Close ties have formed between CiRA and the Institute for Regenerative Medicine (IREM) at the University of Zurich when a collaborative research agreement was signed in 2017 to work together and pursue our common goal of bringing next-generation regenerative medicine to patients worldwide.

In April 2024, IREM invited a group of CiRA faculty and young scientists to visit Zurich and co-organized a CiRA-IREM Joint Workshop during the annual iPSZürich Symposium at the University of Zurich to rekindle our connection, hampered by the COVID-19 pandemic.

In return, through the generous support from the Japan Agency for Science and Technology (JST) via the Sakura Science Exchange Program, CiRA welcomed Dr. Melanie Generali and seven early career researchers from IREM to Kyoto for a three-week internship from October 21 to November 10.

During the internship, the IREM interns worked in five host laboratories in CiRA -- Makoto Ikeya Lab, Kenji Osafune Lab, Hirohide Saito Lab, Jun Takahashi Lab, and Knut Woltjen Lab -- on various research projects that provided them with new research experience using iPS cells and other cutting-edge technologies. In addition to research, the IREM interns had the opportunity to interact with their CiRA members during various social events and enjoy introductory Japanese lessons and cultural visits in Kyoto, Nara, and Tokyo. A highlight of the internship was a surprise meet and greet with CiRA Director Emeritus and pioneer of iPS cells, Dr. Shinya Yamanaka.

During the internship, a joint event, Kyoto University International Symposium: CiRA-IREM Joint Symposium 2024, "Driving Next-generation Cell and Gene Therapy," was also held. For this joint symposium, in addition to Generali, other IREM faculty members -- IREM Director Prof. Simon P. Hoerstrup, Prof. Ute Modlich, and PD Dr. Christian Tackenberg -- were invited to Kyoto as symposium speakers. CiRA Director Dr. Jun Takahashi, Dr. Koji Eto, Dr. Mio Iwasaki, and Dr. Kazuo Takayama joined them in presenting their latest efforts to leverage iPS cell technology for next-generation medicine. Kyoto University President Dr. Nagahiro Minato and Dr. Felix Moesner, Consul of the Consulate of Switzerland in Osaka and CEO of Swissnex in Japan, kicked off the event with their opening remarks before Dr. Hirohide Saito provided an overview of his RNA switch technology that has been fundamental to the CiRA-IREM collaboration thus far.

The joint symposium was held as a hybrid event, with over 130 attendees from nine countries across five continents participating on-site in the Fujita Memorial Hall of the Med-Pharm Collaboration Building on the Yoshida Campus of Kyoto University or joining online. In addition to the invited lectures, this event also included a poster session for graduate and postdoctoral trainees from both sides to present their research progress and a networking session to facilitate further discussions and collaborations.

With 2024 marking the 160th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Japan and Switzerland, this joint symposium was held as a commemorative event of that celebration and sponsored by the Kyoto University SP+ Fund and JST Sakura Science Exchange Program.