2024.06.20 @WPI-ASHBi
Secrets of Effective News Releases for Global Reach

Disseminating our researcheffectively and efficiently

Institute for the Advanced Study of Human Biology (WPI-ASHBi)
Kyoto University
Research Coordinator Hiromi Nakao-Inoue

About myself
Hiromi Nakao-Inoue M.S.

ARTICLES
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41593-018-0216-z

Research Coordinator, WPI-ASHBi

2006

Master of Science (Medical Science)
Technical Staff @ RIKEN

2012

Assistant Specialist @UCSF (Laboratory Medicine)2015

Lab Manager @UCSF (Department of Psychiatry)

2020

Research Coordinator @ WPI-ASHBi, Kyoto University

Variation among intact tissue samples reveals
the core transcriptional features of human
CNS cell classes
Kevin W. Kelley! !1,2,3,4,5, Hiromi Nakao-Inoue! !2,3,4, Anna V. Molofsky! !2,3,4 and Michael C. Oldham! !1,2,3*
It is widely assumed that cells must be physically isolated to study their molecular profiles. However, intact tissue samples
naturally exhibit variation in cellular composition, which drives covariation of cell-class-specific molecular features. By analyzing transcriptional covariation in 7,221 intact CNS samples from 840 neurotypical individuals, representing billions of cells,
we reveal the core transcriptional identities of major CNS cell classes in humans. By modeling intact CNS transcriptomes as afunction of variation in cellular composition, we identify cell-class-specific transcriptional differences in Alzheimer’s disease,among brain regions, and between species. Among these, we show that PMP2 is expressed by human but not mouse astrocytes
and significantly increases mouse astrocyte size upon ectopic expression in vivo, causing them to more closely resemble their
human counterparts. Our work is available as an online resource (http://oldhamlab.ctec.ucsf.edu/) and provides a generalizable strategy for determining the core molecular features of cellular identity in intact biological systems.

I

dentifying the molecular features that define cellular identities
is a fundamental goal of biological research. Consequently, several ‘bottom-up’ methods have been developed to isolate cells formolecular profiling, including fluorescence-activated cell sorting(FACS), immunopanning (IP), and sorting of single cells (SC) ornuclei (SN). Although these methods are readily applied to many
biological systems, their applicability to the adult human CNS islimited by technical factors and practical considerations. For example, FACS, IP, and SC typically require fresh tissue and have therefore been mostly limited to surgical samples from a handful of CNS
regions and individuals1–3. SN4,5 is compatible with frozen tissue but,like SC, suffers from technical noise caused by tissue dissociation,
nucleus or cell capture, cDNA preamplification, and stochastic transcript coverage6. Furthermore, there is a trade-off between sequencing depth and the number of nuclei or cells that can be analyzed.
The adult human CNS is large, heterogeneous, and difficult todissociate due to extensive myelin. It consists of ~170 billion cells,
about half of which are neurons7. The remaining cells consist mostlyof oligodendrocytes, astrocytes, and microglia, which are collectively
referred to as glia. Identifying transcriptional differences amongneuronal and glial subtypes is an important goal, as heterogeneity
within CNS cell classes is incompletely understood. However, it isequally important to understand what CNS cell subtypes have incommon. For example, is there a core set of genes whose expression
is shared among all neurons? All astrocytes? Etcetera. Answering
these questions will fill critical gaps in our understanding of CNS
cell biology, produce novel experimental and analytical strategies,
and provide important insights into the cellular origins of CNS

