Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST) promotes basic research programs, such as CREST and PRESTO,* to achieve the strategic national policy objectives. Two research programs started in FY2011 : CREST “Creation of Fundamental Technologies for Understanding and Control of Biosystem Dynamics” or “Biodynamics” and PRESTO “Design and Control of Cellular Functions” which focus on the elucidation of the operating principles of spatiotemporal biological phenomena using experimental and theoretical approaches, and accordingly enabling control and design of the regulatory mechanisms governing biological phenomena. A year later, two research programs started in FY2012: CREST & PRESTO “Structural Life Science and Advanced Core Technologies for Innovative Life Science Research”, which aim to develop and integrate cutting-edge life science research with advanced core technologies in structural biology to create a new research field, “structural life science” which will lead to innovation in life science.
We believe that understanding of hierarchical dynamics (from molecules to life with 60 trillion cells) of biological phenomena via interdisciplinary analyses using state-of-the-art high-performance instruments, computation and informatics enables us to elucidate operating principles of biological phenomena. This will be tremendously valuable in helping create and accumulate knowledge and tools for novel drug discovery and medical treatment, as well as providing solutions to agricultural and environmental problems.
In this symposium, seven prominent guests from abroad and 16 researchers from the CREST and
PRESTO programs will be invited to present recent progress in these fields. Through the presentations, which should be influential to the progress of life science in the twenty-first century, we aim to exchange innovative ideas to tackle hierarchical dynamics of our life. Poster presentations are also planned. The language of the symposium is English.
*CREST: Core Research for Evolutional Science and Technology,
PRESTO: Precursory Research for Embryonic Science and Technology
Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST)
Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development (AMED)
