The importance of microorganisms in biological activities and diseases has been widely recognized through microbiome research and Corona pandemic. Increasing lines of evidence suggest bacterial involvement in various cancer types. Here we present cutting-edge large-scale analyses of both bacterial and human genomes/epigenomes revealing the underlying molecular mechanisms at single bp resolution. We present a novel big picture and discuss its impact on cancer research and medicine.

Living organisms maintain homeostasis by appropriate cellular responses to a various type of stresses. In particular, because stress response abnormalities arising from the genome and metabolism causes aging and cancer, elucidation of the molecular mechanisms is required. This symposium will gather researchers in various fields such as cancer, aging, DNA repair, immunity, metabolism, and epigenome to discuss for overcoming pathological conditions on aging and cancer.

In contrast to the traditional view that the building blocks in the shaping of organisms are cells, Recently, attention has been focused on the importance of rigid support materials such as bone, as well as the dynamic and orderly degradation and molecular properties of the extracellular matrix (ECM), in building and maintaining the shape of an organism. In this symposium, we will explore the fundamental principles of morphogenesis from the novel perspective of “how ‘non-cellular support materials' build the shape of organisms".

Nature often showcases phenomena where one organism's genetic information influences the phenotypic expression in another, as seen in interactions like parasitism and endosymbiosis—illustrating Richard Dawkins' "extended phenotype." Despite this, specific mechanisms remain poorly understood. This symposium aims to present recent research on the molecular mechanisms of "extended phenotypes" in non-model organisms with recent technological advancements.

Regulation of mRNA translation plays a critical role in various biological processes and diseases. In this workshop, we will present the latest research results on the regulatory mechanisms of mRNA translation, degradation and localization. These results have led to the discovery of the new therapeutic targets for cancer, inflammation, viral infection, and neurodegenerative diseases.

Eukaryotic cells divide themselves into micro spaces (or planes) with diverse functions as organelles and achieve complex functionalization, including multicellularity. While organelles are functionally and morphologically diverse, they are closely linked and often regulated by a common mechanism, as seen in organelle contact and organelle autophagy. Standing on a new view on organelles, we will discuss the quality control system underlying organelle function and morphology.

There are various "Omics" approaches to DNA, RNA, and proteins, and many findings have been accumulated through approaches to neurodegenerative disease pathomechanism. Although the objectives of "Omics" vary widely, such as pathological elucidation and biomarker discovery, various "Omics" have succeeded in uncovering previously unseen aspects of neurodegenerative diseases from a broad perspective. In this symposium, researchers who are tackling neurodegenerative diseases using "Omics" will engage in a cross-targeted discussion.

Living organisms do not live in isolation. Even unicellular microorganisms form assemblies displaying emergent properties. The study of microbial multicellularity in bacteria, yeast, or amoeba, among others, is undergoing a renaissance and recent findings suggest remarkable and unsuspected complexity in large collectives of microbial cells such as biofilms. In this symposium we would like to showcase the latest research advances aiming to decipher this complexity by integrating the molecular, cellular, and biophysical levels.

Fibroblasts, ubiquitous in organs, play diverse and vital roles beyond morphogenesis, including immune regulation, epithelial control, tissue repair, and dynamic tissue regulation. This symposium highlights recent insights into their multifaceted roles in microenvironment biology, featuring leading researchers.

Throughout life, living organisms use the genomic DNA within their cells to carry out genetic programs. Genomic DNA is constantly exposed to various internal and external stresses and is damaged, which is repaired to maintain cell function. However, excessive DNA damage not only causes cell death, but even after the damage is repaired, it induces cellular senescence and genomic mutations leading to cancer. This symposium will focus on DNA damage, which is a common molecular mechanism in organismal development and disease, and introduce research that makes full use of cutting-edge next-generation technologies such as long-read sequencing, next-generation sequencing, single-cell analysis, spatial analysis, innovative imaging technology, and genome editing. Based on these studies, we would like to deepen our understanding of the DNA life cycle in biological phenomena and discuss its significance.

The genome, the blueprint of life, is stably maintained through various chromosome processes such as DNA replication, DNA repair, recombination, and also through regulation of chromosome structure. Misregulation of these mechanisms leads to mutations and increased instability of the genome, ultimately causing cancer, aging, and genetic diseases. This symposium will discuss the latest insights into how cells faithfully duplicate its genomic and epigenomic information and how the lesions resulting from its failure would be repaired through recombination and repair pathways to maintain the genome integrity.

In textbooks, eukaryotic cells have a single nucleus. However, there are a number of cells with multiple nuclei, such as macro- and micro-nuclei in ciliates, multinuclei in hepatocytes and muscle cells, maternal and paternal pronuclei in fertilized oocytes, and micronuclei in cancer cells. Why do these cells have multiple nuclei? This is an important question related to nuclear functions and reprogramming. In this workshop, we will introduce the unique biological questions faced by researchers working with multinuclear cells and discuss the regulation of nuclear and chromatin functions.

