Additional Application Guidelines for 2024NIG-JOINT(Joint Research(A))
National Institute of Genetics,
Research Organization of Information and Systems

1. Application Guidelines(1) NIG-JOINT
National Institute of Genetics solicits joint research to be conducted between researchers
from other universities or institutes and NIG faculties using NIG facilities and equipmenton the proposed project. We are accepting additional applications for 2024 NIG-JOINT (A).
As a general rule, travel expenses are provided to the researchers visiting NIG.
NIG-JOINT projects should be conducted during the period of time from August 1st, 2024
to March 31st,2025. Please note that for those who have already accepted as a research
representative for other NIG-JOINT (A), (B) or (I) in FY2024, are not eligible to apply forthis additional application.

NIG-JOINT (A)・Eligible applicants are researchers affiliated with domestic or overseas universities or
research institutes. Travel expenses required for the researchers to visit NIG to conduct
joint research are provided.
・Up to100,000 JPY can be requested by an applicant.
2. Applicants
The applicants should be, as a general rule, researchers affiliated with universities,
inter-university collaborative research institutes and independent administrative
organizations in Japan or researchers affiliated with overseas universities or research
institutes. Please note that graduate students are not eligible to apply as the project
representative, but they may be included as members of the joint research team.
3. Application
The application must be completed via the online application system called “Joint
Research On-line Integrated System (JROIS)”.
JROIS: https://jrois2.rois.ac.jp/(Instructions for operating the application system can be downloaded from the above
URL.)
For more details regarding the online application system, please refer to the following
NIG webpage (NIG-JOINT page).
https://www.nig.ac.jp/nig/research-infrastructure-collaboration/nig-collaboration-grant(1) Before submitting the application, the applicant must consult closely with theprospective NIG representative regarding the project subject, members, budget and othernecessary matters. Overviews of research being conducted by researchers at NIG are
described at the end of this application guideline.
1(2) When applying for this program, please be sure to obtain approval from the head ofyour organization (or department). Submission of written approval is not required.
(3) Application forms must be uploaded and submitted in PDF・DOCX・ZIP format to
JROIS.
The application form can be downloaded from the link below.
https://www.nig.ac.jp/nig/research-infrastructure-collaboration/nig-collaboration-grant
4. Online Application Deadline
Applications must be submitted no later than noon (12 PM JST) on Friday, May 31st,
2024.
*Your application will not be accepted under any circumstances if you don’t submit it by
the above deadline.
5. Selection
The outcome of selection and amount of budget allocation are determined after screening
by NIG committee and research representatives will be notified via e-mail by the end ofaround July 2024. Applications from those who have been adopted as research
representatives in the past, regardless of whether it is a new or a continuous project, will
be reviewed with an emphasis on the status of the past budget implementation.
Please note that the implementation rate for proposals adopted in the past will beconsidered as one of the criteria in the evaluation of applications.
Please also note that the allocation amounts may be reduced due to limited budget.
6. Change of Research Group(1) If there is a change in the research representative’s organization or position, the said
researcher must change the registered information on the “Edit User” screen of JROIS
website. If the research representative’s affiliation is changed, a written approval (fixed
format) from the new organization should be submitted. (No official seal or signature isrequired.)(2) If there is a change in research representative, addition or removal of joint researchmembers, or a change in the joint research member’s organization or position, pleasesubmit an addition/change form (only in Japanese) through the NIG representative
immediately.
(3) The NIG representative must submit the cancelation form in the event that the joint
research is unable to be conducted due to unavoidable circumstances.
7. Expenses Provided(1) The travel expenses are to be provided by NIG based on the rules of Research
Organization of Information and Systems (ROIS). Because the expenses are allocatedonly to NIG, not to other organizations, they should be claimed through an NIG
representative. Accommodation fees for those who stay at the NIG guest house will be
2,500JPY/night, and for those who stay at a hotel in the city will be 8,000JPY/night.
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(Outside researchers visiting NIG to conduct research should stay at the NIG guest house
whenever possible.) Please note that travel expenses may not be fully provided if otherbusiness or private site visits are included in the trip.
(2) Research representatives are expected to spend the full amount of the budget as soon
as possible. If you are unable to spend the full amount due to unavoidable circumstances,
pleases submit a statement explaining the reason (free format) and return the unspent
portion of the budget by the end of December. Additionally, we request that you contact the
Research Promotion Team as soon as it becomes obvious that the budget will not be fully
spent.
8. Submission of Research Report
The research representatives are required to fill in the "FOR MEXT Report (at the end ofresearch)" on the Edit Application screen of JROIS by April 30th, 2025, and upload theresearch report in PDF・DOCX・ZIP format from the same screen for submission.
The research report form can be downloaded from the link below.
https://www.nig.ac.jp/nig/research-infrastructure-collaboration/nig-collaboration-grant
9. Publication of Research Result
You are requested to acknowledge NIG joint research as follows when results based on
this research project are published, and submit a copy of papers together with theresearch report via JROIS.
NIG-JOINT (reference number)*Reference number【serial number + category (A,B or I) + year】, will be issued in the“acceptance notification” which will be sent to the successful applicant.
Example:（Successful applicant：Taro Iden, reference number：1A2024）“This work was supported by NIG-JOINT (1A2024) to T. Iden.”
10. Others(1) NIG facilities and common equipment are available to be used for the joint research.
Please refer to the following URL for the available common equipment.
https://www.nig.ac.jp/nig/research-infrastructure-collaboration/common-equipment(2) If gene recombination and/or animal experiments are planned, NIG representatives
are requested to submit an ”experiment on gene recombination plan” and/or ”experimenton animals plan ”application form to the Research Promotion Team after acceptance of
the application. As for animal experiments, researchers directly handling experimental
animals are requested to apply for an NIG qualification screening and undergo training
regardless of their affiliation. We strongly hope that all researchers comply withregulations and conduct the research properly.
(3) Researchers who handle radioisotopes at NIG are requested to register as a radiation
worker before using them.
(4) Outside researchers visiting NIG to conduct research should stay at the NIG guest
house, whenever possible.
3However, they may stay at a hotel in the city in the event the guest house is fully booked.
(5) Ownership of intellectual property rights created through joint research at NIG will beconsidered based on the regulations of ROIS employee invention.
(6) NIG assures that private information submitted in the application shall be used only
for screening the proposal. When a proposal has been accepted, the name of the research
representative, his/her institute and the research project title will be posted on the NIG
website and annual reports.
(7) As a general rule, in an effort to simplify procedures NIG does not issue a“business-trip request” form for joint research.
We sincerely ask outside researchers visiting NIG to follow appropriate business trip
procedures according to the rules of their affiliated institute.
【Contact Information】
Department of Administration
Research Promotion Team, General Affairs and Project Section
National Institute of Genetics, Research Organization of Information and Systems
Yata1111, Mishima, Shizuoka, 411-8540 JAPAN
Phone: +81-55-981-6728
E-mail: kyodo-mail@nig.ac.jp

