BDR Symposium 2019

The BDR (Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research) is a new center under RIKEN, which was launched this past April, and we are currently planning to organize an annual symposium series to invite leading scientists in fields related to our own research missions. This symposium will continue in the footsteps of the well-known RIKEN CDB symposium series that was launched in 2003 to facilitate the global and timely exchange of findings and advancing research fields related with all life stages (http://www.cdb.riken.jp/sympo2018/).

The BDR Symposium 2019 entitled "Control and Design of Biosystems" will be held at the RIKEN BDR in Kobe, Japan, from Monday, March 25 to Wednesday, March 27, 2019.

Biosystems are dynamic networks organized by interactions between various components of molecules, cells, tissues, organs and organisms. Given the progress in our understanding of the spatiotemporal regulation and organization of biosystems, scientists are now exploring approaches to control and design biosystems at multiple biological scales. Recent advances in such approaches include artificial cell synthesis, generation of embryoids/organoids, reconstitution and manipulation of life events such as aging and reproduction, and interdisciplinary approaches using theoretical and engineering technologies. These control-and-design methodologies are expected to contribute significantly to understanding what life is as well as to paving the way to a new field in medical sciences.

The first RIKEN BDR symposium targets a wide range of relevant topics, including (i) making embryoids and organoids, (ii) engineering approaches toward making artificial cells, (iii) artificial control of the life cycle, (iv) theoretical analysis for identifying/controlling biosystems, and (v) cutting-edge technology for artificial control of biosystems. We hope that this symposium will be a great opportunity for all participants to stimulate cross-disciplinary interactions and discussions that open new avenues of life science studies.

The symposium will be held over three days, with the program scheduled to start on the morning of March 25 and finish in the afternoon of March 27. The program will include both oral and poster sessions. The number of participants will be limited to approximately 180.

We encourage the submission of abstracts for the poster session from many scientists to increase opportunities for lively and informative exchange of views. A small number of poster abstracts will be selected for oral presentations. A limited number of travel fellowships for graduate students and post-docs traveling to Japan will also be available.

We look forward to welcoming you to Kobe and the RIKEN Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research.

Eisuke Nishida, Ph.D.
Director, RIKEN Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research (BDR)

Organizers

Tomoya Kitajima (RIKEN BDR, Japan)
Yoshihiro Morishita (RIKEN BDR, Japan)
Shunsuke Tagami (RIKEN BDR, Japan)
Minoru Takasato (RIKEN BDR, Japan)
Yo Tanaka (RIKEN BDR, Japan)

Date

March 25 (Mon) - 27 (Wed), 2019

Venue

Auditorium, 1F Building C
RIKEN Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research
2-2-3, Minatojima-minamimachi, Chuo-ku, Kobe 650-0047, Japan
(Approximately 5 minutes walk from "Iryo Center" port-liner train station)
For details, please see "Access".