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Research Cooperation Division, International Program Department,
Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS)
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Asian Science Seminar

List of implemented seminars

Report for JSPS Asian Science Seminar 2005


Date February 13, 2006


1.Title of Seminar

2005 CAS-JSPS Asian Science Seminar Recent Developments in the Control of Infectious Diseases : from Fundamental Understanding to Application

2.Purpose of Seminar

Over the past few years various countries in Asia have faced disease outbreaks such as SARS and Avian Influenza that threaten our way of life with immeasurable societal and economic damage. Meanwhile, the number of patients contracting reemerging diseases such as tuberculosis and malaria are not decreasing, and it is greatly hoped that relevant research could be speeded up. Today's youngest scientists will be the ones to face these emerging and reemerging threats in the coming era. To equip them for this vital task, we must furnish our young scientists with opportunities for wide studies starting from fundamentals and touching on the latest trends.

3.Period

From December 20, 2005 through December 23, 2005 (4 days)

4.Program: Agenda, topics, related activities (e.g., reception, excursion)

See attach (Please see the separate sheets)

5.Venue

TEDA International Hotel & Club
No.8 The 2nd Avenue,
Tianjin Economic Technological Development Area (TEDA)
Tianjin, China
Tel: +86-(0)22-2532-6000
Fax: +86-(0)22-2532-6216/6217

6.Organizer

1)Japan Side

Name in full Aikichi Iwamoto
Affiliation and position Professor
The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo

2)China Side

Name in full Zihe Rao
Affiliation and position Director
Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences

Name in full George F. Gao
Affiliation and position Director
Institute of Microviology, Chinese Academy of Sciences

7.Lecturers and Participants

1) Number of Persons

  Lecturers Participants Total
Japan side 14 15 29
China side 8 25 33
Third parties 1 4 5
Total 23 44 67

2) Lecturers

Please describe rationale for selecting lecturers, and the need for and role of their lectures in the seminar.

The organizers (two each from the Japanese and Chinese sides) first put forward a list of 30 candidate scientists whose studies had pushed back the frontiers of science in bacteriology, virology, parasitology or immunology as these relate to infectious diseases. Next, this pool of talented scientists was screened based upon the criteria of their ability to evoke excitement and enthusiasm from doctoral and post-doctoral level researchers in Asia by providing introductory lectures on the latest developments in the control of infectious diseases. In the end, 23 highly qualified individuals were chosen as chairmen and lecturers.

B.List

Name in fullInstitution/Affiliation/PositionNationalityRemark
-Japan side      
Tadashi Yamamoto The University of Tokyo / The Institute of Medical Science (IMSUT) / Dean Japan *
Aikichi Iwamoto The University of Tokyo / IMSUT / Professor Japan *
Chihiro Sasakawa The University of Tokyo / IMSUT / Professor Japan *
Hiroshi Kiyono The University of Tokyo / IMSUT / Professor Japan *
Chieko Kai The University of Tokyo / IMSUT / Professor Japan *
Yoichiro Iwakura The University of Tokyo / IMSUT / Professor Japan *
Hideo Iba The University of Tokyo / IMSUT / Professor Japan *
Kensuke Miyake The University of Tokyo / IMSUT / Professor Japan *
Taroh Kinoshita Osaka University / Research Institute for Microbial Diseases (RIMD) / Director Japan *
Toshihiro Horii Osaka University / RIMD / Professor Japan *
Takeshi Honda Osaka University / RIMD / Professor Japan *
Tatsuo Shioda Osaka University / RIMD / Professor Japan *
Yoshiharu Matsuura Osaka University / RIMD / Professor Japan *
Hiroki Nagai Osaka University / RIMD / Specially Appointed Associate Professor Japan *
-China side      
Zihe Rao Chinese Academy of Sciences / Institute of Biophysics (IBCAS) / Director China  
George Fu Gao Chinese Academy of Sciences / Institute of Microbiology (IMCAS) / Director China  
Xiyun Yan Chinese Academy of Sciences / IBCAS / Professor China  
Guangxia Gao Chinese Academy of Sciences / IBCAS / Professor China  
Honkui Deng Peking University / The College of Life Sciences / Professor China  
Chunzheng Yang Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences / Institute of Hematology / Professor China  
Fusheng Wang Beijing 302 Hospital / Research Center of Biological Therapy / Director China  
Zhihai Qin Chinese Academy of Sciences / IBCAS / Professor China  
-Other persons      
Ramon Flick The University of Texas Medical Branch / Assistant Professor Germany *

