The “Pioneers Host Pioneers” event organized by the STELLAR SCIENCE FOUNDATION (SS-F) was held on June 21, 2024 at the “CIRCLE by ANRI” incubation facility in the Roppongi Hills Mori Tower. This event aimed to provide participants with new perspectives in their daily research activities through communication with guest researchers at the forefront of various specialties who were invited by members of the SS-F community.
As the title “Pioneers Host Pioneers” suggests, the event was moderated by leading researchers as well as guests. This time, more than 300 people attended the event both in person and online.
The moderator for this event was Professor Hiroshi Nishimasu from the Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology at the University of Tokyo. Professor Nishimasu leads the first laboratory selected for the “SS-F Inventor Bridge Program,” which provides financial support to attract outstanding researchers from both domestic and international locations.
The guest speaker for this event was Professor Feng Zhang from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), who is also an investigator at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. Professor Feng Zhang is a world-renowned molecular biologist who developed CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing technology, which is a critical technology in today’s life sciences.
We are thankful to Professor Nishimasu who made this event possible due to the long-standing trust and relationship he has built with Professor Feng Zhang as a collaborative investigator over the years. The event consisted of two parts: a lecture by the guest and a dialog with the moderator. The event began with a welcome by Mariko Kita, co-founder of SS-F, followed by an introduction of Professor Feng Zhang by the moderator, Professor Nishimasu. After that, the first part of the seminar, “Exploration of Biological Diversity”, began.
At the beginning, an illustration of a rocket going into space was projected on the screen. Professor Feng Zhang began by drawing a parallel between this rocket and genetic medicine. “Genetic medicine can be compared to a modular system like a rocket going into space. One part is the ‘payload’, which performs various functions like a satellite, and the other part is the ‘delivery vehicle’, which transports the payload to the destination, like the rocket itself”.
In the case of genetic medicine, the technology for the payload to do its job at the destination has already reached a usable stage. However, the delivery vehicle to get the payload to the targeted cells is still lagging behind. Focusing on this point, Professor Feng Zhang introduced three projects he is working on during the seminar.
The first method involves delivering substances to cells using human capsid-forming proteins, the second uses systems possessed by prokaryotes to deliver substances to cells, and the third is a new programmable RNA-guided system.
“There is a lot of valuable information to be explored in nature. The amount of genomic information we can understand from microorganisms is growing exponentially. It is all fascinating biologically, and some of it may be very useful medically. Nature probably already has the tools to solve the challenges we face. Therefore, I strongly recommend that we explore nature and draw inspiration from it,” said Professor Feng Zhang at the end of the one-hour seminar.
After the seminar, the event transitioned to the “Fireside Chat”. This part was designed to create a relaxed atmosphere, reminiscent of sitting around a fireplace or campfire, and to encourage open dialogue between host and guest. For this session, SS-F Strategic Designer Sean McKelvey acted as the facilitator, engaging both the host, Professor Nishimasu, and the guest, Professor Feng Zhang, in various discussions.
The first topic was why he chose his current field of research. In response to a simple question from moderator Sean, Professor Feng Zhang began with a gentle smile, “I didn’t really like biology because there was so much to memorize.” It was an encounter with a movie that changed the perspective of Professor Zhang, who was originally a computer geek. “It happened during a molecular biology class. The teacher not only talked about the latest topics on DNA, RNA and proteins, but also showed us the film ‘Jurassic Park’. The connection between real molecular biology and the world of ‘Jurassic Park’ piqued my interest.
Professor Feng Zhang explained that the film made him see biology as an engineerable system, similar to computer science, which he loved. This realization sparked his interest in the world of biology. However, despite his initial passion for computer science, he chose the path of biology. When asked why he made this choice, he laughed and said, “Because you can create something real. Mangoes are delicious, but they have large seeds. If we have seedless watermelons, we should be able to create seedless mangoes…that’s what I mean.”
In a relaxed atmosphere, the conversation flowed from topic to topic, including past failures and the impact of AI on research. In this session, the most exciting topic was about management. This was prompted by a participant’s question, “How do you manage multiple projects?” To this question, Professor Feng Zhang replied immediately, “My role is to support, not manage.” He emphasized the importance of creating an environment and culture where research can focus on solving problems. “To do that, we hire talented people and support them so they can research freely. Management slows things down. I see myself as someone who gives a push when help is needed. This realization came from day-to-day operations rather than from learning. “Micromanagement doesn’t fit into the creative process. Sometimes effort is important, and sometimes a crazy environment is necessary. Of course I set the overall direction, but it’s important that everyone feels inspired and explores with a sense of ownership.
The research environment and culture they create also affect the productivity of research. Advancing science is an ongoing process, so he emphasizes active communication with those involved. “Even if it is only for a short time, I walk around the lab and have frequent conversations. By sharing the current situation and challenges, we maintain a constant sense of connection.” This daily sense of communication may also be critical in hiring. In response to an audience question about how to hire good people, Professor Feng Zhang said, “One is to look at their past productivity. If they have been productive in the past, they are likely to be productive in the future.
The next important point is whether there is “good chemistry” with this person. Sharing the same values and having a similar energy level is crucial to confirming that you both have a common desire to move forward and solve the challenges at hand. The final point is whether you can understand each other. I ask people to write down different suggestions and ideas, and if I don’t understand those suggestions, there may be a communication problem,” he explained.
As the Fireside Chat progressed, the initial tension before the event had dissipated, and the participants actively asked questions one after another. Just before the scheduled end time, a very interesting question came up.
The question was, “If you could make one wish come true with magic power, what would it be?” Professor Feng Zhang showed a very pensive expression and replied, “My wish is to have more talented people. Although there are many intelligent people in the world, not everyone comes to the world of science. Therefore, Professor Feng Zhang continued, it is necessary to have more people who have a passion for science, strong enthusiasm for tackling specific challenges, and the ability to produce results. The host, Professor Nishimasu, added: “I want young people not only to be interested in science, but also to enter this world more. Scientists must make science attractive to talented people”. The relaxed atmosphere created by the Fireside Chat kept attendees engaged in lively conversations throughout the room until the very last moment before the doors closed.
<Interview and Writing by Takayuki Honda>
