Purpose of the Symposium
STELLAR SCIENCE FOUNDATION (SS-F), in collaboration with the Chan Zuckerberg Biohub Network operated by the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (CZI), is launching the Global Science Scholars – SS-F & CZ Biohub Network Program. This program provides fellowships for early-career researchers from Japan and the United States, enabling mutual exchange for up to two years. Applications for the program officially opened on December 17, 2024 (for details, please refer to the press release).
This program is a joint initiative between SS-F and the CZ Biohub Network, implemented as part of the Cabinet Secretariat’s Global Startup Campus Initiative (Note). The goal is to accelerate the creation and growth of research-based startups by supporting innovative research environments.
To commemorate the launch of this program, we are pleased to announce a symposium featuring keynote speeches from Dr. Stephen Quake, a world-renowned biophysicist and Head of Science at CZI, and Professor Emi Nishimura from the Institute of Medical Science at the University of Tokyo. This event will facilitate exchange and networking among leading researchers from Japan and the United States.
Through this symposium, we aim to strengthen collaboration within the global scientific community, including Japan and the United States, and expand the potential for new research and innovation.
Note: This Program is implemented as part of measures to promote the Global Startup Campus Initiative led by the Cabinet Secretariat, with the objective of strengthening an ecosystem aimed at creating and fostering startups based on research and development. It is conducted in accordance with the Cabinet Office Fellowship Program Survey for Strengthening the Startup Ecosystem. SS-F plans, operates, and manages the Program as a project implementation partner of Arc Communications, which is responsible for this initiative. For more details, please refer to the Fellowship Program for Strengthening the Startup Ecosystem.
About SS-F Symposium
SS-F Symposium; Building Bridges in the Global Scientific Community in partnership with CZI
- Date: Monday, January 20, 2025, 9:30 AM – 1:00 PM (Online Streaming: 9:30 AM – 12:30 PM)(JST) / Sunday, January 19, 2025 | 4:30 PM–7:30 PM (PT) | 7:30 PM–10:30 PM (ET)
- Format: Hybrid (In-person and Online)
- Online Platform: Zoom
- Participation Fee: Free
Note: Applicants considering the Global Science Scholars Program are welcome to attend the event in person. For details on how to register and venue information, please check the event page. Confirmation of attendance and venue details will be provided by the organizers at a later date, based on application status.
Registration
Peatix URL: https://ssf-symposium.peatix.com/
Google Form: https://forms.gle/ZM1boiBQGGrbgTGF8
SS-F Symposium Agenda
9:00 – 9:30
Registration
9:30 – 9:35
Opening Remarks: SS-F
9:35 – 9:40
About the GSC Initiative: Cabinet Office
9:40 – 10:10
Keynote Lecture 1: Steve Quake, PhD (Chan Zuckerberg Initiative)
“On the Central Dogma of Molecular Biology”
10:15 – 10:45
Keynote Lecture 2: Emi Nishimura, MD, PhD (University of Tokyo)
“Understanding Stem Cell Aging and Its Applications”
10:50 – 11:20
Lightning Talks by Rising Stars (including host labs for GSS program):
Speakers: Naoko Irie, PhD (CIEM), Ayuko Hoshino, PhD (University of Tokyo), Yu Hayashi, PhD(University of Tokyo), Sam Reiter, PhD(OIST)
11:20 – 11:50
Break: (In-person Networking Session)
11:50 – 12:30
Panel Discussion:“Accelerating Scientific Entrepreneurship and Global Innovation”
Panelists: Amy Herr,PhD (CZ Biohub Network), Jun Seita, MD, PhD (RIKEN), Shoko Takahashi,PhD (GeneQuest), Raeka Aiyar,PhD(Moderator)
— End of Online Session —
12:30 – 1:00 PM
In-person Networking Session
Registration
If you would like to attend the event, please register through the event page linked below:
Peatix URL: https://ssf-symposium.peatix.com/
Google Form: https://forms.gle/ZM1boiBQGGrbgTGF8
Program & Speakers’ Profile
9:40-10:10 Keynote Lecture: “On the Central Dogma of Molecular Biology” / Dr. Steve Quake (CZI)
Steve Quake, D.Phil.
Head of Science, Chan Zuckerberg Initiative
Stephen Quake is Head of Science at the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, where he oversees CZI’s science grant programs, technology development, and the CZ Biohub Network. His contributions to science are varied and include invention of the biological equivalent of the integrated circuit, development of whole organism cell atlases, and creation of diagnostics that have made medicine safer by replacing invasive biopsies such as amniocentesis with simple blood tests. Steve has received numerous awards for his discoveries and has been elected to several scientific honorary societies, including the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Engineering, the National Academy of Medicine, and the National Academy of Inventors. He has published more than 300 papers, which have been cumulatively cited more than 100,000 times. Steve also holds a faculty position at Stanford University, where he is the Lee Otterson Professor of Bioengineering and Applied Physics. Previously he was the founding co-president of the Chan Zuckerberg Biohub (2016-2022), investigator of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (2006-2016), and professor at the California Institute of Technology (1996-2005).
