Title: NSF/Tokyo Report: Biomedical Engineering and Biomaterials in Japan Date: 1/14/98 Replaces: None The National Science Foundation's offices in Tokyo and in Paris periodically report on developments abroad that are related to the Foundation's mission. These documents present facts for the use of NSF program managers and policy makers; they are not statements of NSF policy. Biomedical Engineering and Biomaterials in Japan David W. Grainger, Associate Professor of Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523-1872, prepared the following report. Dr. Grainger visited Japan from October 23-December 23, 1997 as a Visiting Research Fellow (short-term) under the sponsorship of the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS). Professor Teruo Okano, Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Toyko Women's Medical University, 8-1 Kawada, Shinjuku 162, Japan served as host scientist for Dr. Grainger. Dr. Grainger may be reached via email at: grainger@lamar.colostate.edu. 1. Outline of academic activities Prof. Okano (host) is internationally recognized as a leader in biomaterials and biointerfacial engineering for biotechnology applications. This is also my research area, although my work is much less applied than most found here in this lab. Prof. Okano has a large, interdisciplinary research group (nearly 25 people) who have scientific talents in a number of areas peripheral to my own that would benefit me to learn. Together, Okano's applied polymer and biomaterials research and my own basic materials chemistry research approaches are well suited for complementary interactions and thus the basis for this invitation and an already-established relationship. My visit to this lab presented a multitude of new scientific opportunities, both to meet with his large group of researchers for detailed discussions as well as to conduct some preliminary studies in his lab using his equipment and methods. We have produced data on an entirely new concept in tissue engineering using ce! lls and biomaterials. Over the course of my two-month stay, I was also able to meet with one postdoctoral researcher, four assistant professors and one associate professor in Okano's group and talk informally for one hour each about our research. I also conducted 30-minute discussions with each graduate student and one undergraduate doing research in this lab. Many daily informal scientific discussions and scientific sharing in the lab with many group members supplemented these formal occasions. I was able to learn all the technical details necessary to take home new surface chemistry techniques and new ideas for my own research interests. Importantly, Prof. Okano and I have continued an already long-standing, enjoyable, mutually beneficial international scientific relationship that will result in on-going exchanges of ideas, science and people. Additionally, I participated in the following scientific exchange activities: • 10/28-29/1997: International Conference on Tissue Engineering, Tokyo Research presentations in Japan during JSPS Fellowship: • 10/27/1997: research seminar, Showa-Denko Co. Ltd, Chiba • 11/5-6/1997: research seminar, Prof. Y. Osada, Department of Applied Physics, University of Hokkaido, Sapporo • 11/10/1997: research seminar, Prof. Kukofuta, Department of Applied Biochemistry, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki • 11/11/1997: research seminar, Nippon Oil and Fats Co. Ltd., Tsukuba Corporate Research Center, Tsukuba, Ibaraki • 11/11/1997: research seminar, Japanese Research Center for Atom Technology, Dr. T. Ishida, Tsukuba, Ibaraki • 11/17/1997: research seminar, Prof. T. Okano, Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Tokyo Women's Medical University, Tokyo • 11/18/1997: research seminar, Dr. T. Matsuda, National Cardiovascular Research Institute, Osaka • 11/21/1997: research seminar, Prof. A. Takahara, Department of Chemistry, Kyushu University, Fukuoka • 12/1/1997: visit to Dr. Edward Murdy, Director, NSF-Tokyo, Roppongi,Tokyo, • 12/2/1997: research seminar, Prof. N. Ogata, University Colloqium, Sophia University, Tokyo • 12/3/1997: research seminar, Prof. T. Akaike, Center for Biotechnology, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Nagatsuda campus, Kanagawa • 12/4/1997: research seminar, Dr. O. Albrecht, Central R&D, Canon Research Center, Canon Inc., Atsugi, Kanagawa • 12/5/1997: attended NSF-Tokyo American scientist reception, American Embassy, Roppongi, Tokyo • 12/11/1997: research seminar, Dr. M. Miyajima, Zeiga Pharmaceutical Company, Oshiriki, Chiba • 12/12/1997: attended JSPS International Reception, Tokyo • 12/15/1997: research seminar, Prof. K. Kataoka, Institute for Biosciences, Science University of Tokyo, Chiba • 12/17/1997: research seminar, Prof. M. Morimoto, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Josai University, Saitama 2. Impressions and thoughts on the present state of science in Japan in biomedical materials and biointerfaces Because of pressing clinical needs, Japanese researchers are very active in the area of biomedical engineering and biomaterials. Research activity is well represented at both academic and industrial levels. Research groups