| Project Title | Japanese Researcher |
Position and Institution | Abstract of Research Project |
|---|---|---|---|
| Singaporean Researcher |
|||
| Protocellular Biosensors – Bioinspired devices that mimic cellular signal transduction machinery | Hiroshi UEDA | Professor, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Chemical Resources Laboratory | This study aims to make a highly sensitive digital biosensor by using aligned ‘protocells’, which are unilamellar liposomes reconstituted with artificial transmembrane receptors with antigen recognition and enzyme activities. In Japan, stable and sensitive artificial transmembrane receptor enzymes are constructed to detect antigens. In Singapore, protocells integrated with the above receptors are made and evaluated, and finalized as a sensor system. Through the mutual collaboration of two groups, efficient development of rapid diagnostic principles / systems, as well as their early commercialization in not only regional but also international scales, will be achieved. |
| Shawn HOON | Senior Research Fellow, A*STAR, Molecular Engineering Laboratory | ||
| New optical platform to visualize mechanics of cellular self-organization | Shuichi ONAMI | Team Leader, RIKEN Quantitative Biology Center | This project aims to establish a new optical system that allows us to visualize nano-scale molecular dynamics and mechanical forces simultaneously within living cells. We will combine “world’s fastest” super resolution microscopy developed in Japan with traction-force microscopy and laser beam-based microsurgery, which are well established in Singapore. Through this international collaboration, we will elucidate the basic principles in cellular self-organizing systems. These principles can then be applied to control in vitro organogenesis. |
| Fumio MOTEGI | Principal Investigator, Temasek Life Sciences Laboratory | ||
| Near-infrared (NIR) optogenetics using up-conversion system | Hiromu YAWO | Professor, Tohoku University, Graduate School of Life Sciences | This project aims to develop a new system to manipulate neural activity using near-infrared (NIR) light using the lanthanide nanoparticles (LNPs), which absorb NIR energy and emit visible light (up-conversion), and the light-sensitive proteins such as channelrhodopsins (ChRs) in combination. The Japan group contributes to the optimization of the LNPs for biocompatibility as well as of ChRs for sensitivity to the LNP emission. The Singapore group contributes to designing and fabricating LNPs with high up-conversion efficiency and to the in vivo application of LNPs. The in vivo effectiveness of the system will be evaluated by the actuation of the central pattern generator for walking with electrophysiological and behavioral assessments on a rat model. |
| Angelo H. ALL | Assistant Professor, National University of Singapore |