National Institute for Basic Biology

Research Support

RESEARCH ENHANCEMENT STRATEGY OFFICE

Director

HASEBE, Mitsuyasu

Vice-Director

YOSHIDA, Shosei

Vice-Director

MANO, Shoji

The Research Enhancement Strategy Office (RESO)
was established in 2013 to manage the NIBB action plans
proposed by the Director and the Advisory Committee
for Programming and Management as an Inter-University
Research Institute: (1) promoting internationally top-notch
research and (2) providing opportunities for cutting-edge
researchers throughout Japan to gather and engage in activities aimed at exploring future academic fields and creating
new principles. RESO is composed of six groups with thefollowing missions: (1) planning and evaluation, (2) joint utilization of NIBB facilities and joint research between NIBB
members and researchers throughout the world, (3) domestic
and international cooperation, (4) promotion of the diversity and education of young researchers, (5) dissemination ofinformation and enhancement of public relations, and (6) collaboration between academia and industry. RESO is mainly
managed by University Research Administrators who hold
PhDs and have experience in both research and management.
RESO cooperates with the mother institute NINS’s Research
Enhancement Promotion Headquarters. The activities of thisoffice are partly supported by the Program for Promoting theEnhancement of Research Universities of the Ministry ofEducation, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology.

PLANNING AND EVALUATION GROUP

Professor:

HASEBE, Mitsuyasu
KAWAGUCHI, Masayoshi
Specially Appointed Assistant Professor (URA):
KURATA, Tomoko
TATEMATSU, Kiyoshi
Assistant Professor:
JOHZUKA, Katsuki
FUJITA, Hironori

This group compiles reports describing NIBB activities forevaluation and budget proposals.

The group’s main activities in 2021 were asfollows:
1) Prepared reports on 2020 NIBB activities for MEXT.

2) Prepared reports for 3rd medium-term objectives for theevaluation of education and research.
3) P repared application forms for the MEXT FY2022
budget demands.
4) Prepared reports for the NINS auditors.

1085) Conducted follow-up investigation of the activity of theResearch University Strengthening Promotion project.
6) S ummarized 2020 and 2021 NIBB activities for theannual external reviewer meeting on 8 March 2022,
managed the meeting, and prepared the report.
7) Prepared the proposal on mid-term objectives and plansfrom 2022 to 2027.
8) Published the Annual Report 2020.

PUBLIC RELATIONS GROUP
Professor:
FUJIMORI, Toshihiko
Specially Appointed Assistant Professor (URA):
KURATA, Tomoko
Technical Assistants:
BAN, Misato
HOSHINO, Maki
UCHIMURA, Ai
This group actively facilitates communication between
NIBB and the public, school teachers, and scientific researchcommunities and describes the activities of NIBB to a wider
audience.

The group’s main activities in 2021 were as follows:

1) Press releases
The group issued press releases concerning NIBB’s scientific achievements to newspaper and magazine reporters
via leaflets, e-mails and web pages. We also arranged pressconferences.
2) Updated and maintained the NIBB web page3) Edited publications, produced posters and leaflets
The group published “NIBB News” (an intra-institutional
newsletter in Japanese) and brochures introducing NIBB. We
also designed and distributed posters about NIBB events.
4) Managed social media
The group operated Twitter and Facebook accounts tocommunicate the activities of NIBB to the public. We also
created videos introducing NIBB’s research that are postedon YouTube.
5）Public relations activities to recruit graduate students
The group organized four graduate school information
sessions for prospective students during the year.
6) Organized scientific outreach programs
The group organized online outreach events for the publicand coordinated science classes for middle and high school

LIAISON AND COOPERATION GROUP

Professor:

udtse.snt

UENO, Naoto
NARUSE, Kiyoshi
MORITA, Miyo T.
Specially Appointed Assistant Professor (URA):TATEMATSU, Kiyoshi
Technical Staff:
AKIMOTO-KATO, Ai
Research Staff:
TANAKA, Ayako
Technical Assistant:
TAKAHASHI, Ritsue
COWAN, GlenThis group supports and coordinates NIBB’s activities
related to research collaborations and cooperation with universities and research institutes in Japan and abroad.