4Research Outline（Updated: April 1st, 2024）
Department/Center
Department ofInformatics

Laboratory

Gene- Expression
Analysis

Research outline“How can we make use of data and information at our
finger-tip in making smarter decisions in our own
contexts?” Without solving this question, all analyticaland descriptive efforts that digitalize the reality end up in
vain. Our tentative answer/goal for this is to develop
method to enhance “fluidity” and “utility"of medical
knowledge among humans and machines.

Faculty

OKUBO, Kousaku / Professor

Genetic Informatics KAWAMOTO, Shoko /Associate Professor

Genome Evolution

Genome Diversity

KUROKAWA, Ken / Professor
HIGASHI, Koichi / Assistant Professor

MORI, Hiroshi / Associate Professor

Biological
Networks

ARITA, Masanori / Professor

GenomeInformatics

NAKAMURA, Yasukazu / Professor

KOSHIMIZU, Shizuka / Assistant Professor

TANIZAWA, Yasuhiro / Assistant Professor

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We are working on research and development of databases
and information retrieval system for the national bioresource project (NBRP).
We are interested in understanding about microbial
genome evolution and microbial community dynamics, andwe are currently reaching out in the following two major
research directions; I. Facilitate the development of an
integrated database “MicrobeDB.jp”, II. Microbialcommunity dynamics.
Our main research goal is to understand the relationships
between the habitat of organisms and genome diversity. To
facilitate the studies using comparative genomics andmetagenomics, we arealso developing various
bioinformatics methodologies.
Network analysis of metabolic pathways based oncomprehensive identification and quantification of
metabolites (metabolomics); Bioinformatics related toplant secondary metabolism and lipid metabolism
Intelligent information technology for structural andfunctional annotations of large-scale nucleotide sequences.