Place a check [*] in the Remark Column for those who will participate using JSPS's seminar funding.


3) Participants

A.Please describe how you recruited participants and why they were selected.

We established a web page dedicated to this seminar, and posted the most important recruiting points on the public web pages of the Institute of Medical Science, University of Tokyo and the Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University. In addition, we publicized the course by distributing leaflets at the “The Awaji International Forum on Infection and Immunity”. Moreover, word was spread via personal contacts relying on the current and former members of the labs of all the lecturers, as well as their collaborators in various Asian countries. Recruitment of Chinese student participants was left up to the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
The written applications to participate in the seminar requested information such as institutional affiliations, academic backgrounds, and job titles, and based upon that information, the organizing committee held consultations and selected those who should be invited to participate. Selection of Chinese student participants was entrusted to the Chinese Academy of Sciences. As the final step, the list of prospective student participants was presented to the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science for final approval.


B.List

Name in fullInstitution/Affiliation/PositionNationalityRemark
-Japan side      
Amadu Jalloh Nagoya University / Graduate School of Medicine / Graduate student (D4) Sierra Leone *
Uamporn Siripanyaphinyo Osaka University / Graduate School of Medicine / Graduate student (D4) Thailand *
Yeonchul Hong Osaka University / Graduate School of Medicine / Graduate student (D4) Korea *
Hiroe Onishi Osaka University / Research Institute for Microbial Diseases / Project Researcher Japan *
Yingji Jin Okayama University / Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences / Graduate student (D3) China *
Masayuki Miyazawa Osaka University / Graduate School of Medicine / Graduate student (D3) Japan *
Kiyoshi Okado The University of Tokyo / Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences / Graduate student (D1) Japan *
Tokiyasu Teramoto The University of Tokyo / Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences / Postdoctoral Fellow Japan *
Hiroka Aonuma Osaka University / Graduate School of Medicine / Graduate student (D3) Japan *
Toshio Tando The University of Tokyo / Graduate School of Medicine / Graduate student (D2) Japan *
Maki Kiso The University of Tokyo / Graduate School of Medicine / Graduate student (D3) Japan *
Seiya Yamayoshi The University of Tokyo / Graduate School of Medicine / Graduate student (D2) Japan *
Akiko Makino The University of Tokyo / Graduate School of Medicine / Graduate student (D1) Japan *
Satoshi Kakugawa The University of Tokyo / Graduate School of Medicine / Graduate student (D1) Japan *
Kiyoko Iwatsuki-Horimoto The University of Tokyo / The Institute of Medical Science / Project Research Assistant Japan  
Mozhi Jia Osaka University / Research Institute for Microbial Diseases / Research Fellow China observer
-China side      
Youjia Cao Nankai University / College of Life Sciences / Graduate student China  
Yue Wang Nankail University / Department of Immunology College of Medicine / Graduate student China  
Weiyun Li Tianjin Changzheng Hospital / Dermatology and Venereology / Graduate student China  
Li Li Tianjin Pulmonology Hospital / Tuberculosis / Graduate student China  
Yong Fan Tianjin Pulmonology Hospital / Medical Imageology / Graduate student China  
Maoti Wei Medical College of Chinese Armed Police Forces / Molecular Epidemiology / Graduate student China  
Shuhua Cao Tinjin 1st centre hospital / Critical Medicine / Graduate student China  
Zhilun Zhang Tianjin centre of Disease Control / Disease Control / Graduate student China  
Fengshan Wang Tianjin centre of Disease Control / Disease Control / Graduate student China  
Shanglun Li Tianjin centre of Disease Control / Disease Control(TB) / Graduate student China  
Bin Gao Tianjin hospital of Infectious Diseases / Infectious Disease / Graduate student China  
Zhenyu Wang Tianjin hospital of Infectious Diseases / Infectious Disease / Graduate student China  
Pingjun Zhang Key laboratory of TCM pharmacology / Integrated Traditional & Western Medicine / Graduate student China  
Yanjun Zhang Tianjin Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine / Integrated Traditional & Western Medicine / Graduate student China  
Shiduo Song The Second Hospital of Tianjin Medical University / Institute of Infectiou Diseases / Graduate student China  
Wei Qi The Second Hospital of Tianjin Medical University / Institute of Infectiou Diseases / Graduate student China  
Xiaomian Li Tianjin Medical University / Microbiology / Graduate student China  
Mei Li Tianjin Medical University / Microbiology / Graduate student China  
Jianhua Wang School of Public, Tianjin Medical University / Epidemiology / Graduate student China  
Min Wang Tianjin Biochip Corporation / Microbiology / China observer
Rengang Zhang Tianjin Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine / Integrated Traditional & Western Medicine / Graduate student China  
Xiaojuan Geng Tianjin Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine / Integrated Traditional & Western Medicine / Graduate student China  
Yaping Zhu Tianjin Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine / Integrated Traditional & Western Medicine / Graduate student China  
Jun Wang Tianjin Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine / Integrated Traditional & Western Medicine / Graduate student China  
Mixia Zhang Tianjin Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine / Integrated Traditional & Western Medicine / Graduate student China  
Jing Wang Tianjin Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine / Integrated Traditional & Western Medicine / Graduate student China  
-Other persons      
Aamir Ali National Institute for biotechnology and Genetic Engineering / Typhoid Research Laboratory, Health Biotechnology Division / Graduate student (D2) Pakistan *
Chairul Anwar Nidom Airlangga University / Tropical Disease Centre / Senior Researcher Indonesia *
Nguyen Thanh Thuy National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology / Resercher Viet Nam *
Vu Thi Kim Lien National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology / Resercher Viet Nam *