In multicellular organisms, cell-cell interactions of distinct cells are important for animal development and homeostasis. Recent studies have revealed that interactions between different types of cells spatiotemporally coordinate various phenomena such as tissue morphogenesis, tissue repair, cancer and aging. In this symposium, we will focus on interactions of distinct cells that control development, tissue homeostasis and diseases.

Metabolism regulates biological functions of all living organisms. The decline of metabolic activities accelerates the aging process, and is also a cause of the development of various diseases. Organisms coexist with symbiotic bacteria, and bacterial metabolites often play essential roles in host biological functions. Here, we will explore the impact of metabolism on the maintenance of biological functions through the molecular mechanisms of reproduction, tissue development, aging, and diseases, and discuss the influence of symbiotic bacteria on the host metabolism across species.

In these years, advances in genome analysis technology have led to developments in the fields of agriculture and basic biology. These studies are carried out using the same analytical methods regardless of whether they focused on animals or plants, however there is still a large gap between animal and plant researchers in Japan. In order to overcome this situation, in this session the young researchers involved in GWAS for animals and plants deepen the discussion on common problem-solving strategies.

SINEs and LINEs are retrotransposon-associated sequences that occupy a large part of the mammalian genome, and show distinct and mutually exclusive distribution patterns. SINE mediated recruitment of CTCF and LINE RNA mediated liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) may promote 3D organization of the genome. By proposing that transposable elements constitute a new code (transposable elements code: TEC) to regulate higher order regulation and function of the genome, in this workshop we will introduce latest research on transposable elements, and 3D regulation of the genome.

Longevity and maintaining good health while aging are some major desires of humankind. Elucidation of the molecular mechanisms of aging and cancer is key to achieve the goal. Numerous studies have been carried out from the molecular and cellular levels to whole-body level. In this symposium, we will share insights from research in various fields, such as biology, chemistry, and computational science, regarding “the abnormal shapes" observed in aging and cancer and treatments targeting the abnormality.

The phenomenon of dormancy in multicellular organisms is observed across a variety of species and tissues. For instance, developmental arrest, which halts the development process in the entire embryo or specific cells, has been reported in mammals, fish, and plants. Additionally, tissue stem cells in adult organisms are often maintained in a dormant state, which has been shown to be essential for lifelong functional preservation. Traditionally, these phenomena have been recognized as a result of environmental responses to conditions such as low nutrition or low oxygen. In contrast, this symposium will focus on an active form of dormancy based on intricate multicellular interactions, termed 'philostasis.' It will introduce cutting-edge research that challenges to elucidate the control programs governing this state.

Evolutionarily conserved molecular mechanisms and protein structures play a crucial role in maintaining cellular homeostasis and survival, and canonical functions and models have been elucidated over time. In contrast, exceptions have been reported in recent years. In this symposium, we would like to focus on non-canonical molecular mechanisms and protein functions in both well-established and emerging areas, and promote the creation of out-of-the-box research.

Biological flows, underlying intracellular (e.g., cytoplasmic flow) to multicellular level (e.g., blood flow, etc.) influence the important biological events involved in the cell functions and morphogenesis. Recent technical advances, such as high-precision quantitative imaging and manipulation of flow signals, provide new insights into mechanical function of biological flows. In this symposium, we will discuss and introduce recent advances in the flow research using approaches based on biophysics, cell biology and developmental biology.

In disease onset and progression, we have primarily studied the parenchyma of organs. On the other hand, the term "interstitium" has conventionally indicated the "location" where pathologies arise from various causes. In addition, the specificity of the interstitial response in individual organs and diseases is not well understood at all. In recent years, however, the necessity of studying cells in the interstitium has begun to be recognized. Therefore, the goal of this symposium is to study the interstitium from various angles and redefine its meaning.

In this symposium, we will discuss innovative approaches to disease treatment through artificial interventions in molecular mechanisms associated with genome, such as nucleic acid metabolism, DNA repair, transcription, and protein synthesis. Currently, there are high expectations for the practical applications of gene editing techniques and the control of gene expression using artificial nucleic acids. We will introduce cutting-edge researches that enable the development of new technologies from unique perspectives. Based on these studies, we aim to develop new treatments for intractable diseases, such as cancer and genetic disorders.

Biological phenomena can occur across vast temporal scales, such as neural transmission occurring in milliseconds to memory loss occurring over years. Current approaches either capture biological events at high frequency but only for a brief period or capture biological events across long period but with sparse measurements. In this symposium, we highlight new approaches that attempt to break the barrier of temporal scale in biology by capturing events in their entirety through high-frequency and long-term measurements and new insights gained through such approaches.

