The 4th Keio University Institute for Advanced Biosciences - Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences Joint Retreat "Integrated Systems Teki-Juku" Held

2024/09/20

From September 5 to 7, 2024, the Keio University Institute for Advanced Biosciences (IAB) - Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences (Yakken) Joint Retreat "Integrated Systems Teki-Juku" was held at the Keio University Tsuruoka Town Campus of Keio (TTCK) (Tsuruoka City, Yamagata Prefecture) . This program started in 2019, and this was the fourth time it has been held, the first in two years since 2022. From the Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 20 students (graduate students and undergraduate students accepted into graduate school) and five faculty and staff members participated. They interacted with students, faculty, and staff from IAB, as well as a faculty member from the School of Medicine with entrepreneurial experience.

This program, titled "Integrated Systems Teki-Juku: Aiming to Build an Interdisciplinary Network," was selected for the 2024 Design the Future Fund Program and is being implemented with a grant from the fund.

Since IAB was established in Tsuruoka in 2001, the institute has promoted interdisciplinary research, and nine venture companies have emerged from IAB. Meanwhile, at the Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences (Yakken), research spans a wide range from basic science to clinical application, but there are few opportunities for the graduate school to interact with other campuses or graduate schools. Although the Faculty of Pharmacy offers lectures on entrepreneurship, initiatives for graduate students remain a challenge.

In light of this situation, this retreat was designed to stimulate mutual intellectual curiosity, create serendipity, and foster the germination of fusion research that transcends academic boundaries through interaction with students and faculty from other fields.

[Day 1: September 5]

Participants from the Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences (Yakken) traveled by air and arrived at IAB in the early afternoon. As almost all students from IAB and Yakken were meeting for the first time, an icebreaker session was held, featuring pitch talks that served as self-introductions and research presentations with posters. The students delivered their presentations with a touch of humor, and by the end of the poster session, they appeared to have warmed up to each other.

Afterward, a lecture was given by Professor Emeritus Masaru Tomita (former Director of IAB), a traditional event of this retreat. The participants listened intently to the invaluable 90-minute talk from the pioneer who built IAB.

After the lecture, the group assignments for the "Virtual Venture Presentation: Aim to be the 10th Startup at Tsuruoka Science Park!" to be held on the final day were announced. Following this, each group had an opportunity to interact.

[Day 2: September 6]

In the morning, invited lectures were given by founders of Tsuruoka-based ventures and IAB faculty members. In the afternoon, a panel discussion was held with the invited speakers. This has become a signature event and a highlight of the retreat, and its excitement is something you have to experience by participating.

Afterward, participants from the Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences (Yakken) toured the IAB facilities and visited the laboratories of their choice. In the evening, all participants, including Professor Emeritus Tomita, gathered for a grand social gathering. Participants could be seen engaged in enthusiastic discussions throughout the venue.

[Day 3: September 7]

The presentation session for the "Virtual Venture Presentation: Aim to be the 10th Startup at Tsuruoka Science Park!" was held. Each group fully showcased the results of their thorough preparations. Many ideas were generated by fusing the knowledge of IAB and the Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences (Yakken), and the judges gave high praise and insightful comments on each presentation.

In a survey conducted among participants after the retreat, all respondents stated that the retreat promoted interaction with other faculties and graduate schools and was helpful in considering their future careers. Many also commented that they were able to incorporate perspectives they had not previously considered. On the other hand, there were also requests for securing more time for group work, further promoting interaction, and continuing these exchanges in the future.

To promote the development of research that transcends academic disciplines, we will continue this program while making improvements.