Institutional program management, scientific visualization
2022+ News releasedata sets contain no information about the cellular origins of geneexpression. However, it is axiomatic that intact tissue samples fromany biological system will exhibit variable cellular composition.
Therefore, when many intact tissue samples are analyzed, genes
expressed with the greatest sensitivity and specificity in the same
cell class should appear highly correlated, as their expression levels
depend primarily on the proportion of that cell class in each sample8. In support of this reasoning, which has motivated numerous insilico deconvolution strategies9–15, we previously discovered highly
reproducible gene coexpression modules in microarray data from
intact human brain samples that were significantly enriched withmarkers of major CNS cell classes16. These findings were replicatedin studies of intact CNS transcriptomes from mice17, rats18, zebra
finches19, macaques20, and humans21.
Gene coexpression modules corresponding to major cell classes
are therefore robust and predictable features of CNS transcriptomes
derived from intact tissue samples. Furthermore, the same genes
consistently show the strongest affinities for these modules, offering
substantial information about the molecular correlates of cellular
identity16. Over the past decade, thousands of intact, neurotypicalhuman samples from every major CNS region have been transcriptionally profiled. These data provide an unprecedented opportunity
to determine the core transcriptional features of cellular identity inthe human CNS from the top down by integrating cell-class-specificgene coexpression modules from many independent data sets.

Results

Gene coexpression analysis of synthetic brain samples accurately

2

Insutitute for the Advanced Study of Human Biology (WPI-ASHBi)
ASHBi was esatablished in October 2018 with funding from the World PremierInternational Research Center Initiative (WPI) Program of MEXT.
ASHBi’s GOAL

What key biological traits make us ‘human’,and how can knowing these lead us
to better cure for disease?

Research Group:
Research area

16, Reseacher: 66, Student: 91

Developmental biology, Genome informatics, Primate model, Basic/Clinical Medicine
Mathematics, Bioethics

ASHBi website@Ashbi_KyotoU@ashbi2018
3

ASHBi’s news release in EurekAlert!
FY2023 : Published

Annually

9 releases

10 release

ASHBi
Research Acceleration Unit
Research Coordinators

Supported 3 releases as a joint news release
FY2024 : Published

2 releases (2 relases under construction)

JP:

News release
Crafting in ASHBi

Avg. 7.3

per release

Supported 1 release as a joint news release

Researcher

News outlet
H. INOUE

C. CHIWATATwo assigned staff for PR

Unit

Write

EN: Request

Craft

Visual: Request

CreateReviseRelease

4

Aim:

To craft effective news releases by efficient system
Effective news releases
ü Catch an interest at glanceü Easy-to read writing with Scientific findings

Efficient system
ü Process with minimal staffing
ü Complete preparation by Embargo date5Issue:Discrepancy between researcher and writer
The process

RequestNews releasecraftResearcher

Outsource
Unit member(Researcher)

ReviseHmmm….

ReleaseResearcherWriter

The news release is a story - need storyline for the public

Writers/PR staff

The news release should have research findings - need sufficient enough science

The news release requires bothandResearchers!!

We need the solution for overcoming this discrepancy

6Solution:

Create storyline by Questionnaire
Scope

Q1. What social issue leads you to start this project?
Institute for the Advanced Study of Human Biology (ASHBi)
ASHBi Research Acceleration Unit

Questionnaire for News Release

Institute for the Advanced Study of Human Biology (ASHBi)
ASHBi Research Acceleration Unit

Please answer the following questions with short sentence in English.
We would like to hear your thoughts/opinion/ideathat yourresearchRelease
paper doesn’t have!
Questionnairefor News
1.
Questions:social issue
leads youwith
to start
thissentence
project? in English.
Pleaseanswer What
the followingquestions
shortWe would like to hear your thoughts/opinion/idea that your research paper doesn’t have!
1. Background:
Questions: What
issue
leads background/issue
you to start this project?
2.
Whatsocial
was thescientificof this project? How did you overcome it?

2.

Background: What was the scientific background/issue of this project? How did you overcome it?

3.

Result: What was the main finding that you wish to PR?

The connection between this research and public

Q2. What was the scientific background/issue of this project?
How did you overcome it?
Sci. background to facilitate reader’s understanding

Social issue

AcademicBackground4.
tellmainus about
futurethat
directionof thisproject.
3. Future
Result:plan:WhatPlease
was thefinding
you wishto PR?

5.

Your voice: Message/Comment to the public.

5.

Your voice: Message/Comment to the public.

4.

Future plan: Please tell us about future direction of this project.