The expression of several thousand developmental genes is regulated in a spatio-temporal manner during development. To differentiate into a specific lineage, it is necessary to regulate the expression of genes involved in lineage commitment. However, it is not clear how such gene regulation is established. In this symposium, we will focus on how epigenomes at critical genes involved in development and differentiation are established and maintained, and we will present and discuss the latest research findings.

Ribosome stall and collision during protein synthesis indicate a serious defect in the function of the gene product and are therefore eliminated by multiple quality control mechanisms. The understanding of the molecular mechanism and physiological function of translation quality control RQC that recognizes colliding ribosomes is progressing rapidly, as is the analysis of their physiological functions. Collision ribosomes also activate two stress responses: ZAKa-mediated Ribotoxic Stress Response (RSR) and GCN2-mediated Integrated Stress Response (ISR), leading to translational control and cell death. Moreover, the mechanisms underlying ribosome quality control and ribosome degradation have been revealed. In this symposium, we introduce the latest findings on quality control that recognize translation abnormalities and the molecular mechanisms and physiological functions of the stress responses caused by collisions and stalled ribosomes.

The field of epigenomics is making remarkable progress. The IHEC project has created the EpiAtlas database, which contains more than 2,500 human cell/tissue types, enabling various types of integrative analyses. The comprehensive analysis of non-coding functional regions, including repetitive sequences, and cross-species analysis is also of particular interest. This symposium introduces researchers involved in such large-scale analyses and presents a variety of studies.

Genomic DNA in nucleus and mitochondria must be inherited properly. However, DNA replication is often compromised by obstacles stems from intrinsic and extrinsic stimuli, leading to genome instability and various diseases including cancer. In this symposium, we will discuss the latest findings on the cellular strategy to maintain genome stability or to tolerate genome stress from the aspect of molecular mechanism and cancer biology, focusing on PrimPol.

Recent findings have shown that "metabolic fluctuation" is an important factor supporting the immune system due to its heterogeneity and its nature as a carrier across multiple layers. In this symposium, we will invite speakers who are conducting pioneering research in the field of immunology and metabolism to present the latest topics on the spatiotemporal interactions of the immune-metabolic system in disease and defense responses. We also hope to understand the essential interface between metabolism and immunity, and to discuss in depth the future prospects for research aimed at "regulating immune systems through the control of metabolism".

For social animals, interactions with conspecifics are often critical for development, reproduction, and survival. However, prolonged periods of social isolation have detrimental effects on the physiology and behavior of exposed individuals. This workshop discusses how social interactions affect brain functions with a focus on the molecular and neuronal mechanisms leading to behavioral alterations

In the field of academic drug discovery, the intellectual property on the academic side isn't just limited to the drugs themselves. Companies see value in unique drug targets, know-how, and Proof Of Concept (POC). However, academia doesn't seem to place much emphasis on these intellectual properties. They've somewhat reduced patents to a mere 'pre-paper formality'. This approach hinders the growth of open innovation, and right now, academic drug discovery is in need of a significant shift. In this symposium, we aim to delve deeply into the practical aspects of drug discovery without the barriers between companies and universities. We've invited promising speakers to foster the advancement of academic drug discovery, striving to establish a foundation for mutual support through the latest technologies and research.

Genomes exhibit significant diversity in terms of base compositions, gene order/orientation, local/global DNA architecture, and spatial arrangement within a cell. This diversity aligns with apparent variations in cell duplication systems operating in different organisms. Examining the molecular machineries and regulatory components that constitute these systems will offer crucial and broad insights into the fundamentals of cell duplication. To achieve this, the symposium will highlight multidisciplinary research driven by the best accumulated knowledge on microbial genomes.

With the development of electron microscopy techniques and CLEM methods, recent innovations in ultrastructural analysis have been remarkable. This symposium will focus on the intricate world revealed by ultrastructural analysis of various biological species using various state-of-the-art techniques. Discussions will revolve around the future of multimodal electron microscopy, providing insights into the refined world of ultrastructural analysis.

The differentiation technology of neural cells/tissues from human pluripotent stem cells (which is a part of “creative biology") have made it possible to bring living neural materials which contribute to study unexplored human neural tissues/functions. In this symposium, we will overview the history of neural induction technology and then introduce about the frontiers of this research field. Lastly we will discuss possible ethical aspects related to the creation of human neural tissues.

Digital Transformation (DX) in life sciences, named Bio-DX, drives big data use and automation. Furthermore, genome engineering and long-read sequencing with the Bio-DX can reshape the research environment for molecular biology. However, Bio-DX knowledge remains limited in the research community. This symposium shares insights into Bio-DX through the talks by the pioneers, fostering knowledge and innovation with the utilization of Bio-DX.

This symposium explores the epigenomic regulatory mechanisms of totipotency in zygotes, crucial for differentiation into various cell types and organism development. We'll discuss the reprogramming process in fertilized eggs and the latest insights into epigenomic networks that define totipotent cells, addressing the challenges in understanding these complex biological processes.

