space for shared research equipment
To enable integrated management and operation of shared research equipment,
exclusive space with technical staffers will be set up next to the research project
space.
 Researchers’ communication space that facilitates the exchanges among researchers
from different fields
In order to develop new interdisciplinary research fields through a fusion of various
studies, the university provides researchers in different academic fields and fromvarious countries with space and opportunities to enhance communications.
 Accommodation (housing) facilities for researchers
Accommodation facilities will be taken care of for researchers coming from domestic
and foreign areas.
b) Establishment of basic facilities and equipment
As a part of the process establishing the necessary research environment, the university
sets up basic facilities and equipment that accompany the buildings and that need
intensive initial investment along with the center’s head office and basic infrastructure.
(6) Other types of assistance it will provide to give maximum support to the center in achieving its
concepts and objectives and becoming a world premier international research center in both nameand deed.

Other measures:
As one of the leaders of the world’s academic community, Kyoto University firmly
determines to take a responsibility in establishing a genuine “world top-level research
center” that will serve as one of “the world’s leading knowledge centers”. The center is
expected to function as a top-level research organization since Kyoto University alreadyhas outstanding capabilities; 1) to create research environment that attracts world top levelresearchers, 2) to facilitate intra-university cooperation among world’s leading researchers
from different fields, 3) to integrate diverse academic fields to promote an interdisciplinary
approach, and 4) to contribute to the present and future societies by generating
unprecedented knowledge and research findings. Kyoto University is confident that withthese essential capabilities, successful performances of the center will be promised.
Kyoto University has been characterized, since its foundation in1897, by an “academic
atmosphere of freedom”; one that values originality and independence rather than the mere
accumulation of knowledge. Located in the historic city of Kyoto, the university has
developed research on diverse fields with profound originality in this unique “academic
atmosphere of freedom”.
Based on this historical background, it is defined in its mission statement (declared in2001) that the ultimate goal of the university is to contribute to future sustainable humansocieties, featured by harmonious coexistence within human and ecological communities
on this planet. This goal can be achieved by bringing forth the outstanding research andeducation programs in conformance with high ethical standards, and by generatingworld-class knowledge. We strongly believe that the best research in the world is created in
the environment where the academic freedom and autonomy in research are highly valued,in this regards, Kyoto University is one of the best places to establish the world premierinternational research center to lead the world’s research.
（Host institution： Kyoto University

Title of Center Project：Institute for Integrated Cell-Material Sciences）

5

List of Principal Investigators

Name

Previous affiliation(organization, department) andspecialties

Academic degree①

Norio Nakatsuji

Kyoto University, Institute for Frontier
Medical Sciences,Stem-Cell Biology②

SusumuKitagawa

Kyoto University, Department of Synthetic
Chemistry and Biological Chemistry, Graduate
Ph.D
School of Engineering,
Inorganic Chemistry③

Takashi Hiiragi

Max-Planck Institute for Molecular
Biomedicine, Mammalian Development,
Developmental Biology④

Kyoto University, Institute for Chemical
Motonari Uesugi Research,
Chemical Biology⑤

Koichiro Tanaka

Kyoto University, Department of Physics,
Ph.D
Terahertz Optical Science⑥

ShinyaYamanaka

Kyoto University, Department of Stem Cell
Biology, Institute for Frontier Medical
Sciences,
Stem-Cell Biology⑦

Hiroshi Imahori

Kyoto University, Department of MolecularEngineering, Graduate School of Engineering, Ph.D
Photochemistry⑧

Yoshie Harada

Tokyo Metropolitan Organization for Medical
Research, The Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of
Ph. D
Medical Science,
Single-molecule physiology⑨

Yong Chen

Ecole Normale Supérieure CNRS
Research director,
Biophysics

Ph.D

M.D. & Ph.D

Ph.D

M.D. & Ph.D

Ph.D

⑩

Kyoto University, Department ofHiroshi Sugiyama Chemistry,
Chemical Biologyy⑪

Pharmacology and Physiology,
Agladze, Konstantin

Ph.D

George Washington University, Department of

Ph.D

Biophysics⑫

Kyoto University, Vice Dean of Graduate
Kazumitsu Ueda School of Agriculture,
Cellular Biochemistry

Ph. D

Akihiro Kusumi

Kyoto University, Institute for Frontier
Medical Sciences,
Single-Molecule Nanobiology

Mitsuru Hashida

Kyoto University, Department of Drug Delivery
Research, Graduate School ofPh.D
Pharmaceutical Sciences,
Biopharmaceutics⑮

Tamio Hayashi

Kyoto University, Department ofChemistry, Graduate School of Science,
Organic Chemistry⑯

Kyoto University, Graduate School of
Kiyoshi Tomioka Pharmaceutical Sciences,
Organic Chemistry

⑬

⑭

Ph.D

Ph.D

Ph.D

⑰

Mikio Takano

Kyoto University, Institute for Chemical
Research,
Solid State Chemistry⑱

John Heuser

Washington University School of Medicine M.D. & Ph.D⑲

Makoto Kiso

Gifu University, Department of Applied
Bio-organic Chemistry,
Glycotechnology⑳

under consideration

Ph.D

Ph.D