The Core Program aims to promote highly innovative developmental and regeneration studies in a strategic and multi-disciplinary manner. This program constitutes the core research framework to achieve the aims of the Millennium Project, and focuses on the main themes of the CDB: the mechanisms of development and regeneration, and the scientific bases of regenerative medicine.
The Creative Research Promoting Program provides solid support to encourage young researchers to carry out innovative and independent research plans. The teams are allowed a great deal of flexibility in regard to projects, budget, and lab size. The program also places great emphasis on cooperation and international participation.
The supporting laboratories offer technical support, develop new technology, and conduct independent research projects. Their services are available to all CDB research groups and teams.
In October of 2004, the CDB established a technical support unit merging the functions of the existing Sequencing Lab with an additional new subunit created to provide a range of bioinformatics and data processing services to the research staff at the Center. The Genomics Unit is organized into two complementary subunits, devoted to genome resources and analysis and functional genomics, each headed by a separate leader. The Genomics Unit is under the supervision of Fumio Matsuzaki, who also serves as Group Director of the Laboratory for Cell Asymmetry.
The implementation of the national Leading Project in Regenerative Medicine has been consigned to universities and research organizations across Japan, and a number of CDB labs have received funding to conduct research into key areas including the experimental manipulation and maintenance of stem cells, the reprogramming and targeted differentiation of somatic stem cells, and the ex vivo reconstitution of physiological structures with potential clinical uses in regenerative medicine. Shin-Ichi Nishikawa, Group Director of the CDB Laboratory for Stem Cell Biology, was appointed to head this Leading Project.
Two Research Unit laboratories were recruited in 2003 to conduct mission-oriented, fixed-term research projects as part of this program. These Research Units are funded by Leading Project grants and are financially independent of RIKEN, but operate, in whole or in part, in laboratories located within the RIKEN CDB campus, enabling them to take advantage of the extensive shared-use equipment and facilities at the Center.