10:15-10:45 Keynote Lecture: “Understanding Stem Cell Aging and Its Applications” / Prof. Emi Nishimura (Institute of Medical Science, University of Tokyo)
Emi Nishimura, M.D., Ph.D.
Professor, The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo
Dr. Nishimura is a Professor in the Department of Stem Cell Biology within the Medical Research Institute of Tokyo Medical and Dental University. After obtaining her M.D. from Shiga University of Medical Science in 1994, she earned her Ph.D. at Kyoto University and carried out her postdoctoral fellowship at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School. She became an Associate Professor at Hokkaido University in 2004, a Professor at the Cancer Research Institute of Kanazawa University in 2006, and a Professor at the Institute of Advanced Biomedical Research at Tokyo Medical and Dental University in 2009.
Her primary research focuses on uncovering the mechanisms of hair thinning associated with aging and the role of epidermal stem cells in damage repair, aiming to overcome intractable diseases and promote healthy longevity. Prof. Nishimura has received numerous prestigious awards, including the Japan Academy Prize for Science Encouragement, the Chanel-CE.R.I.E.S. Award, and election to the U.S. National Academy of Sciences. Her groundbreaking work has made significant contributions to understanding stem cell aging, regeneration, and the mechanisms underlying cancer development.
10:50-11:20 Talk Session: “Lightning Talks by Rising Stars”
This session features short presentations by rising stars in Japanese institutions, including heads of host labs for the Global Science Scholars program, a new partnership between SS-F and the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative. Each PI will deliver a 5-minute short talk on their cutting-edge research, career choices, and how they have fostered a “people-centric” research environment. Through diverse scientific topics and unique career stories, the session will highlight the significance of the Global Science Scholars program and its vision for the future.
Naoko Irie, Ph.D.
Principal Investigator, Metabolic Systems Laboratory, Bioimaging Center, Central Institute for Experimental Medicine and Life Science (CIEM)
Dr. Irie achieved a breakthrough by establishing a robust system for germ cell induction using pluripotent stem cells, ES cells and iPS cells, which enabled the discovery of unique and essential regulatory mechanisms. Currently, she is advancing her research on human cell immortality and rejuvenation by utilizing large-scale functional evaluation approaches that can assess over 20,000 genomic factors simultaneously. This work will lay the critical foundation for new technologies in human reproductive medicine.
Yu Hayashi, Ph.D.
Professor, Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo
Dr. Hayashi is interested in why animals sleep. His lab discovered neurons important for controlling REM sleep and succeeded in developing mice in which REM sleep can be manipulated. The lab use these advantages to elucidate the function of sleep. Furthermore, the lab utilized the obtained research results for the understanding of the etiology of diseases associated with sleep abnormalities, such as dementia and psychiatric disorders, and the development of preventive treatments.
Ayuko Hoshino, Ph.D.
Professor, Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology, The University of Tokyo
Dr. Hoshino focuses on research in exosome biology. Her research aims to elucidate how exosomes function and interact with cellular receptors, as well as how they contribute to the onset and progression of diseases. Her work includes investigating the mechanisms of exosome secretion and their roles in diseases such as cancer, neurodegenerative disorders, and pregnancy complications. She explores the potential of exosomes as biomarkers for disease diagnosis and as tools for developing novel therapeutic approaches.
Sam Reiter, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST)
Dr. Reiter’s research interests center around understanding general principles of animal behavior and its neural basis. His work combines experimental and computational approaches to study a wide range of animal models. Much of his lab currently focuses on studying coleoid cephalopods (octopus, cuttlefish, and squid), animals with many fascinating and unique behaviors, large and nearly unexplored brains, and which live in greater variety around Okinawa than anywhere else in the world. Recent and ongoing work concerns visual perception, sleep, motor control, camouflage, and collective behavior.
11:50-12:30 Panel Discussion: “Accelerating Scientific Entrepreneurship and Global Innovation”
This panel discussion explores the challenges and opportunities in translating scientific discoveries into life-saving therapeutics and accessible technologies. Realizing the full potential of scientific progress for society will require taking on many obstacles in the commercialization pipeline, including fostering more interdisciplinary research and entrepreneurial mindsets. Building on recently enhanced federal support for entrepreneurship in science, the discussion will address pathways to advancing international innovation through the integration of science and business, technological breakthroughs, and community building.
Amy E. Herr, Ph.D.