The main activities performed by this groupfrom April 2021 to March 2022 were as follows:

1) Coordinated the following conferences/symposia:
・The 2nd meeting for NIBB-Center for Organismal Studies(COS) Heidelberg International Collaborations Lecture
series #2 “Stem Cell”. Zoom online, June 25, 2021 (p. 112)
・N IBB-Institute of Advanced Medical Sciences(IAMS), Tokushima University, joint seminar “Toward
Strengthening Collaboration and Cooperation”. Zoomonline, October 22, 2021 (p. 113)
・C ryopreservation Conference 2021. Zoom online,
November 11–12, 2021 (p. 104)
・The 3rd Chubu University-NIPS-NIBB joint seminar “AIto Life System”. Okazaki Conference Center together
with Zoom online (Hybrid), Okazaki, Japan. March 28,2022 (p. 114)
・The 3rd meeting for NIBB-COS Heidelberg International
Collaborations Lecture series #3 “Cell Signaling / CellBiology”. Zoom online, March 31, 2021 (p. 112)2) Supported the acceptance of researchers to NIBB fromabroad related to the following events:
・Family of a specially appointed assistant professor from
Poland (September 2021)
3) Supported the following education-related programs:
・NIBB Internship Program 2021 (p. 118)COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH GROUPProfessor:

TAKADA, Shinji
SHIGENOBU, Shuji
Specially Appointed Associate Professor (URA):
KAMEI, Yasuhiro
Associate Professor:
UCHIYAMA, Ikuo
Specially Appointed Assistant Professor:
KURATA,Tomoko
TATEMATSU,Kiyoshi
Technical Assistant:
ICHIKAWA, Mariko
ICHIKAWA, ChiakiThis group acts as a hub to promote collaborative projects
among multiple researchers through the exchange of information and the development of new equipment and methods.
The main activities of this group in 2021 were as follows:
1) Hosted collaborative projects.
2) Operated and managed NOUS (NINS Operation UseSystem), an online platform to manage collaborativeprojects.
3) Organized the Genome Informatics Training Course(GITC) and the BioImage Analysis Training Course(BIATC).
4) Made public announcements of the Cooperative andCollaborative Research System in NIBB to the basic
biology research communities at research meetings andconferences.

YOUNG RESEARCHER SUPPORT GROUP
Professor:
Assistant Professor:

NIIMI, Teruyuki
KOMINE, Yuriko

NIBB provides PhD courses for graduate students while
acting as Department of Basic Biology, School of LifeScience, The Graduate University for Advanced Studies,
SOKENDAI (SOKENDAI is the commonly used namefor the university). The Young Researcher Support Group
provides support for graduate students (SOKENDAI students
and special research students from other universities).

The group’s main activities in 2021 were as follows:
1) Coordinated and managed lectures and other activities,
including periodical research presentations by students.

2) Organized NIBB’s programs related to PhD courses,
such as the orientation program for new students andOpen Campus Day online for prospective students.
3) Cooperated to organize interdepartmental programs in
SOKENDAI such as the Life Science Retreat.
4) G athered and provided useful information for bothstudents and faculty members.

109

National Institute for Basic Biology

Research Support

COLLABORATIVE INNOVATION GROUP
Professor:
MINAGAWA, Jun
Specially Appointed Associate Professor:
KANAI, Masatake
Professor:
MINAGAWA,Jun
Associate Professor:
KODAMA, Ryuji
Specially Appointed Assistant Professor:
KANAI, Masatake

This group is responsible for activities that bridge the gap
between NIBB researchers and the business community.

The group’s main activities in 2021 were as follows:

1) Supported the application for JST’s A-step, a research
grant for practical use.
2) Supported participation in Innovation Japan, a trade fairfor university seeds.
3) Held a seminar on the support system for industry-university collaboration.
4) Negotiated a license agreement with a company.
5) Provided support for joint research agreements between
NIBB researchers and companies.

110