The 29th “Science in Japan” Forum
Date: Thursday, June 18, 2026
1:00 pm – 6:30 pm (EDT)
Format: Onsite
Venue: Cosmos Club (2121 Massachusetts Ave NW, Washington, DC)
Theme: Chem-Bio Nexus: Transforming Food and Health
*Please download the booklet from HERE
This year, over 40 participants gathered in-person from Washington DC, other areas of the US, and also from other countries including Japan.
Opening
Following welcome remarks by Dr. Junji Urakawa, Director of JSPS Washington Office, Ambassador Takehiro Shimada, Embassy of Japan in the United States of America, congratulated the forum on the occasion of science diplomacy between the U.S. and Japan.
Furthermore, Dr. Rita Colwell, Distinguished University Professor, University of Maryland, Dr. Kimberly Montgomery, Director, International Affairs and Science Diplomacy, American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), and Dr. Daniel Schwab, Senior Advisor, Policy & International Programs, U.S. Department of Energy, gave congratulatory remarks and expressed their delight at being brought together again this year in this location.
Session 1 : The hidden mysteries of biological rhythms: insights from chemical genomics
Professor Takashi Yoshimura, Director/Professor, Institute of Transformative Bio-Molecules (WPI-ITbM), Nagoya University, offered a lecture titled “The hidden mysteries of biological rhythms: insights from chemical genomics.” He outlined his findings regarding the mechanisms that regulate the seasonal rhythms of organisms, while introducing his research on various animals.
Session 2 : Molecular Biomimicry: Chemistry Meets Biology to Address Health
Professor Joshua Pierce, Howard J. Schaeffer Distinguished Professor of Chemistry, Executive Director, Integrative Sciences Initiative, NC State University, offered a lecture titled “Molecular Biomimicry: Chemistry Meets Biology to Address Health.” He explained how molecular architectures found in nature can inspire new therapeutic strategies and how they can be put into practical use.
Session 3 : Molecular insights into stomatal opening: Improving plant performance through chemical and genetic control
Professor Toshinori Kinoshita, Professor, Institute of Transformative Bio-Molecules (WPI-ITbM), Nagoya University, offered a lecture titled “Molecular insights into stomatal opening: Improving plant performance through chemical and genetic control.” He outlined strategies to control stomatal function through genetic approaches and chemical regulation, which could lead to solutions for agriculture.
Session 4 : Expanding Druggable Space: Small Molecule Modulation of RNA Structure and Function
Professor Amanda Hargrove, Professor of Chemistry, Director, Centre for Medicinal Chemistry, University of Toronto, offered a lecture titled “Expanding Druggable Space: Small Molecule Modulation of RNA Structure and Function.” She presented her efforts to expand the druggable landscape by elucidating how small molecules can be designed to selectively modulate disease-related RNAs.
Panel Discussion
In the panel discussion, Professor Wei-chen Chang, Professor of Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, NC State University, acted as the moderator. After a brief introductory presentation titled “Mechanistic Enzymology of Nonheme Iron Catalysts in Natural Product Biosynthesis,” the discussion evolved in various directions on the interdisciplinary theme of “Chem-Bio Nexus: Transforming Food and Health.”
Closing
The forum concluded with closing remarks by Director Tomohisa Koyama, Executive Director, Technology Partnership of Nagoya University, Inc., with hopes for the further development of global research collaboration.
Host
Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS)
Sponsors
American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)
Department of Energy (DOE)
Embassy of Japan
Institute of Transformative Bio-Molecules (WPI-ITbM)
Nagoya University
NC State University
North America JSPS Alumni Association
University of Toronto
Special thanks to Dr. Rita R. Colwell