Vice President, Chan Zuckerberg Biohub Network
Dr. Herr’s research program focuses on bioinstrumentation with an emphasis on the design and creation of tools to surmount measurement gaps in basic and translational biomedical science, most recently centering on difficult-to-measure protein forms in single cells. Her laboratory’s research—some of which has been commercialized—brings greater insight into basic life processes and disease progression, spanning questions in cancer progression to symbiotic cellular marine systems.
Herr is the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Professor at UC Berkeley and a CZ Biohub SF Investigator, and serves in various national and international capacities. She will continue in these roles while Vice President of the CZ Biohub Network. Prior to these appointments, Herr was the founding director of the Bakar BioEnginuity Hub and faculty director of Bakar Fellows Program, both at UC Berkeley.
She received a B.S. degree in Engineering and Applied Science from the California Institute of Technology, and M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Mechanical Engineering from Stanford University. Her research has been recognized by an NIH New Innovator Award, an NSF CAREER Award, an Alfred P. Sloan Fellowship, and several field-specific honors as well as the UC Berkeley Outstanding Postdoctoral Scholar Mentor Award. Herr is an elected member of the American Insitute of Medical and Biological Engineering and the National Academy of Inventors.
Jun Seita, M.D., Ph.D.
Team Leader, RIKEN
Dr. Seita leads 3 laboratories; Medical Data Deep Learning Team in Advanced Data Science Project;Laboratory for Integrative Genomics in Center for Integrative Medical Sciences; and Medical DataSharing Unit in RIKEN Information R&D and Strategy Headquarters. He received his M.D. from the University of Tsukuba in 1996 and after completion of residency in cardiovascular surgery. He studied stem cell biology and received his Ph.D. in Medicine from the University of Tokyo. From 2006 to 2016, he had been in Stanford University studying single cell biology, systems biology, data-driven science and machine learning. His research interests cover the areas where AI meets biology, medicine, and beyond. He is also professor at the University of Tsukuba, and advisor at avatarin inc.
Shoko Takahashi, Ph.D.
CEO of GeneQuest Inc.
Graduated from Kyoto University, Faculty of Agriculture. Completed a master’s program at the Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo. While pursuing a doctoral degree in the same graduate school, she founded GeneQuest Inc. in 2013. She completed her Ph.D. in March 2015. In April 2018, she was appointed as an Executive Officer at Euglena Co., Ltd. She has received numerous awards, including the Dean’s Award from the Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences at The University of Tokyo, the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Award (Female Entrepreneur Award) at the 2nd Japan Venture Awards, and the Japan Bio-Venture Award from the Japan Academic Society for Ventures at the 10th Japan Bio-Venture Awards.
Moderator
Raeka Aiyar, Ph.D. | Founder & CEO, Community Science, LLC | Consultant, Stellar Science Foundation
Dr. Aiyar is a geneticist turned science communicator and ambassador, with over a decade of experience in disseminating the impact of biomedical research to diverse audiences across the globe. She has led several international, interdisciplinary collaborations in functional genomics, synthetic biology, stem cell technology, and precision medicine. Trained in genetics and bioinformatics at the University of Waterloo, Canada, she received her Ph.D. in Molecular Genetics from the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) where she developed and applied genomic technologies to discover new therapeutic targets for mitochondrial disorders.
Since her postdoctoral work, Dr. Aiyar has spent her career in the nonprofit and academic sectors exercising her passion for science communication, deploying tailored materials, training, and outreach strategies to inform, inspire, and connect. As Director of Communications and Development at the Stanford Genome Technology Center, she led a wide range of efforts in scientific strategy, fundraising, conference organization, patient engagement, and consortium building. As Vice President of Scientific Outreach and Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging at The New York Stem Cell Foundation Institute, she oversaw scientific communications and outreach, driving communications materials and initiatives, grant strategies, and event programming for scientists and the public, forging new initiatives and collaborations to grow all of these areas.
Dr. Aiyar has led the organization of >100 scientific events and moderated >40 panel discussions on key challenges in science that have reached thousands worldwide. She has helped raise over $45M in grant funding for biomedical research. As a passionate advocate for diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) in science, she has spearheaded numerous efforts across communications, events, health equity research, and grantmaking to build awareness, promote dialogue, and challenge the status quo. In her current role as founder and CEO of Community Science, LLC, she provides strategic support for scientific organizations on outreach, events, DEIB, funding, and community building.
Registration
If you would like to attend the event, please register through the event page linked below:
Peatix URL: https://ssf-symposium.peatix.com/
Google Form: https://forms.gle/ZM1boiBQGGrbgTGF8
Inquiries about the Global Science Scholars Program
STELLAR SCIENCE FOUNDATION
Contact: Kokeguchi, Terushita
Email: info@ss-f.org
Inquiries about the SS-F Symposium
STELLAR SCIENCE FOUNDATION
Marketing & Communications Team: Terushita, Fujiwara
Email: marcomm@ss-f.org