Q3. What was the main finding you wish to PR?
Research PR point (new findings)

Scien;ﬁcﬁnding

Effectivestoryline

Q4. Please tell us the future direction of this project.
Sci. direction to facilitate reader’s deep consideration

AcademicFuture plan

Q5. Message/comment to the public
The connection between findings and future

Social implica;ons

Answering this questionnaire automatically craft the storyline!

7

Example – how it looks likeOne essentioal Step for a Germ Cell, One Giant Leap for the Future of
Reproductive Medicine

https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-024-07526-6

Accelerated Article Preview

Accelerated Article PreviewPublished online xx xx xxxx

Yusuke Murase, Ryuta Yokogawa, Yukihiro Yabuta, Masahiro Nagano, Yoshitaka Katou,
Manami Mizuyama, Ayaka Kitamura, Pimpitcha Puangsricharoen, Chika Yamashiro, Bo Hu,Ken Mizuta, Kosuke Ogata, Yasushi Ishihama & Mitinori Saitou

This is a PDF file of a peer-reviewed paper that has been accepted for publication.
Although unedited, the content has been subjected to preliminary formatting. Natureis providing this early version of the typeset paper as a service to our authors andreaders. The text and figures will undergo copyediting and a proof review before thepaper is published in its final form. Please note that during the production processerrors may be discovered which could affect the content, and all legal disclaimers
apply.

ACC

EL

ER

AT
ED

AR
TI
C

Cite this article as: Murase, Y. et al. In vitro
reconstitution of epigenetic reprogrammingin the human germ line. Nature https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-024-07526-6 (2024)

PR

Accepted: 7 May 2024

LEReceived: 21 May 2023

EVIEW

In vitro reconstitution of epigenetic
reprogramming in the human germ line

Nature | www.nature.com

Murase et al (2024)., Nature
DOI: 10.1038/s41586-024-07526-6•

Identified the key protein that enable to maintain and expand
human germ cell-like cells that derived from human iPS cell
（ヒトiPS由来の卵子・精子のもととなる細胞を正常に維持・増殖させるタンパク質を同定）•Allow to study human germ cell development in vitro（今まで技術的・倫理的に困難だった生殖細胞発生研究が発展）

8Example – how it looks likeOne essentioal Step for a Germ Cell, One Giant Leap for the Future ofReproductive Medicine

Infertility (不妊症) affects approximately 1 in 6 people in their
lifetime worldwide according to the World Health Organization.
Social issue (Not necessarily written in the article)

Identified the key protein that enable to maintain and expand humangerm cell-like cells that derived from human iPS cells

Scope

Social issue

Academic
Background

Scien;ﬁcﬁnding

Effective
storyline

Scientific findings (written in the article)

Academic
Future plan

…we have now made one significant leap forward towards thepotential translation of IVG(試験管内卵⼦・精⼦形成) into
reproductive medicine.
Social implication (Not necessarily witten in the article)

Social implica;ons9

Sharing the storyline helps to shorten the process time
As of 6/12 (one month)

PV in EurekAlert! = 1,400
Murase et al (2024)., Nature• Accelerated Article Preview (AAP)• Requested to have a press conference

Top 1%!!
DOI: 10.1038/s41586-024-07526-6

RequestInstitute for the Advanced Study of Human Biology (ASHBi)
ASHBi Research Acceleration Unit

Questionnaire for News Release
Please answer the following questions with short sentence in English.
We would like to hear your thoughts/opinion/idea that your research paper doesn’t have. So, the question #3 is optional.
1.

Questions: What academic question leads you to start this project?
どのような学術的課題の解決のためにこの研究を始めましたか？

•2.

Background: What was the scientific background/issue of this project?
これまでの⼿法や研究成果の問題点はなんですか？

•3.

(Optional)Result: How did you tackle the issue and what was the significant finding by overcoming the previous issue?
課題をどのように克服して、どんな発⾒ができましたか？

•4.

Future plan: Please tell us about future direction of this project.
今回の成果をどのように発展させていきたいですか？

•5.

