Archives:2015
-
- Zenoaq Resource Co., Ltd. launches a DMSO-free cryopreservation solution
Zenoaq Resource Co., Ltd. of the mesenchymal stem cell group led by Dr. Akutsu, sub-project leader, has developed a DMSO-free cryopreservation solution in collaboration with the National Center for Child Health and Development and the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology. It is scheduled to be commercially marketed on December 1, 2015. The DMSO-free crypreservation solution is manufactured in compliance with the GMP guideline, and successfully cryopreserves various cells including mesenchymal stem cells.
-
- Holding of the second mesenchymal stem cell subcommittee meeting of FY2015 by the Akutsu group
The second meeting of the mesenchymal stem cell subcommittee of fiscal 2015 was held by the Akutsu group at the SCA conference room on November 13, and was attended by personnel from the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry and the Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development. The progress of the fiscal 2015 research plans and the results including launched products were presented. There were lively discussions on the results and the orientation for the future.
-
- Mahidol University of Thailand visits the centralized R&D lab. at Osaka University
On October 30, 2015, personnel of Mahidol University of Thailand visited the centralized R&D lab. at Osaka University to see a prototype of stem cell manufacturing and processing system. The visit was supported by the Thailand Center of Excellence for Life Sciences (TCELS), a Thai public organization. They discussed regenerative medicine in Japan, and business potential and economy of regenerative medicine with Prof. Kino-oka, sub-project leader, and others.
-
- Holding of the third AMED development conference of FY2015 by the Nakatsuji group of Kyoto University
On October 20, 2015, the third Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development (AMED) development conference of fiscal 2015 was held by the Nakatsuji group of Kyoto University at the Institute for Integrated Cell-Material Sciences (iCeMS). It was attended by personnel from the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry and AMED. The first session was devoted to reports on the progress of the fiscal 2015 research plans, and the second session, to individual discussions between concerned personnel. Furthermore, the third session was devoted to a presentation of the Kawasaki Innovation Gateway (KING) SKYFRONT by Kanagawa Prefectural Government. The next conference is scheduled to be held on January, 19, 2016.
-
- Many visitors to the SCA booth at BioJapan 2015
BioJapan 2015 was held for three days from October 14 to 16, 2015 at Pacifico Yokohama. SCA exhibited main results of the project of a year and a half, and showed a video presentation about the centralized R&D research lab. at Osaka University. SCA also presented panels showing the SCA profile and the project overviews of three sub-project leaders’ groups. New brochures were distributed to many visitors who came to the SCA booth and there were a lot of questions and answers.
-
- Holding of the first iPS section meeting of FY2015 by the Kino-oka group of Osaka University
On October 13, 2015, the first iPS section meeting of FY2015 of the Kino-oka group of fiscal 2015 was held at Osaka University. It was attended by personnel from the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry and the Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development (AMED). A tour to the centralized R&D lab. at Osaka University was held before the meeting and there was a lively discussion on the progress of the fiscal 2015 research plans and the orientation for the future at the meeting.
-
- Press release from Dr. Akutsu group (the mesenchymal stem cell group)
On October 8, 2015, DNA Chip Research Inc., Zenoaq Resource Co., Ltd. and Taiyo Nippon Sanso Corporation made a press release stating the results of development of regenerative medicine products in a meeting room of SCA. Dr. Akutsu, sub-project leader, gave the significance of the results and the three members gave detailed descriptions. There were vigorous questions and answers.
-
- Holding of the fist AMED steering conference of FY2015
On September 18, 2015, the fist Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development (AMED) steering conference of FY2015 was held at the AMED conference room in order to draw advice and recommendations about management and progress of the project from external experts. There were lively questions and answers on the reports by the program supervisor and the sub-project leaders.
-
- Holding of the third steering committee meeting at the National Center for Child Health and Development (NCCHD) and tour of the centralized R&D lab. at NCCHD
On September 17, 2015, the third steering committee meeting of SCA was held at the National Center for Child Health and Development (NCCHD) and the committee members toured the centralized R&D lab. (CL) at NCCHD. The tour was friendly and some committee members themselves explained about their apparatuses settled at CL.
Pictures of the CL tour at NCCHD
Outline description of CL by sub-project leader Dr. Akutsu
Full view of CL
Description of the culture substrate of FUJIFILM Corporation
Description of the automated culture apparatus of NIPRO Corporation
Description of the cryopreservation solution of Zenoaq Resource Co., Ltd.
