In-person session
“How and why will A.I. take our jobs?” [Octave]
Noriko Arai works as the Director of the Research Center for Community Knowledge at the National Institute of Informatics in Tokyo, Japan. Her research interests are Mathematical Logic and Artificial Intelligence. In 2011, she became the Program Director of an AI grand challenge, Todai Robot Project. She will speak about the influences of AI technologies on different industries, especially in medicine and life science.
“iNOS inhibition of Hair Regeneration in Obese Diabetic Mice”[Presto]
Shohei Shinozaki has extensive experience and expertise in biochemistry, analysis of phenotypes in mice, and detection of post-translational cysteine thiol modifications (e.g., S-nitrosylation, oxidative thiol modifications) by the biotin-switch method. He has been working on the molecular mechanisms underlying stress (e.g., burn injury)- and obesity- induced insulin resistance and nitrosative stress. The content of his talk was actually discovered by chance, in the process of research about insulin resistance, and believes that we can develop new possibilities of iNOS inhibitor with this discovery.
“The ecosystem incubating biotechnology in Japan and U.S.” [Sonata]
Ayano Kagami is a candidate of Master of Science in System Design and Management, MIT, and a fellow of Japanese Government Long-term fellowship. She will speak about the difference between Japan and Boston in incubating biotech start ups, from the perspective of a government officer who worked for the establishment of Japanese biotech ecosystem and as a student in boston. The biotech industry is the one of the biggest spot-lighted industry in the world; the Japanese government has been trying to catch up with this trend by making use of their advantage in the basic research area represented by iPS cells.
“A tan without the sun: a new approach for skin cancer prevention” [Octave]
Akinori Kawakami is a physician-scientist currently working as a researcher at the department of Dermatology at Massachusetts General Hospital, trying to make the world better through science. His research focus is skin—especially melanocyte and melanoma—biology, and is eager to translate basic scientific findings into benefits for our health.
“Bio-inspired Materials for Biotech” [Presto]
Hiroshi Atsumi is a Research Scientist at MIT’s Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research. He focuses on applying biomolecules as a material for solving biotech problems. Specifically, he has used DNA as building blocks for the assembly of pre-determined architectures for many applications. His talk will focus on these smart materials and how we will use it for biotech.
“Negotiation between Japanese companies and US startups”[Sonata]
Jo Sakurada is in charge of Economic Affairs in the Japanese Consulate. He will speak about the challenges and misunderstandings that can happen during business negotiations between Japanese pharma companies and US Biotechs, based on his past experience of scouting and negotiating research collaborations from the pharma side.
“Cardiac Hormone for Cancer Treatments” [Octave]
Takashi Nojiri is the laboratory chief of the department of Biochemistry at the National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center Research INstitute. Atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) is a heart-derived secretory peptide that mediates a wide range of biological functions. We found that ANP can prevent cancer metastasis via vascular endothelial cells. We have tried to develop ANP treatments for “anti-metastatic therapy” or “Enhancement of the effects of chemo/radiation/immunotherapy”.
“Tracing Chromosomes at the Nanoscale” [Presto]
Hiroshi Sasaki is a postdoc in Peng Yin’s lab at the Wyss Institute at Harvard University and is leveraging DNA nanotechnology to develop advanced single-cell imaging technologies. He will talk about his novel highly multiplexed super-resolution microscopy methods to sample chromosomal targets at the nanoscale in individual cells. These tools allow researchers to ask questions about how DNA transactions such as replication, transcription, and repair are faithfully carried out by our cells and how they are disrupted in disease.
This event is part of Japan Life Sciences Innovation Night. Japan and Boston share a strategic relationship — this evening of networking, panel discussions pitches, and flash talks seeks to align the next generation of entrepreneurial spirit with the talent and resources needed to thrive in tomorrow’s market. To indicate your interest for headcount purposes, please visit our Eventbrite.