Eukaryotic cells possess mechanisms to maintain homeostasis in response to internal and external stresses, and it has become increasingly clear that RNA plays a crucial role in these processes. This symposium will highlight the latest findings on the role of RNA in stress response and homeostasis regulation. It will cover a range of topics including mRNA translation, RNA modification, and the role of extracellular RNA in intercellular communication, showcasing research from the cellular to the organismal level.

Understanding the molecular systems that control tissue organization will provide a foundation for tissue repair and regeneration. In this symposium, we will present basic research on the identification of novel molecular machineries that regulate tissue architecture, as well as applied research using these machineries as a basis for tissue repair and regeneration, targeting various tissues, including nerve, muscle, and epithelium.

Cell collectives give rise to distinct structures, patterns, and dynamics, all of which are fundamental to the activities of life. Advanced technologies for spatiotemporal analysis and manipulation of cell interactions are crucial. This is key to exploring multicellular dynamics across a breadth of model systems, including both animals and plants. This symposium brings together emerging researchers from various disciplines for an interdisciplinary dialogue, aiming to foster a comprehensive understanding of biological phenomena through the study of multicellular systems.

Organelles, the functional units of eukaryotic cells, are crucial for maintaining cellular and organismal homeostasis. This symposium brings together researchers using cutting-edge technologies to elucidate the mechanisms of organelle homeostasis. By presenting multilevel approaches, from molecules to organisms, we will discuss how organelle function regulation contributes to organismal homeostasis and explore the frontiers of organelle research.

The unit of life is the cell, and humans have evolved by adapting to stress inside and outside the cell and is the only species that can run long distances, having acquired unstable but free body movements with standing as the norm, but there is still no cellular molecular science research area that connects cell-body. This symposium will introduce typical examples of redundancy responses such as slow-twitch muscle, Beige fat, and glial cells, and propose health strategies from various angles such as mechanophysical response mechanisms including heat production of the body for living a long-lived society.

The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has highlighted the threat of viral infections. Importantly, COVID-19 is not the last pandemic in human history, as WHO and CDC have suggested. Research to prepare for the "next pandemic" is essential not only from a basic science perspective, but also to maintain a peaceful social life. In this symposium, we would like to discuss the interdisciplinary and advanced viral research needed to prepare for the next pandemic.

Chromosomes are organized in three-dimensional space to allow the proper expression and duplication of the genetic material. By introducing new insights from cutting-edge techniques such as genome-wide analyses, quantitative live-imaging and single-molecule analyses, this symposium aims to shed light on mechanisms controlling three-dimensional chromosome structure and gene regulation, and how these processes intersect.

There is no longer any question about the connection between gut microbiota and host health and disease that affect us at every stage of life. In this symposium, energized scientists who use novel methods to uncover the molecular basis of disease affecting a wide range of patients, from infants to the elderly, will present their findings. Furthermore, we will discuss the development of microbiome drug discovery.

In recent years, a variety of new methods have been developed, including disease model animals, disease recapitulation and generation of organoids using genetically mutant stem cells, long-term culture, and omics technologies, and they have enabled to investigate the causes of diseases and aging at the molecular level. This symposium will focus on studies that use unique approaches to reveal the mechanisms where individuals become diseases and aging conditions, and those proposing methods for prevention, detection, and treatment.

Development of a real-time imaging technique, called 4D imaging technique, that captures 3D dynamics within living organisms, holds the potential to reveal intricate details of various biological phenomena. One such phenomenon is aging, and its mechanisms may be elucidated by capturing age-related changes more precisely over time at various biological levels. In this session, we will introduce the latest Light Field Microscopy technique to achieve 4D imaging and highlight recent exciting biological discoveries at multiple levels.

Neurites are critical in neural information processing and their abnormalities are implicated in neurological diseases. An increasing number of studies have recently revealed the molecular mechanisms regulating their impairment and regeneration. This symposium aims to share and discuss cutting-edge research by researchers from junior to senior levels, and contribute to the research advancements of the society members.

The year 2024 commemorates the 40th anniversary of the discovery of the "mammalian genome imprinting mechanism" through mouse nuclear transfer experiments. During this symposium, we will present the forefront of genome imprinting research across a diverse range of organisms. We will also explore topics such as the diversification of genomic imprinting mechanisms in speciation and their role in species evolution, the examination of the conflict hypothesis, and the prospects for future research in this field.

Interstitial cells exist in many tissues and organs in our body and play an important role in human health and disease progression by performing diverse physiological and pathological functions depending on their functions and characteristics. This symposium will focus on cells in the interstitial region, which have received less attention than parenchymal cells, and aims to introduce and discuss the latest research on physiological and pathological functions starting from ECM, mechanotransduction, and aging.

