The 100 kL/y pilot plant uses 1,300 t/y sugarcane pomace as C-source. Contractors are Tsukishima Kikai Co. and JFE Engineering Co. NEDO news release, August 31, 2015
RIKEN team develops direct metabolomic assay for plant single cells by live single cell mass spectrometry
The method is based on putting a plant cell in a glass capillary with metallic coating on a nanospray chip and aspirating intracellular components or subcellular organelles. By introducing ionized organic solvent from the rear end of the chip and placing the chip in the vicinity of the sample introduction port of the mass spectrometer, […]
Tau Corp. will start demonstration experiment for robot workin in collapsed site, NEDO support
The robot is equipped with a worm-type mechanism that allows to work in collapsed sites and rubbles. Tau Corp. is locatd in the Sagami Robot Industry Zone, Kanagawa Prefecture. NEDO news release, August 28, 2015
Gravity Co. stem cell culture system ready for NASA space program, support by NEDO
Cell culture under microgravity, as compared to conventional culture methods, has the effect of suppressing differentiation of cells during growth. For the growth of human mesenchymal stem cells at 2G to 3G gravity, a special vessel was designed which allows to grow a large number of cells. An accelerator sensor measures cell expansion in real […]
Tonomachi Global Strategic Center in Kawasaki constructs center for regenerative medicine, invites tenants
The four-story 8000m2 building, with a total floor area of 10 000 6000m2, will host R&D companies and clinics involved in regenerative medicine and immunotherapy. It will be opened during 2016. Nikkei Biotech news release, August 26, 2015
Kajima Corp. offers design of cell-culture processing facilities
Kajima Corp. is engaged in R&D on ES/iPS cell culture equipment and is cooperating with Kobe’s Institute of Biomedical Research and Innovation and Tokyo Electron on cell therapy since 4 years. Kajima is now offering the design of a cell culture processing facility (CPC) which supports industrialization of regenerative medicine. The program combines Kajima’s experience […]
MAFF exhibition “Amazing Silkworm”: products from transgenic silkworm
The exhibition comprises “spider silk”, a blend of fibroin and spider silk, fibroin coexpressing fluorescent proteins and made into fashion (“Suptniko dress”), a skin-care cosmetic product made from fibroin and collagen-1, and various diagnostic enzymes expressed in silkworms. MAFF news release, August 26, 2015
Lotte launches “Aura-detect gum”, a FOSHU chewing gum based on eucalyptus extract
The FOSHU claim is “to suppress the formation of dental plaque and keep gums healthy”. The active agent is Macrocarpal C, an eucalyptus extract. The tablets are sold in the high-end range for 138 Yen for 14 tablets. https://www.lotte.co.jp/products/brand/xylitol/oratect/
Tohoku MegaBank project on 1070 genomes of healthy Japanese lays solid foundation for personalized medicine in Japan
According to an article in Nature, the genomic profiles of 1070 Japanese from the Tohoku area provided in hitherto unknown detail frequencies of SNVs (single nucleotide variants) and many hitherto unknown deletions. The results are considered a milestone for the development of personalized medicine. Masao NAGASAKI et al., Nature doi:10.1038/ncomms9018
ReproCell develops cryoprotectant for iPS and EC cells without DMSO
The development was done in collaboration with Kyoto University, Institute for Frontier Medical Science, and the product will be marketed late in August 2015. etro news release, August 21, 2015