Okayama University organized a display at Asia’s biggest Bio-Business event, “Bio Japan 2016 World Business Forum,” held at Pacifico Yokohama on October 12 to 14, where it displayed and presented advanced research outcomes in medicine, drug development, biomedical engineering and etc.

Also it displayed and presented Okayama University’s Biobank project which collects and offers biological samples for research.

Associate Professor Junichiro Futami of Medical Bioengineering at the Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology had developed highly sensitive antibody-detecting diagnostic agent that could quantify the degree of activation of tumor immunological response through a simple blood test. He announced that by using this diagnostic agent, it would be possible to provide important data for evaluating treatment plan options for cancer immunotherapy, for which there is considerable individual variation.

Associate Professor Akio Tani of the Institute of Plant science and Resources had discovered that predominant bacterial symbionts (Methylobacterium species) on plant surface utilizing methanol emitted from plants accumulate large quantities of ergothioneine (EGT), a very expensive anti-oxidative amino acid that animals cannot synthesize. He explained that by using these bacteria, it would be possible to produce EGT cheaply, unlike with the former method of chemical synthesis, and it could be widely used as a material for cosmetics, supplements, etc.

Professor Seno of Medical Biomedical engineering at the Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology had further developed a technique for using normal iPS cells to create cancer stem cells with various properties.

He proposed the possibility to develop novel type of mouse models of cancer that could be used in evaluating drug delivery systems or assessing antitumor agents that can be evaluated concurrently with the immune system.

In addition, clinical results of a novel diagnostic and prognostic biomarker for patients with sepsis, and works about molecular targeting techniques using a bio-medicine enabling the theranostics (Therapy + Diagnosis), and the concept of Okayama University Hospital Biobank, etc. were presented. At the exhibitor presentation, six of lectures were conducted, and a total of 370 people attended the event.

Also, we conducted matching meeting actively with pharmaceutical companies and medical / pharmaceutical related organizations interested in each research achievement, and exchanged views for technology transfer and joint research.

Contact information
Organization for Research Promotion & Collaboration
E-mail: s-renkei(a)adm.okayama-u.ac.jp
For inquiries, please contact us by replacing (a) with the @ mark.