Description of the automated cryopreservation apparatus of Taiyo Nippon Sanso Corporation
-
- Visit to the centralized R&D lab. at Osaka University by CTM CRC, Australia
On September 14, 2015, Dr. Kothari, CEO, and Prof. Read, chair of the Cooperative Research Center for Cell Therapy Manufacturing (CTM CRC ), Australia, visited the the centralized R&D lab. at Osaka University. Prof. Kino-oka, sub-project leader, gave an outline description and there was a fruitful discussion with respect to the manufacturing system set up in August 2015.
Description of the automated culture system by Prof. Kino-oka (#1)
Description of the automated culture system by Prof. Kino-oka (#2)
-
- Holding of the first PS/SPL conference of FY2015
The first Program Supervisor/Sub-project Leader Conference of this fiscal year was hosted by the Division of Regenerative Medicine Research of the Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development (AMED) in one of its conference room on the afternoon of August 20, 2015. It was attended by program supervisor Dr. Nakahata; the sub-project leaders Dr. Nakatsuji, Dr. Kino-oka, Dr. Akutsu, and Dr. Dezawa; guests from the Bio-Industry Division of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry; Ms. Takuma, director of the AMED Division of Regenerative Medicine Research, alongside personnel from the AMED who are involved in the project; and listeners including SCA president Mr. Yoshioka. There was a lively discussion of matters such as reports on the project progress and intergroup partnership.
-
- Re-election of President Yasuhiro Yoshioka
At a meeting of the SCA board of directors on July 13, 2015, an election was held for the post of SCA president, and Mr. Yasuhiro Yoshioka (fellow, FUJIFILM Corporation) was re-elected as the president. At the same meeting, Dr. Yoshihiro Nakamura was re-elected as the executive director.
-
- Holding of the second AMED development conference of FY2015 by the Nakatsuji group of Kyoto University
On July 10, 2015, the second Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development (AMED) development conference of fiscal 2015 was held by the Nakatsuji group of Kyoto University at the Institute for Integrated Cell-Material Sciences (iCeMS). It was attended by personnel from the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry and AMED. The first session was devoted to reports on the progress of the fiscal 2015 research plans, and the second session, to individual discussions between concerned personnel. The next conference is scheduled to be held on October 20.
-
- Holding of the first mesenchymal stem cell subcommittee meeting of FY2015 by the Akutsu group
The first meeting of the mesenchymal stem cell subcommittee of fiscal 2015 was held by the Akutsu group at the SCA conference room on July 8, and was attended by personnel from the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry and the Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development. There were lively discussions on the progress of the fiscal 2015 research plans and the orientation for the future. The next meeting is scheduled for November 13, 2015.
-
- Tour of the centralized R&D lab. by the Division of Regenerative Medicine Research of the AMED
On July 1, 2015, a group of seven members of the Division of Regenerative Medicine of the Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development (AMED) led by Ms. Kiryu, deputy director, toured the Centralized R&D Lab. (CL) of the National Center for Child Health and Development (NCCDH). After opening remarks by Dr. Umezawa, vice director of the NCCDH, they listened to an outline description of the CL by sub-project leader Dr. Akutsu. This was followed by explanations of different pieces of equipment installed in the CL by the respective corporate researchers. The members of the group had many questions for the CL personnel.
Description of development of culture substrate
Description of an automated culture unit
Description of a cryopreservation unit
Wrap-up remarks by Dr. Akutsu
-
- Holding of the FY2015 ordinary general meeting
The fiscal 2015 ordinary general meeting of SCA was held at the SCA conference room from 4:00 to 5:15 pm on June 18, 2015. SCA invited the following to attend as guests: Mr. Baba (deputy director), Mr. Shingai (chief analyst for bio-technology), and Ms. Futemma (officer) of the Bio-Industry Division of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, and Ms. Takuma (director) and Dr. Okamoto (deputy manager) of the Division of Regenerative Medicine Research Section of the Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development. Approval of the fiscal 2014 business report and all of the other measures were passed, and the meeting concluded without incident.
-
- Completion of the revised edition of the SCA pamphlet
The recent shift of the commissioning entity from the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization to the Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development occasioned a redesign and revision of the SCA pamphlet. Steps were taken for the cover and in other areas to facilitate understanding of the SCA’s activities by all readers. If you would like a copy, please contact our secretariat.
