On Friday, July 3, Yohei Matsumoto, Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT), visited CiRA. He engaged in an exchange of views on the current status of iPS cell research with Mitsunari Yoshida, Executive Director of Kyoto University; Koji Eto, Director of CiRA; Yasuhiro Takashima, Deputy Director of CiRA; Jun Takahashi, Assistant Director of CiRA; and Tadaaki Hanatani, Executive Director of the CiRA Foundation. The topics discussed included an overview of CiRA and the iPS Foundation, as well as research on Parkinson's disease.

Minister Matsumoto also toured the facilities. Guided by Deputy Director Takashima, he observed "iPS cells 2.0 ^(Note)" under a microscope. Following this, Director Eto and Dr. Naoki Harada, Head of the Common Equipment Management Office, among others, provided explanations of the research equipment, including common equipment used for the characterization and analysis of iPS cells.

Opening remarks

Minister Matsumoto listening to an explanation from Director Eto and Deputy Director Takashima

Minister Matsumoto observing iPS Cells 2.0

Director Eto engaging in an animated conversation with Minister Matsumoto

Minister Matsumoto speaking with a smile

(From left) Deputy Director Takashima, Assistant Director Takahashi,
Minister Matsumoto, Director Eto,
and Executive Director Yoshida