Place a check [*] in the Remark Column for those who will participate using JSPS's seminar funding.

8.Achievements

1) Upon what concept was the seminar planned and organized? (As reference, attach lecture summaries and other related documents.)
The seminar was composed of lectures from the separate areas of bacterial infection, viral infection, parasitic infection and the immunology of infection. Each area was further subdivided by pathogen or methodology, comprising 1-3 lectures. Since infectious diseases is an extremely broad topic with each lecture requiring its own fundamental knowledge and background for a thorough grasp, lectures were aimed so that the student participants themselves drawn from diverse research fields could nevertheless understand the contents based upon general broad knowledge of infectious diseases. Still, the lectures were not limited to basic content, but introduced the most recent research findings and global research trends, maintaining a future-oriented outlook. For this reason, Dr. Ramon Flick from the USA (The University of Texas Medical Branch) was hired as a lecturer to touch upon the Ebola and Nipah viruses as infectious disease target on which there is little opportunity to carry out research within Asia. In addition, student participants wishing to do so presented posters. Participants were able to walk around freely viewing the A0 size posters, and a separate poster session was held during which the presenters could freely discuss their presentations with the other participants.
2) What results were achieved from an academic viewpoint? Please list them concretely.
Infectious disease is an extremely broad discipline, and this course achieved a broadening of the knowledge of the researchers beyond their narrower specialist fields. The aim of this seminar was that by bringing together leading scientists in the area of infectious disease research, mingling introductions on research findings both basic and advanced with global trends on various emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases, we would achieve an full picture comprehension. It was an extremely valuable opportunity to pursue continued learning of basic knowledge in differing fields beyond the period of study at universities, the opportunity rare in day-to-day research to learn about the latest research findings and global trends, especially with regard to infectious diseases popularly targeted in the West that are little studied in Asia. It provided a possibility to take the knowledge acquired at this seminar of separate but parallel fields to discover new lateral approaches to one's own research. Furthermore, this seminar without doubt passed along ideas for achieving fusions with other fields so as to research the development of new methods.
3) What results were achieved in terms of international exchange and young researcher development?
Infectious disease is an extremely broad discipline, and so it is impossible to study its entirety in three days. Nevertheless, we chose a corps of lecturers from scientists in a variety of specialties so as to study as many infectious diseases as possible. For the young Asian scientists whose chances to participate in scientific conferences and the like are mostly limited to specialist gatherings in which presentations of leading edge research predominate, this seminar was a precious opportunity to acquire this sort of broad, fundamental understanding. Through exchanges with highly experienced scientists as well as discussions with scientists from different fields, we were able to provide the young researchers responsible for carrying the baton forward into the next era a chance to consider how they may attack infectious diseases at their roots. Moreover, the student participants had the great opportunity through the poster session to introduce their own research results, communicate and intermingle, establishing a foundation for creating a network of scientists researching infectious diseases. Absorbing the latest as well as accumulated knowledge, fundamental and applied, about emerging and re-emerging diseases, it is anticipated that these young scientist will leap ahead in infectious disease research, with Asia at their hub.