The progression of cancer, metabolic diseases, and infectious diseases involves a complex interplay of system dynamics at diverse scales, including molecules, organelles, cells, tissues, and individuals, but the details of the biological information exchanged between these layers have not been elucidated. Recently, through innovations in measurement technology, coupled with deep learning and data science that process and analyze a wide range of data, the life science field is beginning to elucidate life phenomena at multiple scales. In this symposium, young researchers will gather to introduce the multiscale dynamics at the core of life science using cutting-edge technologies such as deep omics, super-resolution imaging, ultra-multiple specimen omics, deep learning, and data science, as well as providing an opportunity for young researchers to engage in new fields.

The molecular basis and evolutionary history of intraspecies phenotypic diversity is essential to understand the diversity and evolution at the species level. Yet, despite recent advances in sequencing and phenotyping technologies, the link between genetic variation and phenotypic diversity remains largely unclear. In this symposium, we will introduce attempts to address these questions using various approaches and species, and discuss future directions.

In response to various external cues, cells modify their morphology and migrate toward certain environment by dynamic rearrangement of the cytoskeleton. This symposium aims to build a bridge from the molecular understanding of these processes to an emerging field of biomechanics. We will specifically discuss new approaches, which enable biologists to comprehend the complex interplay between the signals and forces.

Recently, Neurodegenerative diseases like ALS via precipitation (PPT) of RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) in neuron have been focused. The RBP PPT mediates its phase separation (PS). RNA prevents RBP from PS, showing that RNA is a possible seed for an ALS drug. View points of basic and also clinical aspects are essential for analysis on ALS because of its divergency. Our session has diverse topics and will present a novel mechanism of the disease onset.

Epigenome is essential for the development of our bodies. However, epigenome can be altered by various environmental stimuli, and the accumulation of these alterations can lead to the development of various diseases, such as cancers. In this symposium, we will focus on the epigenome and its regulators, and introduce the molecular mechanisms by which their dysregulation induces the diseases. We will also discuss the recent advancement of therapeutic strategies targeting epigenome dysregulations.

Translation is the core process that constitutes the synthesis of proteins, a cornerstone of life. Rather than simply manufacturing proteins uniformly, translation undergoes various evolutionary developments, showcasing a diverse array of translation control mechanisms across different biological species. Recent progress in translation control within eukaryotic organisms has advanced rapidly, employing techniques such as classical ribosome profiling and cryo-electron microscopy (Cryo-EM). How does this compare to prokaryotic organisms? In this lecture, a dynamic young researcher delving into the study of translation in prokaryotic organisms will present newly uncovered findings.

Hematophagous arthropods, including mosquitoes and ticks, are well-known as vectors for various pathogens; they also have unique biological characteristics not observed in mammals. Recent studies have suggested the existence of numerous microorganisms that maintain their infections within the arthropod populations. In this symposium, we discuss the arthropod vectors, the microbes, and their interactions from a biological aspect, not only a pathogenic one.

Mitochondria integrate cellular signaling and metabolism, thereby determining the fate of organisms. Here, we introduce innovative technologies that unveil previously hidden aspects of mitochondrial biology and pathophysiology, which were obscured by past methodological limitations. The use of newly innovated and developed technologies, such as gene-editing technology, deep-learning, and regenerative engineering, would enable us to overcome the limitations of scientific approaches.

Stem cells, crucial for establishing multicellular organization in land plants, are constitutively maintained in tissues, producing differentiated cells. We will focus on the stem cell system of bryophytes with simple body plan. Covering various aspects such as cell polarity, cell division and differentiation, cell wall structures, and phytohormones, we will discuss the evolution of multicellular organization in land plants and the universality of stem cell regulation.

Germ cells undergo various differentiation processes to ensure the transmission of both genetic and epigenetic information to the next generation. Although these processes can be disrupted by environmental changes and in vitro cultivation, the extent of such disruptions remains largely unclear. This symposium aims to present the latest findings on germ cell differentiation processes and explore the impacts of environmental changes and in vitro cultivation on germ cells.

In the novel aging research field, "GeroScience research", we here introduce cutting-edge research focusing on the Nutria-aging, especially its age-dependent variable alteration of mechanism. We also discuss the study unveiling the mechanism, such as nutritional research, including intake and metabolism, and how the results relate to the aging process and the causes of diversity in the elderly. Consequently, we would consider the realization of healthy longevity for each and every one of us in this era of 100-year life expectancy.

Minerals are dietary requirements and are essential for life. Recent advances in research techniques have made it clear that minerals are not simply elements necessary for survival, but are factors that actively influence the fate of cells, organs and even individuals. In this symposium, we would like to discuss the current status and future of mineral biology, upon sharing the latest studies on the mechanisms of various biological processes that sensitively detect and respond to increases and decreases in each mineral.

