2024spring
We interviewed Mr. Nomura, Chairman of the Central Institute forExperimental Medicine and Life Science（CIEM）, which changed its corporatename from Central Institute for Experimental Animals（CIEA）this year.

Exterior of CIEM
The Central Institute for Experimental Animals (CIEA), established in 1952, changed its corporate name to the Central
Institute for Experimental Medicine and Life Science (CIEM) as of 1 April this year. Central Institute for Experimental
Medicine and Life Science is a private research institute aiming to contribute to the development of medical care and theimprovement of people's health and welfare through the development of laboratory animals that provide high-quality,homogeneous, and reproducible data, and through research and elucidation of human diseases using laboratory animals. We
asked Mr. Ryuta Nomura, Chairman, about the background of corporate name change, the new projects and initiatives
associated with it, the meaning behind the new logo and his passion on the prospects and we are pleased to share with you inthis i-Newsletter.

Background and meaning of the corporatename change“Preclinical systems = animal experiments” were themainstream at the time when CIEM was established.
However, it was a situation that medical research and drug
discovery could not become science unless the quality ofexperimental animals was improved. Therefore, we thoughtthat by producing high-quality laboratory animals, we could
obtain reproducible data, and we have been working
towards becoming the best animal laboratory. Whereas,
unlike when it was first established, preclinical systems are
now not limited to animal experiments and various test
methods have been established such as in vitro testing using
cells, in silico evaluation using computers, safety testing
using organs differentiated from iPS or ES cells, organ-ona-chip (organ chip) and organs produced with 3D printers.
We clearly see that we should not only rely on laboratory
animals but also address this diverse preclinical system. For
that, we have been working on open innovation between ourinstitute and other companies and the development of newfields for several years. We have a wide network in the
preclinical systems industry; therefore, we want to continue

to work together, expanding our network through leadershipand working with institutions with new technologies tocreate a system that will benefit the world. As such, weconsider institutions with newly established preclinicalsystem technology to be "collaborators'' rather than"competitors''. Our current goal is not to have the bestlaboratory animal research institute, but one that provides
the best preclinical systems. Worldwide, no major
laboratory animal research institute or company haslaboratory animals in its name. Also, as they say “The nameis a mirror of its character”, we changed our name toCentral Institute for Experimental Medicine and Life
Science（CIEM）to leap to a new stage by changing thename. The name of the Central Institute for Experimental
Medicine and Life Science（CIEM）was chosen for it could
be interpreted in various ways, such as 'Central Institute forExperimental Animals', 'Central Institute for Experimental
Medicine' or 'Central Institute for Experimental LifeSciences'. The Central Institute for Experimental Medicine
and Life Science has a history for more than seventy years
and we have the trust and know-how of all those who havehelped us, as well as technology that is recognized aroundthe world, thus we have no intention to change our base, but
we are planning to come up with something new since wechanged our name.

the institute with the positive attitude of starting over fromscratch. My experience working at a trading company wasvery useful and I could establish a new proposal model thatpromotes animals not as individual objects, but as a tool thatcompose an animal experiment system. This is an outcomeof the experience of creating new business models as theneed for trading companies, whose main business wasintermediation, has diminished with the development ofinformation and communication technology, just as thetransition from fax to e-mail did.

Wheels of the CIEM

Mr. Nomura, ChairmanPassion behind the new logo

The 'M' shape in the new 'CIEM' logo is gently curved andeye-catching. This gently cured letter expresses helping eachother. In addition, it has various meanings and thoughts suchas "M" is the initial letter of "mouse" and "marmoset," andthe original logo "CIEA" has been changed from "A"representing "Animal" to "M" representing "Medicine,
Mankind, Multiplicity" and wanting to emphasize what wasdone and make it prominent. While we were working on a
project to change our corporate name and logo, the momentwe saw this logo, it was unanimously decided.

