Background of the Center's Foundation

The Bioscience and Biotechnology Center was originally founded as the "School of Agricultural Sciences Research Institute for Biochemical Regulation" in 1965. Through the foundation of the "Bioscience Center" in 1993 as a result of the consolidation of the "School of Agricultural Sciences Research Institute for Biochemical Regulation" and the "School of Science Laboratory of Freshwater Fish Stocks", the present center was founded in April 2003.

At the time of its founding, the mission of the center was to promote basic research related to various biological functions possessed by higher organisms, and by connecting the results to applied and developmental research, contribute to the cultivation and development of future bioindustry.

To achieve this mission, the Fundamental and Incubation Division and the Developmental and Applied Division were founded, and through the cooperation between the two divisions, we have achieved outstanding research results particularly in the basic research field.

Now fifteen years have passed since the center's foundation, and in addition to the results of basic research, results in applied and developmental research leading to practical applications in society and in industry have become indispensable, and circumstances surrounding research at universities have changed significantly.

In response to these changing circumstances, in April 1, 2019, the center has been reorganized with a new mission, which, whilst carrying on with highly active and innovative basic research in the field of bioscience and agricultural science, plans to put emphasis on applied research which can lead to the vitalization of industry and contribute to both the domestic and international society.

Objectives of the Center's Foundation

In the reorganization into the Bioscience and Biotechnology Center in April 1, 2019, the previous divisions (the Fundamental and Incubation Division and the Developmental and Applied Division) were abolished and instead, five laboratories (the Laboratory of Agrigenome, the Laboratory of Plant Genomics and Breeding, the Laboratory of Plant Gene Function, the Laboratory of Bioindustry, and the Laboratory of Functional Glycomics) were founded. The Laboratory of Agrigenome has changed into the Laboratory of Developmental and Systems Plant Biology in July 20, 2022.

Each laboratory shall promote innovative research straight from basic research to applied research, taking into account practical application in society, with an aim towards finding solutions to various issues related to food, health, and the environment.

To be more specific, the center shall implement mission-oriented research for sustainable food production, CO2 reduction, creation of a new energy-related industry, development of new technologies in health enhancement, disease diagnoses and treatment, and undertake integrated bioscience research to realize practical application in society of these basic research results.

In addition, the "Group of Organ Function (the Graduate School of Science) " and the “Laboratory of Glyco-Life Science (the Graduate School of Bioagricultural Sciences)” have maintained their research cooperation system and function as partner laboratories for each other.

History

April 1, 1993
The Bioscience Center was founded (The School of Agricultural Sciences Research Institute for Biochemical Regulation (Note 1) and the School of Science Laboratory of Freshwater Fish Stocks (Note 2) were consolidated into the center)
April 1, 2003
The Bioscience and Biotechnology Center was founded (The Bioscience Center was reorganized)
April 1, 2019
The Bioscience and Biotechnology Center was reorganized
The divisions (the Fundamental and Incubation Division and the Developmental and Applied Division) were abolished and reorganized into five laboratories (the Laboratory of Agrigenome, the Laboratory of Plant Genomics and Breeding, the Laboratory of Plant Gene Function, the Laboratory of Bioindustry, and the Laboratory of Functional Glycomics)
In accordance with the reorganization, the Laboratory of Plant Cell Function was transferred to the Graduate School of Bioagricultural Sciences, and the Laboratory of Animal Organ Function was transferred to the Graduate School of Science. However, even after the reorganization, they have maintained their research cooperation system and function as partner laboratories for each other.

(Note 1)
April 1, 1965 The School of Agricultural Sciences Research Institute for Biochemical Regulation was founded (transferred to the School of Agricultural Sciences on Higashiyama Campus)

(Note 2)
April 1, 1980 The School of Science Laboratory of Freshwater Fish Stocks was founded