To all researchers affected by the Tohoku -Pacific Ocean Earthquake

March 23, 2011 –On behalf of everyone at the RIKEN for Center for Developmental Biology, I would like to express my sincere condolences to those who died in the recent earthquake and tsunami, and to those who have been affected by this disaster. We hope for the fast recovery of all of the affected areas.

Rebuilding the educational and research structure at universities within the disaster areas will bring activity for stimulating redevelopment of these areas. The RIKEN Center for Developmental Biology (CDB) would like to assist those researchers who have been affected by the disaster to help rebuild the educational and research structure in these areas. Therefore, we have established a Reconstruction Assistance Committee within our center, and working closely with other institutions and related academic societies, we are considering many different ways in which the CDB can offer assistance from providing research space in our facility, including temporarily hosting graduate students and researchers in our labs, to sharing or providing storage space for research samples. Please feel free to consult us through our inquiry desk at:

shinsai-support@cdb.riken.jp

In addition, you are also welcome to contact any of the laboratory heads at CDB who are your acquaintances and they can pass on your request to the Committee.

RIKEN CDB was established in Kobe, a city that experienced the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake in 1995. Kobe has since recovered from the earthquake through the generous support from around Japan and the rest of the world, and we hope that we can provide some assistance to those affected by the recent disaster.

Masatoshi Takeichi
Director
RIKEN Center for Developmental Biology