In the conventional understanding of the regulation of gene expression, it has been thought that the processes including signal transduction, transcription, RNA processing, and translation proceed in sequence from the reception of stimuli to the synthesis of proteins. However, recent studies have shown that it is difficult to understand gene expression only by the sequential reactions of each process. There may be a mechanism by which all processes are functionally or physically connected and regulate gene expression in an integrated manner. In this symposium, we would like to discuss such a new regulatory mechanism of gene expression.

The brain maintains homeostasis by dynamically altering intracellular molecular events in response to environmental changes. Recent advances in molecular tools and omics analysis allow us to understand the integrative molecular basis for the regulation of brain functions. In this symposium, we will present the latest findings on the molecular mechanisms of homeostasis in biological systems.

Life systems are full of wonders, and biology is a continuous series of remarkable discoveries. In biology, discoveries often become the seeds of new technologies, creating a unique cycle where these technologies lead to further discoveries. This is particularly evident in experimental methods involving genetic modifications of model systems. In this symposium, we aim to gather scientists who are implementing creative genetic gimmicks into cells and delve deeply into their research philosophies.

It has been about 15 years since life science experiments began on the Japanese experiment module "Kibo" aboard the International Space Station (ISS), which orbits about 400 km above Earth. So far, more than 40 experiments have been conducted to study the effects of microgravity and space radiation with living organisms, including cells. This symposium will present the latest results on the effects on genes, cells and individuals, experimental techniques, and discuss the future of space experiments.

Retroelements (REs) are retrotranscribed from RNA to DNA and inserted into genomes, some of which are derived from LINEs and viruses. REs occupy a large portion of the genomes of various organisms. These are usually repressed by epigenetic mechanisms and have been considered as “junk" or even “garbage". However, recent studies have revealed that REs act as "foes" involved in various diseases, and at the same time, they also function as "friends" that play important roles in the development and physiological functions. In this symposium, we would like to report and discuss various aspects of REs.

The technology to remove specific proteins within cells accelerates life science research and drug discovery. In recent years, protein knockdown techniques utilizing the ubiquitin-proteasome system and autophagy have garnered attention because of their rapidity, reversibility and potential for novel drug development. Researchers developing protein knockdown technologies, such as PROTAC, IMiD, degron and AUTAC, will discuss the impact of these techniques on life science research and drug discovery.

More than a decade has passed since the dawn of extracellular vesicle research. While their function as a tool for intercellular communication has been revealed one after another, various challenges have accumulated in conducting rigorous analyses. In parallel with the development of new research, efforts to improve the quality of research are being made worldwide, and this year, a new research guideline, MISEV2023, was released. In this session, we will discuss the great potential of extracellular vesicles by bringing together the most frontier knowledge from various biological fields.

During pregnancy, fetuses receive essential nutrients and metabolites while mothers sense their requirements as a feedback signal. This complex mechanism is considered to control not only fetal development but also life-long health of the new generations through epigenetic regulations. In this symposium, we will discuss recent discoveries in the feto-maternal crosstalk.

Developmental differentiation, disease progression and healing, and the acquisition of plasticity can be understood as cell fate conversion. The dynamic conversion of cellular states and functions in biological phenomena have been revealed by the progress of research on cell fate conversion, and is expected to lead to the development of first-in-class or best-in-class drug discovery for various diseases. In this symposium, we will discuss “Modulation of Cell Fate Conversion" from various perspectives including gene expression, cell differentiation, metabolism, cell reprogramming, and regenerative medicine, with ‘'Cell Fate Conversion'' as a key word. We hope that this will serve as an opportunity for the development of a new cross-disciplinary fusion beyond the conventional framework.

Genes involved in oxidative phosphorylation are coordinately down-regulated in skeletal myocytes and adipocytes in subjects with diabetes. Similarly, mechanistic links between cell-type-specific metabolic changes in neurons, hepatocytes, macrophages and life-style related diseases has been investigated. In this symposium, young researchers will join to share their insights on cell-type-specific metabolic changes toward regulation of systemic metabolism.

The extracellular matrix (ECM) is now understood to be a dynamic and crucial component in complex biological functions, marking a shift from its previously perceived static role. Advancing our understanding of the ECM will require a comprehensive approach that transcends conventional paradigms. This symposium convenes experts in cell biology, developmental biology, and materials science to delve into principle of ECM.

Protein synthesis (mRNA translation) represents the most energy-consuming process in the cells. Alterations in mRNA translation and energy metabolism play a central role in homeostatic adaptation to stress, and when dysregulated, result in a variety of human pathologies, including cancer and metabolic diseases. Nevertheless, due to the historical and technological limitations, the relationship between mRNA translation and energy metabolism has remained largely underexplored. In this session, we will focus on emerging data that delineate the mechanisms orchestrating translational and metabolic programs under physiological and pathological conditions. Additionally, we will discuss the implications of these findings in opening potential therapeutic avenues to improve the treatment of human diseases.