Department of
Genomics andEvolutionary Biology

DNA Data Analysis

Plant Genetics

SATO, Yutaka / Professor

Evolutionary
Genetics

AKASHI, Hiroshi / Professor

Ecological Genetics
Comparative
Genomics
Molecular Life
History
Department of Gene
Function andPhenomics

IKEO, Kazuho / Associate Professor

Symbiosis and Cell
Evolution

KITANO, Jun / Professor
YAMASAKI, Yo / Assistant Professor
TOYODA, Atsushi / Project Professor
KURAKU, Shigehiro / Professor
KAWAGUCHI, Akane / Assistant Professor
MIYAGISHIMA, Shin-ya / Professor
FUJIWARA, Takayuki / Assistant Professor

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Evolutionary study of genomic structure and gene
expression pattern to elucidate the evolutionary
mechanism of central nervous system and sensory organs.
Evolutionary genomics analysis of various species.
Metagenome analysis.Developing databases and computer
software for biological research.
The goal of our research is to understand molecularmechanisms governing early processes of plantdevelopment using a series of rice embryogenesis defective
mutants. Currently we are focusing on the mechanism of
regulating the cell division pattern and plasticity incellular differentiation in rice embryo.
We infer mechanisms of genome evolution using
population genetic andcomparative genomic approaches. Current interests
include global
forces such as biosynthetic constraints that underlie weak
selection.
We use threespine stickleback fishes to investigate thegenetic and molecular mechanisms underlying adaptationand speciation.
We have been conducting advanced genomics research on
the plasticity of genome structure and functions using
most advanced genome technology such as NewGeneration Sequencers.
We focus on vertebrates and bridge molecular-level
laboratory approaches and genome informatics, in order todocument genome evolution and elucidate its mechanism.
In order to understand endosymbiotic evolution of
eukaryotes, we are studying coordinating mechanisms ofeukaryotic cell and organelle/endosymbiont proliferation
using algae, plants, and protists.

Model Fish
Genetics

Plant Cytogenetics

SAKAI, Noriyoshi / Associate Professor

NONOMURA, Ken-ichi / Associate Professor
TSUDA, Katsutoshi / Assistant Professor

Mammalian Neural IWASATO, Takuji / Professor
Circuits
NAKAGAWA, Naoki / Assistant Professor
Neurobiology andPathology

Multiscale Sensory
Structure
Multicellular
Organization
Brain Function
Molecular andDevelopmental
Biology
Microbial
Physiology

ASAKAWA, Kazuhide / Associate Professor

YONEHARA, Keisuke / Professor
MATSUMOTO, Akihiro / Assistant Professor
SAWA, Hitoshi / Professor
NEGISHI, Takefumi / Assistant Professor
HIRATA, Tatsumi / Professor
KAWASAKI, Takahiko / Assistant Professor
ZHU, Yan / Assistant Professor

We establish reliable protocols for genetically modificationof zebrafish using sperm, and analyze the molecularmechanisms of spermatogenesis and early development inzebrafish.
We aim to elucidate the regulatory system of plant germcell development and chromosome kinetics, mainly using
seed-sterile rice mutants.
We are studying molecular and cellular mechanisms ofneuronal circuit development in the mammals, using
mouse genetics and other related methods.
Using zebrafish as a primary model, we study the biology
and disease of the motor system at the behavioral, circuit,
cellular, and molecular levels. The ultimate goal is to
identify the root causes of ALS and to develop therapeuticstrategies through comprehensive and multidimensional
basic research.
We use mice and marmosets to understand the structure,function, development, disease, and environmental
adaptation of visual neural circuits at multi-levels,
including genes, neural circuit physiology, and behavior.
We are studying the mechanisms that produce a variety ofcell types through asymmetric cell divisions using thenematode C.elegans.
Development of the vertebrate nervous system with special
focus on neuronal network formation.