I have observed are very well equipped with new instruments and machines to carry out state-of-the-art research. Sometimes, physical facilities (space, lab buildings) are outdated, insufficient or simply crowded and dangerous. Japanese are internationally recognized for techniques in polymer chemistry and contributions of polymers as biomaterials. This places them presently in a good position to make valuable new contributions. However, the field of biomaterials is rapidly evolving, requiring the recruitment of new knowledge from recent advances in cell and molecular biology to optimize future scientific success. Because of the independent nature of most academic research efforts, few research groups in Japan are poised to be able to effectively incor! porate new interdisciplinary methods. Japan lacks a postdoctoral researcher system that often allows groups to bring in new talent to develop new scientific areas. Japanese research efforts must be able to cross-fertilize each other in response to new, rapidly developing interdisciplinary knowledge. Especially in biomaterials science, the quantity of science in a number of disciplines contributing to this research area is enormous, requiring team work. Research funding mechanisms and a postdoctoral system should be offered as incentives to work together across traditional disciplines and to break down traditional academic research barriers. The scientific resources are available to keep Japan competitive internationally in the biomedical research area. However, the infrastucture should be modified to allow versatility and adaptability within research groups and prompt cooperation between groups to optimize opportunities for scientific success. Team-based interdisciplina! ry government research funding programs should be developed as incentive to do this. In developing a postdoctoral system, industry should be consulted to provide salary-based incentives to those who go on to complete a postdoctoral experience, putting them ahead of traditional Ph.D.s who go right into industry. 3. Comments or suggestions to JSPS re: fellowship program The Japanese scientific community has a strong tradition of inviting foreigner scientists for symposia visits, lasting from a few days to a week. These hosted visits are excellent ways to introduce Japanese and foreign researchers but are often too short to promote much more than introductions. The NSF-JSPS Long-term fellowships allow established scientific relationships between Japanese researchers and US scientists to progress by supporting sabbatical leave opportunities for Americans to actually undertake research for a long-term in Japan. However, few scientists are willing to take sabbatical leave in Japan without an established scientific relationship. In addition, few American professors are willing to promote the NSF-JSPS Summer Institute program to their graduate students without a firm connection to their Japanese partner lab. The JSPS Short-Term Fellow program allows a foreign visiting scientist to establish firm contacts with a Japanese host lab without risks ! or inconveniences associated with a one-year long-term visit. The two- or three-month stay is an important, intermediate bridge-building opportunity between a very short symposium visit and a more serious long-term stay. For these reasons, the Short-Term program will be more effective in establishing and maintaining enduring international scientific relationships with Japan. Increased participation in both faculty and graduate student exchanges should result from this multiple time-scale set of JSPS visitation programs. I have participated in the German Humboldt and French CNRS scientific exchange programs. The German program offered language and culture schooling opportunities as part of the fellowship. This was very useful for integrating and learning about the host country. I encourage JSPS to think about arranging optional Japanese language and culture (e.g., evening classes) tutoring for those foreign guests interested in participating. 4. Other comments My fortunate ability to bring my family (wife and 4 children, ages 3 to 11) to Japan during my fellowship had a great impact on my enjoyment and productivity of this JSPS experience. We were lucky enough to find wonderful housing accommodations in Ichikawa where my family could fully and actively participate for two months in Japanese cultural activities and everyday life. We were welcomed and integrated into Japanese society and our neighborhood to an extent I never believed possible. My family will be impacted for life by this positive experience, both by long-term memories and Japanese friends of all ages. This success was due largely to the wife of my host who was extremely active in accessing opportunities for my family during each week that would normally not be openly provided to foreigners. The JSPS experience is, for me, an outstanding example of leveraging an international scientific experience into a multi-faceted family cross-cultural exchange. Significant family cultural events included: • Hiroshima Peace Museum • Sakura Japanese National Cultural History Museum • Osaka-jo Museum • Nikko Temple Visit • Hakata Folk Museum