Genomic DNA is folded into multiple layers in the cell nucleus. Megabase-sized chromatin domains are formed, and genes that are distant from each other on the linear genome are sometimes close together in the three-dimensional (3D) nuclear space. This higher-order structure changes dynamically during development and differentiation, regulating DNA replication and transcription, and its abnormalities lead to diseases. In this symposium, we invite researchers who are taking on the challenge to elucidate the genome dynamics from the standpoint of genome replication to the 3D genome organization using advanced technologies, including single-cell genomics and Hi-C, and discuss the latest findings.

In recent years, many inherited GPI deficiency(IGD) patients have been discovered based on whole-exome sequencing technology. Current symposium will gather multidisciplinary scientists to discuss the latest research about GPI-anchor (a type of “sugar-fat" modification), including biosynthesis and modification of GPI-anchor in mammalian cells, the newly discovered roles of GPI protein, and the development of diagnosis and therapy strategy of IGD disease.

In order to overcome age-related cell dysfunction and diseases in anaging society and adapt to and survive in unknown environments such asthe warming earth and the space, we must enhance individual cellfunctions and the whole body. To this end, we need to study how toenhance individual cell functions and develop its basic technologies.In this workshop, we will specialize in the issue of enhancingtechnology, and introduce advanced researches that dispel theconventional biological common sense.

• Methylation is a chemical modification that is added to various biomolecules, such as DNA, RNA, and proteins. These modifications play important roles in various biological phenomena, such as gene expression regulation, protein function regulation, and RNA stability. This symposium will present cutting-edge research results related to methylation by young researchers to attract new researchers to this field and deepen our understanding of the systems that regulate biological functions produced by methylation.

Protein networks are essential for regulating a wide range of physiological, biological, and pathological events. Proximity-dependent labeling (PDL) technologies are recently emerged highly innovative proteomics approach, which contributes to the comprehensive analysis of protein functions in living cells or animals. In this session, we would like to introduce recent findings about molecular mechanisms underlying various biological events including infectious and neurological diseases utilizing PDL techniques. We will share the technical information with audience who plan to and wish to perform PDL for their further progress.

Organelle homeostasis is a crucial process for living organisms, and its disruption causes various diseases. Since the understanding of this mechanism is an urgent issue, a number of important discoveries on the sophisticated organelle homeostasis have been reported. In this symposium, experts, mainly young scientists, will discuss the latest findings on organelle homeostasis, including ER, Golgi, mitochondria, peroxisomes, and endosomes.

Recently, various noncoding RNAs have been recognized to be synthesized from dispersed junk repeat regions in the genome, suggesting their potential for playing crucial regulatory roles. Concurrently, these repeat regions can induce genomic mutations as mobile elements and disrupt gene expression. Cells have developed sophisticated RNA-based inhibitory mechanisms to suppress the harmful effects of these regions. This symposium focuses on the intricate mechanisms involved in the tug-of-war related to junk regions in the genome, examining the production of noncoding RNAs as a driving force for the functional expansion of genomes.

Human pluripotent stem cells are widely used as versatile and valuable tools and resources, contributing to regenerative medicine and drug discovery as part of molecular, cellular, and developmental biology and its applied research and development for human biological phenomena for which in vivo experiments cannot be performed. This symposium will introduce advanced studies using human pluripotent stem cells in the areas of reprogramming, genome editing, pioneering factors, transcriptome, proteome, disease modeling, and therapeutic development, and will provide an opportunity to consider the future use and further development of pluripotent stem cells.

Genome dynamics, including DNA transcription, replication, repair, and segregation, are the fundamentals of living systems. The recent advances in super-resolution imaging, electron microscopies, protein manipulation techniques, and computational biology have revealed higher-order molecular complex structures and their unique functions to control genome dynamics. This symposium aims to shed light on such molecular clusters and discuss future perspectives in the field.

The kidney not only functions as an excretory organ, but also plays a central role in maintaining homeostasis as a metabolic and endocrine organ. However, tissue damages that progress beyond a point of no-return due to chronic inflammation and fibrosis are irreversible. Additionally, because of the structural and physiological complexity, basic researchers have difficulty in joining the research community, and indeed the kidney is one of the most difficult organs to regenerate. Nevertheless, a multiomics approach at a single cell level or temporal and spatial regulation of molecules of interest within an experimental animal, are greatly deepening our understanding of kidney molecular biology.

25 years have passed since Systems Biology was proposed. What has it truly achieved? Some elements, once revolutionary, now seem outdated or mundane. Yet, unresolved critical issues and emerging problems may remain. In the symposium, we engage in dialogues between Systems Biology's pioneers and young researchers. Together, we reassess its past, present, and future, unearthing lessons for ongoing relevance and progress in the field.