KAWAKAMI, Koichi / Professor

Genetic studies on development, morphogenesis andbehaviors by using a model vertebrate zebrafish.

NIKI, Hironori / Professor

We investigate higher order structure of chromosomes andtheir dynamics in yeast and bacteria through genetic andcell biological analysis.
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Mouse Genomics
Resource
Department of
Chromosome Science
Genome Dynamics

Cell Architecture

Chromosome
Biochemistry
Physics and Cell
Biology

KOIDE, Tsuyoshi / Associate Professor

MAESHIMA, Kazuhiro / Professor
HIBINO, Kayo / Assistant Professor

KIMURA, Akatsuki / Professor
TORISAWA, Takayuki / Assistant Professor

MURAYAMA, Yasuto / Associate Professor
KUROKAWA, Yumiko / Assistant Professor
SHIMAMOTO, Yuta / Associate Professor
SAITO, Kei / Assistant Professor

Molecular Cell
Engineering

KANEMAKI, Masato / Professor

Invertebrate
Genetics

SAITO, Kuniaki / Professor

YAMAGUCHI, Kosuke / Assistant Professor

MIYOSHI, Keita / Assistant Professor
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For understanding genetic basis of behavioral diversity,
behavioral and genetic analyses are applied on a variety ofmouse resources including wild-derived strains. We aredeveloping genome editing methods in mice for analyzing
function of genes.
Our research interest lies in determining how a long stringof genomic DNA is three-dimensionally organized in living
cells, and how the organized genome functions duringcellular proliferation, differentiation, and development. We
are using a novel combination of molecular cell biology andbiophysics to elucidate 3D-organization and dynamics ofhuman genome chromatin.
To understand the three-dimensional architecture of thecell and its dynamics, quantitative imaging and modelingapproaches are employed. Specific targets of the research
are size and shape of organelles, the mechanics ofcytokinesis, and cytoplasmic streaming in the C. elegans
embryo.
We investigate molecular mechanism underling regulationof chromosome organization and dynamics byrecapitulating their biochemical reactions using purified
proteins. We now especially focus on SMC complexes.
Our laboratory uses a combination of biophysics,
biochemistry, cell biology, and materials science to study
how the mitotic spindle properly assembles and segregateschromosomes in cell division.
To understand DNA transactions in human cells, we
generate conditional cells using the auxin-inducible degron
technology for genetic and cytological analyses. We also
develop new technologies for construction of mutant
human cells.
We investigate molecular mechanisms of Drosophila gene
expression and repression through biochemical and genetic
techniques. Especially, we are focusing on the small RNA
pathways and chromatin regulation during germ cell
development.

Center for Frontier
Research

Gene Quantity
Biology

SASAKI, Mariko / Associate Professor

Plant Evolution

FUKUSHIMA, Kenji / Associate Professor

Theoretical Ecology
YAMAMICHI, Masato / Associate Professor
and Evolution
Advanced
Genomics Center
Chemical andRadioisotope
Management Unit

We study molecular mechanisms underlying genomicchanges in eukaryotic cells. We mainly use budding yeast
and human cell cultures and analyze genomic changes that
result in changes to DNA quantity, using genetic andmolecular biology tools. We specialize in isolating Mbpsized DNA and separating it by Pulsed-Field Gel
Electrophoresis.
Our research aims to demystify evolutionary innovations by
integrating computational and experimental approaches tostudy a wide range of organisms, with a particular focus onplants.
We combine mathematical models, microcosm experiments,and meta-analyses to investigate complex feedbacks
between rapid evolution and ecological processes.

GOTOH, Yasuhiro / Associate Professor

We study bacterial diversity and evolution using genomic
based approaches to understand selection mechanisms
driving them and their actual state in the environment.

ANDACHI, Yoshiki / Assistant Professor

We study microRNA-mediated post-transcriptional
regulation in C. elegans using our original methods for thedetection of microRNAs and target genes.

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