Institute Name

Center for Developmental Biology, RIKEN Kobe Institute

The name RIKEN (pronounced REE-ken) is an abbreviation of Rikagaku Kenkyuusho, which means "Institute of Physical and Chemical Research" in Japanese.

Director

Masatoshi Takeichi, Ph D

Established

April 2000, as part of the Japanese government's Millennium Project research initiative.

Opening Ceremony

July 8, 2002

2003 Budget

5.3 billion yen

2003 Staff

511 (research staff, students, administration; December 1, 2003)

Facilities

3 laboratory buildings, animal handling facility, research aquarium - approximately 30,000 m2 floor space