This PRESTO project aims to understand life phenomena as a system through the spatiotemporal analysis of the cells that constitute tissue, organs, and organism. We intend to rally researchers developing such technologies, carrying out data science studies and biological and mathematical modeling to further the current understanding of multicellular interactions and their dynamics, and analyzing biological systems using the aforementioned tools.

　In recent years, exhaustive and quantitative analysis of cells and biomolecules has become possible with the advancement of various technologies in omics and imaging at the single-cell level. It is becoming possible to understand life through the continuous interactions and changes of heterogeneous cells. For research and development targeting such dynamic phenomena, the collection of spatial and/or temporal information are key technologies, and interdisciplinary cooperation between researchers in the life sciences and those in engineering, chemistry, optical science, information science, and mathematical science would be effective. By combining various interdisciplinary technologies, a deeper understanding of life can be attained via the dynamics of molecular and cellular interactions.

　Based on the ideas outlined above, in this research program, researchers from various fields will work interdisciplinarily and open a forum for the elucidation of multicellular systems. In addition to refining each researcher’s ideas, we expect to create novel research trends through synergistic effects among all the ideas, and achieve a better understanding of the essence of life through this research.