-
- Holding of the first AMED development conference of FY2015 by the Nakatsuji group of Kyoto University
On April 14, 2015, the first Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development (AMED) development conference of fiscal 2015 was held by the Nakatsuji Group of Kyoto University at the Institute for Integrated Cell-Material Sciences (iCeMS). It was also attended by personnel from the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry and AMED, and was devoted to presentations of the research results of fiscal 2014 and the research plans for fiscal 2015. The next conference is scheduled to be held on July 10, 2015.
-
- Renewal of the SCA website
The renewed version of the SCA website replaced the former version on April 1. Besides changing the logo mark, the purpose of the renewal was to redo the design and heighten the impact and persuasiveness. We welcome your comments on the new website. Please feel free to e-mail them to us at the following address: info[at]scetra.or.jp (please change [at] to @).
-
- Conclusion of a commissioning contract with the Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development (AMED)
On April 1, 2015, SCA concluded a contract for commissioned research and development with the Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development (AMED), which was established on the same day. The research plans for projects based on the commissioning contract with the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO) in fiscal 2014 will basically be carried over. Projects in the medical field for the ministries of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology; Health, Labour and Welfare; and Economy, Trade and Industry will be seamlessly promoted in all phases from basic research to work for practical utilization. There are high hopes that this will add impetus to attainment of the goal of industrializing regenerative medicine in this project.
-
- Professor Nakahata, project leader, visits the centralized R&D lab at the National Center for Child Health and Development
On March 10, Professor Nakahata, project leader, visited the centralized R&D lab at the National Center for Child Health and Development (NCCHD). Personnel from the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry and the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO) also participated. Dr. Umezawa, director of the Center for Clinical Research and Development of the NCCHD, made an address and Dr. Akutsu, sub-project leader, gave an outline description. There was a lively discussion among the participants and the project researchers.
-
- Mr. Yoshioka, president of SCA, takes a rostrum at the NEDO Forum
On February 12 and 13, 2015, the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO) Forum was hosted by NEDO at Tokyo International Forum and ended successfully. Mr. Yoshioka, president of SCA, took a rostrum as a panelist at the technical session on February 13, ”The frontiers of biological and medical technologies: Project reports from the field,” and exchanged opinions among the panelists
Website of the NEDO Forum
Mr. Yoshioka, president of SCA, made a statement
-
- SCA runs a booth at the first Regenerative Medicine Expo
SCA exhibited panels and products at the first Regenerative Medicine Expo held inside Medical Japan 2015 Osaka at Intex Osaka during February 4 to 6, 2015, and ended successfully. Total 620 people visited the SAC booth.
Opening ceremony
The SCA booth
-
- A conference and meetings of the three sub-project leaders’ group held in succession
・Nakatsuji group; the fourth research development conference of FY2014 at Kyoto University on January 21, 2015
・Kino-oka group; the second iPS section meeting of FY2014 at SCA on January 27, 2015
・Akutsu group; a research meeting and a seminar about new acts for regenerative medicine at SCA on January 29, 2015
There were lively discussions at the conference and meetings with attendance from the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry and the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO).
-
- A new year celebration for bio-related organizations
On January 15, 2015, a new year celebration for bio-related organizations was grandly held at Tokyo Kaikan with attendance of Minster of Economy, Trade and Industry and many guests. SCA was one of the hosts. Mr. Yoshioka, president of SCA, and many personnel of SCA members participated and deepened exchanges.
An address of Dr. Makoto Suematsu, dean of Keio University School of Medicine (new president of the Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development (AMED))
-
- SCA runs a booth at the first Regenerative Medicine Expo
SCA will run a booth at the first Regenerative Medicine Expo held at Intex Osaka during February 4 to 6, 2015. Products of the present project such as a stem cell culture apparatus and a 3D culture plate will be presented. Panels presenting the SCA profile and project overviews will also be shown. SCA brochure will be distributed. We look forward to your visit to the SCA booth (booth no. 18-24).
Website of the first Regenerative Medicine Expo
-
- Happy New Year
We would like to express our sincere appreciation for your support and encouragement you gave to SCA last year. The project of industrialization of regenerative medicine launched last year is going well.
We would like to express our deepest appreciation for your continuous support.