HFSP Science Summit 2025 in Japan - RIKEN Satellite Event
October 2, 2025 9:30-18:30
Overview
Date & Time
Thursday, October 2, 2025 09:30 – 16:30
Venue
Kudan Kaikan Terrace (1-minute walk from Kudanshita Station, Tokyo Metro)
Access
Co-hosted by (tentative)
RIKEN
HFSPO (International Human Frontier Science Program Organization)
MEXT (Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology)
METI (Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry)
AMED (Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development)
Have you heard of HFSP (Human Frontier Science Program)?
HFSP is a global initiative that was proposed by former Japanese Prime Minister Yasuhiro Nakasone at the Venice Summit back in 1987. Its mission? To support bold, cutting-edge research that tackles the complex systems of living organisms—and to make sure those discoveries benefit all of humanity.
HFSP offers research grants to international collaborative teams and fellowship programs for postdocs and early-career scientists. So far, 31 HFSP-supported researchers have gone on to win Nobel Prizes. It's truly one of the world’s most respected scientific programs.
And now, for the first time in its 36-year history, HFSP is hosting a major event right here in Japan!
Nine Nobel Laureates and five HFSP Nakasone Award winners are coming to Japan to take part in a series of events: a high-level public event at the University of Tokyo, and special satellite events for researchers and students at Tohoku University, RIKEN, and Kyoto University.
At RIKEN, we’ll be hosting one of those satellite events—with short talks by five Nobel Laureates and five Nakasone Awardees, plus interactive poster sessions where young researchers will get the chance to discuss directly with these top scientists.
We’re currently looking for motivated early-career researchers to present posters at the event! This is a rare and exciting opportunity to share your work and have real conversations with some of the brightest minds in science. Don’t miss out—apply now!
RIKEN Satellite Event Invitees (tentative)
| Nobel Laureates & HFSP Nakasone Awardees | RIKEN Liaison |
|---|---|
| Prof. Thomas Robert Cech 1989 Chemistry |
Shintaro Iwasaki (FS2013) Chief Scientist, RNA Systems Biochemistry Laboratory RIKEN Pioneering Research Institute (PRI) |
| Prof. Martin Lee Chalfie 2008 Chemistry |
Atsushi Miyawaki (FS1995, RG2002, 2005) Team Director, Laboratory for Cell Function Dynamics RIKEN Center for Brain Science (CBS) |
| Prof. Jacob(Yaqub) Hanna 2025 Nakasone Award |
Mitsuru Morimoto Deputy Director, BDR Team Director, Laboratory for Lung Development and Regeneration RIKEN Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research (BDR) |
| Prof. Dr. Franz-Ulrich Hartl 2013 Nakasone Award |
Motomasa Tanaka (RG2011) Team Director, Laboratory for Protein Conformation Diseases RIKEN Center for Brain Science (CBS) |
| Sir Timothy (Tim) Hunt 2001 Physiology or Medicine |
Eisuke Nishida (FS Review Committee 2002-2004) Executive Director of Science, RIKEN |
| Dr. Anthony Hyman 2021 Nakasone Award |
Tomoya Kitajima (FS2007) Deputy Director, BDR Team Director, Laboratory for Chromosome Segregation RIKEN Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research (BDR) |
| Prof. Stephan Quake 2025 Nakasone Award |
Jun Seita Team Director, Medical Science Deep Learning Team RIKEN Center for Interdisciplinary Theoretical and Mathematical Sciences (iTHEMS) |
| Sir Richard John Roberts 1993 Physiology or Medicine |
Haruhiko Koseki (FS1992) Deputy Director, IMS Team Director, Laboratory for Developmental Genetics RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences (IMS) |
| Prof. Randy W. Schekman 2013 Physiology or Medicine |
Akihiko Nakano (RG1992, 1996, 2001) Senior Visiting Scientist RIKEN Center for Advanced Photonics (RAP) |
| Prof. Rotem Sorek 2023 Nakasone Award |
Wataru Suda Team Director, Laboratory for Symbiotic Microbiome Sciences RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences (IMS) |
A RIKEN researcher in a nearby research area is assigned as a RIKEN liaison for each invited researcher. RIKEN liaisons will coordinate the discussion between the invited and young researchers during the poster session.
RIKEN Satellite Event Organizing Committee
Chair
Eisuke Nishida – Executive Director of Science, RIKEN
(Former member of the HFSP Fellowship Review Committee, 2002–2004)
Vice-Chair
Tomomi Shimogori – Deputy Director, CBS
(HFSP Research Grant recipient, 2008; Member/Chair of the HFSP Research Grant Review Committee, 2017–2023)
Committee Members
Tomoya Kitajima – Deputy Director, BDR
(HFSP Fellowship, 2007)
Akihiko Koseki – Deputy Director, IMS
(HFSP Fellowship, 1992)
Kazunari Miyamichi – Team Director, BDR
(HFSP Fellowship, 2007)
Motomasa Tanaka – Team Director, CBS
(HFSP Research Grant, 2011)
Shihori Yokobayashi – Team Director, ECL
(HFSP Fellowship, 2006)
Yoshihiro Yoshihara – Deputy Director, CBS
(HFSP Research Grant, 2010)
*Names listed in alphabetical order.