Welcome Message
We are pleased to announce that the 2027 RIKEN BDR-CuSTOM Joint Organoid Symposium "Integrated Organoid Science: Stem cells, Engineering, Medicine" will be held on March 15 to 17, 2027, at the RIKEN Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research (BDR) in Kobe, Japan.
Beyond their intrinsic multipotency, stem cells possess an emergent capability to orchestrate self-organization by regulating differentiation into diverse cell types and directing their orderly spatial patterning. The discovery of self-organizing processes in cell culture systems has enabled the generation of organoids in vitro, propelling stem cell research into a new era. Today, organoid models are widely used to decipher human developmental biology, investigate disease mechanisms, engineer organ-on-a-chip devices, and accelerate drug discovery for rare diseases.
Since 2018, the RIKEN BDR and the Center for Stem Cell & Organoid Medicine (CuSTOM) at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center (U.S.A), two of the world’s premier hubs for organoid science, have established a strong inter-institutional partnership. Drawing on their complementary strengths, the two institutions have established joint research laboratories and actively promoted exchange programs for young researchers. A cornerstone of this partnership is the Joint Organoid Symposium, and the upcoming symposium in 2027 will be the eighth in the series.
This symposium will bring together international researchers working in fields spanning stem cell biology, engineering, chemistry, and information science to share cutting-edge breakthroughs, explore applications for social implementation, and address upcoming challenges and future directions in organoid science.
Topics will include:
1. Principles of self-organization
2. Modeling development and regeneration
3. Modeling human diseases
4. Engineering approaches
We warmly invite scientists, clinicians, and students from around the world with an interest in organoid science to join us for engaging and dynamic interdisciplinary discussions. We strongly encourage abstract submissions for the poster presentations to foster knowledge exchange and collaborative opportunities. Several poster abstracts will also be selected for short oral presentations.
We look forward to seeing you in March 2027 in Kobe, Japan.
This symposium is supported by The Naito Foundation.
Ryoichiro Kageyama, MD PhD
Director, RIKEN Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research (BDR)
Organizers
RIKEN Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research (BDR)
Miki Ebisuya,
Masaya Hagiwara,
Mitsuru Morimoto,
Minoru Takasato
Center for Stem Cell & Organoid Medicine (CuSTOM), Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center
Michael A. Helmrath,
Takanori Takebe,
James M. Wells,
Aaron M. Zorn
Date
Monday, March 15 to Wednesday, March 17, 2027
Format
In-person
Venue
Auditorium, 1F Developmental Biology Building C
Kobe Campus West Area
RIKEN Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research
2-2-3, Minatojima-minamimachi, Chuo-ku
Kobe, Hyogo 650-0047, Japan
(Approximately 5-minute walk from "Iryo Center Station" of the Port Liner train)
▶ Please see Directions for details.
Language
English
Number of Participants
Up to 250
Registration will close when the capacity is reached. Priority will be given to the presenters.
Participation Fee
FREE
Lunch and Banquet fee required separately (optional).