Related ceremonies of the 11th Keio Medical Science Prize

Keio University’s 11th award ceremony to present the “Keio Medical Science Prize” was held on November 1st at Kitasato Hall on the Shinanomachi campus of Keio University.

Guests from a wide variety of fields attended the event, including Mr. Yukihide Hayashi, Deputy Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology; Mr. Fumio Isoda, Deputy Director-General, Higher Education Bureau, Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology; Mr. Bart Cobbs, Deputy for Environment, Science and Technology, Embassy of the United States of America; and Mr. Jonathan Steitz, a son of Dr. Steitz and a member of Mr. Mitsuhiro Sakaguchi’s family.

After Professor Okano, Chairman of the Examination Committee, gave the background behind the award, Professor Yuichiro Anzai, President of Keio University, conferred the diploma, medal, and testimonial 20-million yen prize to the prize winner, Dr. Thomas A. Steitz, Sterling Professor of Molecular Biochemistry at Yale University.

Dr. Steitz expressed his joy in receiving the award and appreciation to his colleagues. He also emphasized the importance of basic research, providing as an example his and his colleagues’ success in developing new antibiotics through research on the structural basis of large ribosomal subunit function.

Dr. Steitz then gave a commemorative lecture that was attended by many people, including guests and faculty and staff members. The lecture featured a three-dimensional motion picture of the movement of ribosomes that was accompanied by music. This small piece of amusement delighted both researchers and the audience.

The following day, Nov 2nd, 2006, a commemorative symposium on “New Frontiers of RNA Biology and Molecule-Targeted Drug Development” was held at the same venue.

Ten researchers from Keio University as well as other institutions delivered the lectures; among them was Dr. Thomas A. Steitz, the 2006 prize winner. The event was a great success, with 230 participants, students of the School of Medicine, and medical researchers engaging in active discussion of the symposium’s theme.

• To the website of "the Keio Medical Science Prize"