Endowed Research Chair Professor SEKIGUCHI Kiyotoshi receives "Future Creative Invention Award" at the National Invention Awards

A group led by Endowed Research Chair Professor SEKIGUCHI Kiyotoshi (Institute for Protein Research, Osaka University) won the “2020 Future Creative Invention Award” from the Japan Institute of Invention and Innovation. Their invention of culture substratum for induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells for regenerative medicine was highly valued.

The Future Creative Invention Award is awarded to outstanding inventions from small and medium-sized enterprises, business ventures, universities, and public research institutes.

This group invented a culture substratum and culture method for safely and stably cultivating human iPS cells and differentiating them into desired cells. This technique is a fundamental technique for supporting regenerative medicine, drawing attention.

In association with this award, Osaka University received the “Future Creative Invention Contribution Award,” together with Kyoto University, a joint-inventor of the invention.

Comment from Endowed Research Chair Professor Sekiguchi

Research collaborators, including graduate students and specially appointed researchers, have earned us this award. I appreciate the time and effort they put into this project.

I’ve been involved in fundamental research on cell adhesion proteins for more than 20 years at the Institute for Protein Research. I’m thrilled that our efforts have borne fruit in this way and will benefit society.

The website for the Japan Institute of Invention and Innovation can be found here . (link in Japanese)