Multicellular organisms have the remarkable ability “multicellular autonomy" to eliminate noise and fluctuation which are generated during developmental and regenerative processes. In this symposium, we will introduce the latest topics related to the mechanisms underlying multicellular autonomy and their regulation in development, regeneration, cancer, and aging. We aim to provide a place where the next generation researchers gather to discuss the future of multicellular autonomy research.

Plants that cannot move quickly in rapidly changing environments have adopted skillful survival strategies. For example, carnivorous plants have specially differentiated forms of carnivorous leaves. Plants that have undergone high temperatures are tolerant of high temperatures again. Researchers who are unraveling these survival strategies from a new perspective of "individuality" will gather to introduce the scientific interest in the study of plant survival strategies from multifaceted approaches from the viewpoint of epigenetics, phenotypic plasticity, organ regeneration, and interactions among organisms.

Most normal cells are diploid in their ploidy, but modified or dysregulated cell cycle control often leads to ploidy alterations, including polyploidy and aneuploidy. Such ploidy alterations contribute to different types of cell diversification, such as senescence, differentiation, or tumorigenesis. Understanding the causes and consequences of ploidy alterations has become an important subject in broad research areas. In this symposium, we aim to understand the latest insights into the processes and principles of ploidy alterations in various biological contexts, discussing their significance from the cellular to the organism level.

DNA replication has been a long-standing focus in molecular biology and is intimately linked to transcription, recombination, repair and chromosome organization. By examining the coordination of events from the initiation to the termination of replication, this symposium aims to shed light on how the interactions between replication and genome maintenance pathways can impact the accuracy of replication and overall genomic stability.

Studies with yeast have provided crucial insights into membrane trafficking research, and the research has now been fulfilled with various species. However, recent new evidence challenges the established understanding of vesicle-mediated protein transport from the endoplasmic reticulum in mammalian cells. Moreover, there has been a reevaluation of organelle identity across different species. In this symposium, we aim to bring together researchers actively engaged in studying membrane trafficking through diverse methods and species, and discuss future issues in the field, including interspecies conservation and diversity.

As our understanding of biological phenomena deepens, there is a growing focus on the multifaceted roles of various nutrients. However, due to the complexity of the information generated by these nutrients, a comprehensive understanding of their functionality has not yet been achieved. Therefore, this symposium aims to embrace the essence of nutritional science, which is to understand a wide range of biological phenomena from the perspective of "nutrients." We intend to engage in interdisciplinary discussions regarding how we can grasp the information woven by nutrients and how this can contribute to our comprehension of biological phenomena. Moreover, through this discourse, we aspire to explore novel ideas and perspectives that could potentially revolutionize future research in the field of nutrition.

The cellular powerhouses “Mitochondria"; their function is intricately but strictly orchestrated by not only the factors encoded by nuclear DNA but also mitochondria DNA/RNA and further communication with other organelles.This symposium showcases groundbreaking scientific insights and the anticipated practical applications by “The members of Guardians of Mitochondria" and aims to dig into a deeper understanding of mitochondria biology, unraveling its mysteries and exploring its vast potential.

Multi-faceted networks of aging signals and metabolic stresses are involved in diverse disease molecular pathophysiology, confounding cellular aging as well as organ and individual aging. The development of organ-to-cell/cell interaction analysis and data science using single cell and spatial transcriptomics analysis, coupled with the progress of highly sensitive proteomics and multi-omics analysis, has made it possible to understand underlying mechanisms and regulatory systems from multiple perspectives.In this symposium, under the theme of "Disease Molecular Biology Unraveling Life-Aging-Disease-Death," we will introduce pioneering research that has opened up new perspectives. We hope to deepen our discussion on future developments and possibilities.

To decode highly intricate processes behind accumulation of the aberrant proteins in neurodegenerative diseases, multidisciplinary research that transcends academic disciplines is desired. This symposium will focus on the kinetic aspects in protein quality control and will introduce the latest findings by speakers who are forerunners of chemistry, physics, biology and informatics.

Although the causes of pathogenesis of Neurodevelopmental Disorders are diverse, they affect developmental and perinatal neurodevelopment, and there may be common mechanisms underlying different etiologies. This symposium will bring together leading experts working on various aspects of neurodevelopmental disorders to discuss the challenges of establishing the molecular and physiological basis of disease.

TOR kinase forms two independent complexes, TOR complex 1 (TORC1) and TOR complex 2 (TORC2), which sense and integrate growth-related signals such as nutrients, growth factors, and stress, and regulate cell metabolism. Therefore, TOR is not only involved in the regulation of a wide range of physiological functions, but also its dysfunction is the basis of various pathological phenomena. In this symposium, we would like to share the latest research results and future prospects, ranging from attempts to elucidate the regulatory mechanisms and physiological functions of TOR using various model organisms to protein design of TOR and clinical applications of the TOR inhibitor rapamycin.