New CIEM logo

Experience as ″Business person″ is useful

When I was a small boy, there was a laboratory in thegarden of my parents’ house, and my father, Dr. Tatsuji
Nomura, made me help him by washing the breeding cages.
It was smelly, dirty, and painful, so I said to myself that I did
not want to do this kind of work and considered a different
path to my father. I had studied marketing at Faculty ofCommerce at the university and worked for a trading
company afterword. After working in New York, Germany,
Singapore and elsewhere, also as the president's businesssecretary, I became a head of biotechnology business, which,coincidentally, I ended up getting involved with CIEM.
There, I realized for the first time that there were so many
intellectual properties hidden at CIEM. It looked very
interesting for a businessperson like me, I strongly felt that itwas not the time for me to work in business. When I joined
the CIEM, I was 49 years old, and my father was 80 years
old. If I were to work until I was 80 years old in the same
way as my father, I would once again be a freshman andwould enjoy 30 years of my working life twice, so I joined

One wheel is to support Japan's research as a foundation thatbacks up the country's basic research. The other wheel is thedevelopment of a groundbreaking new technology that is
only carried out by CIEM in the world. The latter wheel isdetermined to do something stand out with full blast.
However, just being stand out is not an option, therefore weaim to make the technology available to people all over theworld and contribute to humanity in various ways. By thetime people are saying “good”, it is already too late. People
are already aware and taking action. Rather, I believe that
we must try things that everyone is saying “No good”
especially within this institute. For example, when we weredeveloping a liver humanized model mouse, there werecomments from within the laboratory saying, "How long are
we going to keep doing this? Stop doing this.'' However, thestrength of small and medium-sized research institutes isthat there are no personnel transfers. That is why there is acontinuity for the research. People working at large
companies and governments, no matter how passionate they
are about their job, they are going to be transferred after a
few years and they must change their job. Then, even if you
work with passion, your successor will say that the project
was created by the previous person, and there will be an
enthusiasm gap between them. As a matter of fact, it isdifficult for one person to commercialize a single job after
two to three years. If you would like to start something fromscratch, it should still take five to ten years. I believe thatthe strength of medium-sized research institutes is that they
can focus entirely on their job.

Challenge to a new stage

For example, while observing genetically modified mice
under a microscope, I was wondering if it would be possible
to automate the process of injecting sperm into eggs using
the craftsmanship. Coincidentally, I had a chance to meetwith someone from a car bearing company, and when I
talked about it, I learned that the company has technology
for positioning on the X, Y, and Z axes, and we could
connect that this technology allows sperm to be placed
inside an egg. This technology could potentially be applied
to fertility treatment; therefore we proceeded as a social
contribution initiative, named the completed machine 'Stork',
and delivered this to a medical institution. Currently, the city,
prefecture, and national government are responsible for thedevelopment of KING SKYFRONT, where the CIEM islocated, but it is our role to passionately put our enthusiasm
and all our efforts into the development of this area. The
value of this area is tested depending on if we can really dothat. We are moving forward with the determination to dothat with all the neighbor institutes.

There are limits to what one person can do. If we build good
relationships with everyone and work together, "1+1" canbecome 20 or even 50. I hope to continue to enjoy working
together with the neighbor institutes and companies in thefuture.
This time, we asked Mr. Nomura about his thoughts on thechange of the Institute's corporate name and his passionate
outlook for the future. Thank you very much, Mr. Nomura.

Stork Mr. Nomura purchased on his business tripHot Topics
NANO MRNA starts clinical trials for drugs for malignant brain tumor
NANO MRNA Co., Ltd. (Head office: Minato-ku, Tokyo) announced thatinvestigator-initiated clinical trials has started for drugs for malignant brain
tumor "glioblastoma". The drug will be administered to up to twenty-four
patients at three institutions, including university hospitals, and its safety
and efficacy will be verified. Glioblastoma, with an estimated 2,000 new
cases per year, is one of the most malignant of all brain tumors. It isdifficult to cure with current treatment methods such as surgery andradiotherapy and has an extremely poor prognosis. The therapeutic drug
developed by the NANO MRNA acts on TUG1, an RNA (ribonucleic acid)in the body that is linked to the proliferation of cancer cells, removes
factors that help cancer cells proliferate, and induces cell death, is expected
to become an innovative drug.

Click here for NANO MRNA news release

Central Institute for Experimental Medicine and Life Science (CIEM)
Development of a novel AI-based marmoset behavior analyzer.
The research group led by Dr. Terumi Yurimoto, SeniorResearch Scientist, and Dr. Erika Sasaki, Director of theDepartment of Marmoset Biology and Medicine, CIEM,
has developed FulMAI: a novel AI-based marmoset
behavioral analyses system. Marmosets’ behavioral
characteristics are similar to humans, such as forming
families consisting of parents and their children, andvarious disease models have been developed, including
Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases. However, it is notclear how behavior changes because of the onset of thedisease. In this research, by focusing on the fact that there
are individual differences in facial features like humans
and using AI to identify faces, non-invasive identificationand tracking of individuals has been achieved. The researchgroup anticipates that new insights into behavioral changes
due to the early onset of various neurological diseases andfeedback into human medicine will be provided in the future.

