On October 11, 2017, 25 persons from academia, companies, and institutions including the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Science and Technology, and Chung-Hua Institution for Economic Research (CIER) visited Osaka University’s Centralized R&D Laboratory to see its equipment.
They received a general explanation from SPL Masahiro Kino-oka, and a lively discussion was held concerning how things will take shape going forward.

Regenerative Medicine JAPAN 2017 was held for three days from October 11 to 13, 2017 at Pacifico Yokohama. SCA exhibited main results of the project of Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development (AMED), and presented reviews and the results of the project at the open seminar.  Many people visited the SCA booth and attended the seminar.

The SCA booth

The open seminar

The 2nd UK-JAPAN Life Innovation Symposium held by the Nakatsuji AMED Subproject group of Kyoto University and Kanagawa Prefecture took place on October 10th (Tuesday) at the Life Innovation Center in Kawasaki. A total of 63 people participated, including key persons from British companies and groups, and people from academia, companies, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry and AMED taking part from Japan. The event hosted a lively discussion of cooperation between Britain and Japan in regenerative and cell therapy, as well as other areas in the field of life science.

On September 29, 2017, SCA concluded a contract with Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development (AMED) for commissioning of work on a project for ” Development of Basic Technology to Support Drug Discovery Applying Regenerative Medicine Technology.”

On September 27, 2017, the FY2017 PS/PO Meeting took place at AMED.
Organized in lieu of the administrative meeting up to last fiscal year, the PS/PO Hearing was held to receive comments and suggestions from program supervisor /program officer Dr. Nakahata and from external evaluation committee members etc. on the activities of the “Development of Cell Manufacturing and Processing Systems for Regenerative Medicine” project commissioned to the Association.
Sub-project leaders Drs. Kino-oka and Nakatsuji gave an interim report on the progress, results to date, and upcoming schedule etc. of the project, followed by a vigorous Q&A session and many recommendations and suggestions.

Director Masahiro Uemura  of METI’s Bio-Industry Division visited and toured two of the Centralized R&D Labs for the “Development of Cell Manufacturing and Processing Systems for Industrialization of Regenerative Medicine” project commissioned to the SCA:
・August 28: Life Innovation Center (LIC) in Tonomachi, Kawasaki City
・September 25: Osaka University in Yamadaoka, Suita City
After an overview of the research, facilities, and equipment, Director Uemura  asked numerous questions and gave many comments, further deepening his understanding of the endeavors and realities of our R&D front lines.

On Friday, July 21, 2017, in the Kawadacho Office  of the Ogino Memorial Laboratory, Nihon Kohden Corporation, the SCA’s first Technical Lecture and Researchers’ Forum was concluded successfully.
At the Researchers’ Forum, there was an introduction to the project -related public technology seeds of the SCA member companies .
At the Technical Lecture, J-TEC Corporate Officer Dr. Yukio Mori gave a lecture titled “Case Studies of Successfully Commercialized Regenerative Medical Products  and Challenges for Future Industrialization . ”
The next session is scheduled for Friday, October 27.

On July 26, 2017, the second Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development (AMED) research development conference of fiscal 2017 was held by the Nakatsuji group of Kyoto University at Kyoto University Institute for Advanced Study (KUIAS). It was attended by personnel from the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry and AMED. The progress of the fiscal 2017 research plans was reported. The next conference is scheduled to be held on October 24, 2017.

On May 15, 2017, the first section meeting of FY2017 was held by of the Kino-oka group at Osaka University. It was attended by program supervisor Dr. Nakahata and personnel from the Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development (AMED). 
There was a vigorous discussion on the progress of the fiscal 2017 research plans and the orientation for the future at the meeting.

On April 18, 2017, the first Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development (AMED) development conference of fiscal 2017 was held by the Nakatsuji group of Kyoto University at the Institute for Integrated Cell-Material Sciences (iCeMS).
It was also attended by personnel from the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry and AMED, and was devoted to presentations of the research results of fiscal 2016 and the research plans for fiscal 2017.
The next conference is scheduled to be held on July 26, 2017.

On April 1st, SCA concluded a contract for outsourced research and development in FY2017 with AMED. Mesenchymal projects finished in the previous fiscal year, and the structure of research projects has been altered.
Structure of research in FY2017

SCA exhibited panels and products at the 16th Congress of the Japanese Society for Regenerative Medicine held at the Sendai International Center during March 7 to 9, 2017.  This is the second time for SCA to run booth at the Congress of the Japanese Society for Regenerative Medicine, first being at the 15th Congress at the Osaka International Convention Center. R&D products of the project were exhibited.  Many people from medical institutions, academia and companies visited the SCA booth and exchanged information.  It provided a good opportunity for collecting the needs of users.

The SCA booth 

SCA will exhibit panels and products at the 16th Congress of the Japanese Society for Regenerative Medicine held at the Sendai International Center during March 7 to 9, 2017. R&D products of the project will be exhibited.

R&D products of the AMED project is released (it is not available in English version).  The projects of Nakatsuji group and Kino-oka group will continue for two more years, and the project of Akutsu group will be finished at the end of March, 2017.

The second mesenchymal stem cell section meeting of fiscal 2016 was held by the Akutsu group at the SCA conference room on February 13, and was attended by personnel from the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry and the Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development.  This section meeting was the last one in the project.  The progress of three-year research plans and the results including launched products were presented.  There were lively discussions on the results.

On February 3, 2017, the third user forum was held by the Kino-oka and Akutsu groups of the Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development (AMED) project in the Tokyo Branch of the Graduate Schools of Medicine and Engineering of Osaka University (Nihonbashi Lifescience Building).  After two key note lectures, the progress of the project was reported.  It was held for the purpose of absorbing the needs of parties who will be the users of the project and reflecting them in the project’s promotion.  The confab session was a scene of lively interchange.

On January 31, 2017, the third Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development (AMED) development conference of fiscal 2016 was held by the Nakatsuji group of Kyoto University at the Institute for Integrated Cell-Material Sciences (iCeMS).   It was attended by personnel from AMED.  The progress of the fiscal 2016 research plans was reported.   The next conference is scheduled to be held on April, 18, 2017.

On January 5, 2017, results of SCA appeared in the Chemical Daily with headlines of “manufacturing system for regenerative medicines in the all-Japan system,” “steady results with a view to the world” and “commercialization of products from culture to transport.”

We would like to express our sincere appreciation for your support and encouragement you gave to SCA last year. The project of industrialization of regenerative medicine is going well for almost three years.
     We would like to express our heartfelt appreciation for your continuous support.