Your voice: Message/Comment to the public.
今回の発⾒は社会にどのようなインパクトをもたらしますか？

•News releasecraftingInstitute for the Advanced Study of Human Biology (ASHBi)
ASHBi Research Acceleration Unit

Questionnaire for News Release
Please answer the following questions with short sentence in English.
We would like to hear your thoughts/opinion/idea that your research paper doesn’t have. So, the question #3 is optional.
1.

Questions: What academic question leads you to start this project?
どのような学術的課題の解決のためにこの研究を始めましたか？

•2.

Background: What was the scientific background/issue of this project?
これまでの⼿法や研究成果の問題点はなんですか？

•3.

(Optional)Result: How did you tackle the issue and what was the significant finding by overcoming the previous issue?
課題をどのように克服して、どんな発⾒ができましたか？

•4.

Release

ReviseFuture plan: Please tell us about future direction of this project.
今回の成果をどのように発展させていきたいですか？

•5.

Your voice: Message/Comment to the public.
今回の発⾒は社会にどのようなインパクトをもたらしますか？

•5/8

5/19
Institute for the Advanced Study of Human Biology (ASHBi)
ASHBi Research Acceleration Unit

Questionnaire for News Release
Please answer the following questions with short sentence in English.
We would like to hear your thoughts/opinion/idea that your research paper doesn’t have. So, the question #3 is optional.
1.

Questions: What academic question leads you to start this project?
どのような学術的課題の解決のためにこの研究を始めましたか？

•2.

Background: What was the scientific background/issue of this project?
これまでの⼿法や研究成果の問題点はなんですか？

•Researcher

The process

Outsource
Unit member(Researcher)3.

(Optional)Result: How did you tackle the issue and what was the significant finding by overcoming the previous issue?
課題をどのように克服して、どんな発⾒ができましたか？

•4.

Future plan: Please tell us about future direction of this project.
今回の成果をどのように発展させていきたいですか？

•5.

Publication date = 5/20

Your voice: Message/Comment to the public.
今回の発⾒は社会にどのようなインパクトをもたらしますか？

•The revise time

Within 24 hours = One round of Emails

10Summary:Using questionnaire facilitates our news release crafting
Institute for the Advanced Study of Human Biology (ASHBi)
ASHBi Research Acceleration Unit

Questionnaire for News Release

Institute for the Advanced Study of Human Biology (ASHBi)
ASHBi Research Acceleration Unit

Please answer the following questions with short sentence in English.
We would like to hear your thoughts/opinion/ideathat yourresearchRelease
paper doesn’t have!
Questionnairefor News1.
Questions:social issueleads youwith
to start
thissentence
project? in English.
Pleaseanswer Whatthe followingquestions
shortWe would like to hear your thoughts/opinion/idea that your research paper doesn’t have!
1. Background:
Questions: Whatissue
leads background/issue
you to start this project?
2.
Whatsocial
was thescientificof this project? How did you overcome it?

2.

Background: What was the scientific background/issue of this project? How did you overcome it?

3.

Result: What was the main finding that you wish to PR?

Effective

Answer the questionnaireü Automatically craft the storyline
ü Obtain the PR point (Scientific findings) from researcher

4.
tellmainus about
futurethatdirectionof thisproject.
3. Future
Result:plan:
WhatPlease
was thefinding
you wishto PR?

5.

Your voice: Message/Comment to the public.

5.

Your voice: Message/Comment to the public.

4.

Future plan: Please tell us about future direction of this project.

Efficiently

Share the questionnaireü Avoid the discrepancy
ü Shorten the revise process“ProducPon Pme =1 – 2 weeks”

11Visual is another key
Utilize the same questionnaire for visual creation!

2 – 4 weeks

ProducPon Pme =(outsource)

12

Pamphlet – Visualize your Research

The pamphlet is available
at the desk!

13

Acknowledgement
Thank you for your attention!
ASHBi Research Acceleration Unit
Tadashi Ogawa
Spyros Goulas
Makoto Shida
Chieko Chiwata

ASHBi OfficeFumi Komori
Narumi Sano
Mayuko Sawamori
Chisato Kaya

Institute for Life and Medical Sciences
Hiromi Sumita

14