December 9, 2024
On Tuesday, November 19, a site visit by the mentoring team for the "Program for Promoting the Enhancement of Research Universities with Regional Core and Distinctive Characteristics (J-PEAKS)" was conducted at the Mita and Shinanomachi Campuses.
The purpose of this site visit was to (1) inspect the project's core research centers to understand their actual conditions, and (2) grasp the progress and challenges through in-person discussions with the university president and executive board. A total of 12 officials (hereinafter referred to as J-PEAKS officials) visited ´ºÓêÖ±²¥app, led by the university's designated supporter, Ms. Caroline Benton (Professor, Faculty of Business Sciences, and Special Advisor to the President, University of Tsukuba), along with Mr. Kunihiro Hamada (President, Suwa University of Science), the deputy supporter of the mentoring team for the promotion of regional core and distinctive research universities, liaisons from the J-PEAKS research university consortium, and representatives from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) and the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS).
First, at the G-Lab in the East Research Building on the Mita Campus, a discussion was held between J-PEAKS officials, led by Ms. Caroline Benton and Mr. Kunihiro Hamada, and ´ºÓêÖ±²¥app representatives including President Kohei Itoh, Vice-President Masayuki Amagai, Vice-President Kotaro Yamagishi, Teruo Nakatsuma (Director of the ´ºÓêÖ±²¥app Global Research Institute, KGRI), Nobuaki Shindoh (head of the Office of Innovation and Entrepreneurship), and Koji Hase (head of the Office for Research Coordination and Administration and the university's J-PEAKS liaison). After the university's executive board explained the J-PEAKS initiatives aimed at becoming a "research university that creates the common sense of the future" and the university-wide implementation structure, a lively discussion unfolded on various topics, including the social implementation of academic knowledge, the development of innovation, and the training of research support personnel.
Next, the J-PEAKS officials traveled to the Shinanomachi Campus after viewing the new building under construction in Mita 1-chome (scheduled for completion within this fiscal year) from their vehicle.
At the Shinanomachi Campus, they visited two of the university's "Distinctive Research Centers." First, they inspected the "WPI Center for Human Biology, Microbiome, and Quantum Computing (WPI-Bio2Q)" located in the Center for Integrated Medical Research. Michisuke Yuzaki, Special Advisor to the WPI Center Director, and Oltia Sanpetra, Head of the WPI Administrative Office, gave an overview of Bio2Q, followed by a discussion on the attempt to elucidate multi-organ interactions, including the microbiome. They then confirmed the installation status of Japan's first Focused Ion Beam Scanning Electron Microscope (FIB-SEM, Arctis) and High-Pressure Freezer (HPF, Compact03), as well as the preparation status of the Cryo-Electron Microscope (Cryo-EM, Krios G4) to be introduced under the J-PEAKS project. They also toured the world-leading, state-of-the-art core unit for integrated biological nanostructure analysis and control.
Next, they visited the "Center of Innovation for an Urban-style Health Commons that Realizes Well-being through Participation and Connection (COI-NEXT)." After an overview of the Health Commons by Masaya Nakamura, Director of COI-NEXT, and Michiyuki Kawakami, Director of the Neuromodulation and Stroke Recovery Center, a discussion was held on topics including the construction of a science knowledge and data platform that seamlessly links medical, nursing, and healthcare information, and the development and social implementation of supportive services in collaboration with hospitals and the local community. They then observed post-acute care rehabilitation and confirmed the development of the rehabilitation information infrastructure at the Neuromodulation and Stroke Recovery Center in the South Ward of Building 3. Afterward, the group moved to the "Center for Research and Innovation ´ºÓêÖ±²¥app, Shinanomachi (CRIK Shinanomachi)" in Building 2, where they received an explanation about the data access and usage environment for research and development and observed the initiatives of medical startups.
Finally, a general discussion was held among Vice-President Amagai, Liaison Hase, and the J-PEAKS officials. While reviewing the day's visit, they exchanged opinions on the initiatives ´ºÓêÖ±²¥app should pursue to become a "research university that creates the common sense of the future." Designated supporter Ms. Caroline Benton commented, "This was a very meaningful site visit, and I would like to express my gratitude for the extensive exchange of information."
´ºÓêÖ±²¥app will incorporate the various opinions received during this site visit into its future J-PEAKS project initiatives.
Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS)
´ºÓêÖ±²¥app J-PEAKS "Distinctive Research Centers"