Analysis workflow of FulMAI system
Click here for CIEM news release

Held an event!
RINK
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Regenerative medicine
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therapy Industrialization
Industrialization Network
Network ofth edition was held at Mid-Town Yaesu on February 16. Under the theme 'Flexible
thKanagawa(RINK),
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6Kanagawa (RINK), now in its 6 edition was held at Mid-Town Yaesu on February 16. Under the theme 'Flexible
connections, new
new encounters',
encounters', four
four sessions
sessions werewere held,
held, inin which
which experts,experts, renowned
renowned scientists
scientists andand high-profile
high-profile regenerative
regenerative
connections,medicine-related
start-ups
sharedtheirpassionate
thoughts
inpresentations
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Manyindustry
medicine-related start-ups shared their passionate thoughts in presentations and panel discussions. Many industry
professionals
gatheredandlistened
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stories thatthat could
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nextyear’sevent.
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Click here
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details
Click

Joined KING SKYFRONT!
Data-Driven
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iCONM Now
International School Students Learnt Nanomedicine at iCONM
On April 17, 34 International
students from Horizon
InternationalSchool inSchoolStudents
Learnt Nanomedicine at iCONM
Yokohama, who are equivalent to first-year high school students inJapan, came to iCONM. In prior to carrying out the following 4experiments; 1) size measurement of nanoparticles, 2) microscopic
observation of brain tissues, 3) electrophoresis of DNA, and 4) powder
sampling under argon using a glove bag, the students were given a
short lecture by Dr. Sabina Quader, Deputy Principal Research
Scientist, and divided into four groups. For closing the event, the"incandescent classroom" by Prof. Kazunori Kataoka, Center Directorof iCONM, was very exciting as it attracted the students' strong
interest and elicited many comments. iCONM has 105 foreign
researchers (38%) from 21 countries, and it was a good opportunity
for them to become aware of a member of iCONM team and toincrease their motivation.

Click here for details

mRNA vaccines may be better naked.
mRNA vaccine saved mankind from the crisis of new coronavirus infection.
Unlike conventional vaccines, they can be developed in a short period of time andwork effectively during an epidemic of a new type of virus. mRNA is a protein
blueprint, and proteins with amino acid sequences specified by the order in which
the four compounds, denoted A, G, C, and U, are arranged, are naturally
synthesized in the body. In other words, when mRNA is created and inoculated
into the body to become a virus-specific protein, that protein is synthesized in thebody, and when it is recognized as a foreign substance, antibodies are produced toeliminate it. This is the mRNA vaccine. However, since mRNA is a very unstable
substance, it is usually inoculated by covering it with a membrane such as lipid.
However, a group led by Prof. Satoshi Uchida, a principal research scientist atiCONM, and his colleagues have demonstrated in monkeys that antibodies can beproduced with "naked mRNA" as if to overturn this common sense. The key pointis that "naked mRNA" is inoculated into the skin using a tool called a jet injector.
Compared to conventional intramuscular injections, there is almost no pain. In
addition, since the inoculated mRNA stays in the skin, it is thought to prevent theoccurrence of side effects such as fever and lethargy caused by the mRNA beingtransported throughout the body, as is the case with conventional methods. The
results of this research were published in the journal Molecular Therapy on April
2, 2024 and attracted much attention.

S. Abbasi et al., Molecular Therapy, in press
Click here for details
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ymthe.2024.03.022

Renewal of KSF net
We have renewed our website (homepage) to provide information toeveryone at the KING SKYFRONT. We are pleased to giveinformation not only about grants and seminars for locatedinstitutions but also about lunch arrangements for those working inthis area. We have been operating our internet as "KSF Intranet" withuser authentication, but to improve convenience, user authentication
has been abolished for information references, and the name has beenshortened to "KSFnet". We are committed to provide more
information and would like to operate a more convenient website, so
please use it.

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Date of issue: May 2024
Publisher: TONOMACHI LifeScience Cluster Division
Kawasaki Institute of Industrial Promotion
Mail：pr-ksfcl@kawasaki-net.ne.jp