RIKEN-MIT Neuroscience Research Center
In October 1998, MIT joined with the Institute
of Physical and Chemical Research (known as RIKEN), located
in Saitama, Japan, to create the RIKEN-MIT Neuroscience Research
Center (RMNRC). The RIKEN Brain Science Institute (Riken BSI)
and the Picower Institute for Learning and Memory at MIT have
created a strong, long-term, mutually beneficial relationship
for collaborative research, building on the resources and
strengths of both institutes in the highly dynamic field of
brain science. The program profits by the exchange of research
staff between RIKEN and MIT.
The RMNRC currently includes six investigators: Professors Yasunori Hayashi, Earl Miller, Morgan Sheng, Susumu Tonegawa, Matthew Wilson, and Li-Huei Tsai, who joined the program as of May 2006. In addition, a number of RIKEN Brain Science Institute Fellows conduct research at the Picower Institute under the direction of its faculty. The RIKEN-MIT alliance has also spawned several joint symposia and conferences, including the first five Picower-RIKEN Neuroscience Symposia on the "New Frontiers in Brain Science—from Molecules to Mind," held in 1999, 2001, 2003, 2004 and 2006. Each featured lectures from twenty world-renowned neuroscientists, along with poster presentations by researchers from both RIKEN BSI and MIT. A sixth symposium is planned for the fall of 2007.
By capitalizing on the capabilities of both organizations, the ongoing RIKEN-MIT relationship will accelerate progress in this crucial scientific field. Over the last twelve months the Picower Institute has focused on expanding the relationship. We have increased the number of scientists from RIKEN BSI invited to the Annual Picower Retreat. In addition, the first annual Picower-RIKEN Workshop at MIT was hosted by the Picower Institute in June 2005 and consisted of two concurrent sessions, one presented by RIKEN BSI personnel and the other by Picower Institute scientists. Organized by a committee consisting of Picower Institute postdocs and graduate students, the workshop topics were extremely relevant to current research, and the meeting was a great success.
Likewise, RIKEN invited more than 20 scientists from the Picower Institute to their annual retreat, held in Japan in late October of 2005. In conjunction with the retreat, a similar workshop was held, again with both sides providing excellent technical seminars. Through the cultivation and expansion of these programs we will continue to improve Picower-RIKEN scientific research collaborations in the coming year. This year’s Picower-RIKEN Workshop was held on June 8, 2006.
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