9.What sort of specific activities may be expected of the seminar participants in the future?

Under the theme of infectious diseases as a problem mankind must conquer together, young scientists from across Asia gathered together to communicate, laying the foundation for the creation of an infectious diseases research network. In the future it is hoped that such a network can catalyze the development of infectious disease research in Asia as well as transmit Asia's cutting edge research findings. All of this will enhance Asia's contribution to the world.

10.Were the system and method of operating the seminar effective? Please note any specific suggestions your have for improving them?

Yes, the seminar ran extremely effectively. The Chinese Academy of Sciences headquarters carried out their part, and the personnel from the Institute of Biophysics and the Institute of Microbiology carried out the planning and management with great enthusiasm so that we were able to pull off an entirely worthwhile seminar.

11.Please describe any other effects of the seminar that deserve special mention.

We received great understanding and cooperation for the nurturing of young Asian infectious disease scientists from the people of The Science & Technology Commission of Tianjin Municipal People's Government, and they contributed greatly to the running of the seminar. Also, the participation of six lecturers from the Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University was a key to success. It can be said that the seminar succeeded through the very great efforts and enthusiasm of all involved.

<Impressions of Participants>

12.What sort of impressions or opinions was expressed by the lecturers?

The lecturing scientists approached us at the close of the seminar telling us how happy they had been to have had the valuable opportunity to personally participate in this unique project bringing together scientists from such varied infectious disease fields. Furthermore, many voiced the opinion that if this sort of opportunity came again, they would most definitely wish to participate, so we should please call on them again.

13.What results did you obtain by the questionnaire?

We passed out a questionnaire concerning the seminar and obtained replies from 38 people. The results were overall positive, with many adding that if this sort of opportunity were to come again, they would definitely want to participate. Among the items mentioned was the wish the abstracts booklet had been distributed in advance, requests for the printouts of ppt files used for the lectures, and requests for a contact list of all participants.

<Views and Comments on Program>

14.Please give us your comments and opinions on the seminar program itself. What did you think of JSPS's application recruitment period, timing of the selection notice, seminar funding by JSPS, method of seminar operation, or other elements of the program? Do you have any specific suggestions as to how any of these components can be improved?

We think that the Asian Science Seminar Program is making an enormous contribution to the training of young Asian Scientists. We actually collected many wishes from young scientists that we create more opportunities to participate in seminars like this. It is wished that seminars inviting even more participants might be held in various countries and various fields.

•Questionnaire for the Seminar Participants [PDF]