AMED-MRC ASPIRE Engineering Biology Workshop – Towards reconstituting human kidney development and disease in vitro
We are delighted to host the AMED-MRC ASPIRE Engineering Biology Workshop – Towards reconstituting human kidney development and disease in vitro, taking place on February 27, 2026.
This joint workshop brings together leading researchers and young scientists from Japan and the UK to connect two rapidly advancing fields: kidney development and in vitro kidney and embryo models, with latests advances in synthetic and systems biology. By combining expertise in renal organogenesis and stem cell–based model systems with quantitative, programmable, and engineering-driven approaches, the workshop aims to explore new ways to analyse, control, and reconstruct kidney development and disease in vitro. The meeting is designed to foster cross-disciplinary dialogue and seed new collaborations that will drive conceptual and technological innovation at the interface of developmental biology and synthetic biology.
We warmly invite anyone interested to join us.
Outline
Date
Friday, 27 February 2026
Venue
Nitori Hall, Center for Cancer Immunotherapy and Immunobiology (CCII), Kyoto University
→ Map
On-site participation will be closed when capacity of 100 is reached.
Language
English
Invited Speakers
Kyoto University
University of Edinburgh
University of Edinburgh / VHIR
Kyoto University
The University of Osaka
Kumamoto University
Kyoto University
The University of Tokyo
Kyoto University / The University of Tokyo
RIKEN BDR
The University of Osaka
Kyoto University
Registration
Advance online registration is required for all participants.
On-site participation will be closed when capacity of 100 is reached.
Eligibility
All Academic Researchers and students
Timetable
| 9:30– | Reception |
|---|---|
| 9:50–10:00 | Opening Remarks |
Session 1 (chair: Cantas Alev)
| 10:00–10:20 | Jamie Davies | University of Edinburgh Seeking new targets in Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease (ADPKD) |
|---|---|
| 10:20–10:35 | Natalia Penar| University of Edinburgh The mechanisms of epithelial symmetry-breaking in mammalian morphogenesis |
| 10:35–10:55 | Motoko Yanagita | Kyoto University A Novel Perspective on Kidney Repair: Collaborative Cellular Responses and Regulatory Mechanisms |
| 10:55–11:15 | Gerard Cantero-Recasens | University of Edinburgh / VHIR Modeling Rare Renal Pathologies: From ClC-5 Dysfunction to Novel Therapeutics in Dent’s Disease |
| 11:15–11:30 | Shunsuke Tanigawa | Kumamoto University Generation of higher-order kidney structures solely from pluripotent stem cells |
| 11:30–11:50 | Ryuichi Nishinakamura | Kumamoto University Generating and Maturing Kidney Organoids |
| 11:50–13:20 | Break |
Session 2 (chair: Ryuichi Nishinakamura)
| 13:20–13:40 | Itaru Imayoshi | Kyoto University Uncovering Novel Transcriptional Regulatory Mechanisms of Neural Stem Cells Using Optogenetic Approaches |
|---|---|
| 13:40–13:55 | Tomonori Fukuda| Kyoto University Engineered compact photo-activatable transcription factors for controlling gene expression in mammalian cells |
| 13:55–14:15 | Kenji Kamimoto | The University of Osaka Data-driven in silico reconstruction of gene expression program towards understanding and controlling of cell dynamics |
| 14:15–14:30 | Anna Sophie Brumm | University of Edinburgh Novel approaches to uncover cell interactions which balance differentiation of human neuromesodermal progenitors |
| 14:30–14:50 | Satoshi Toda | The University of Osaka Programming multicellular patterns with synthetic cell-cell communication |
| 14:50–15:10 | Hirohide Saito | Kyoto University / The University of Tokyo Synthetic RNA Technologies to control gene expression and cell fate |
| 15:10–15:40 | Break |
Session 3 (chair: Hirohide Saito)
| 15:40–16:00 | Minoru Takasato | RIKEN BDR Generation of urinary tract organoids from human pluripotent stem cells. |
|---|---|
| 16:00–16:15 | Nicholas Younger | University of Edinburgh / Kyoto University Towards an Integrated Model of Kidney Development |
| 16:15–16:35 | Kenji Osafune | Kyoto University iPSC organoid-based disease modeling and drug discovery for kidney diseases |
| 16:35–16:50 | Mert Akgunduz | Kyoto University An organizer-based in vitro model of human gastrulation and organogenesis (OMO) |
| 16:50–17:10 | Sadao Ota | The University of Tokyo Beyond Organoid Heterogeneity: In-Capsule Platforms for Quality-Controlled, High-Throughput Screening |
| 17:10–17:30 | Cantas Alev | Kyoto University Towards reconstituting human and primate early embryonic development in vitro |
| 17:30–17:40 | Closing Remarks |
Access
Nitori Hall, Center for Cancer Immunotherapy and Immunobiology (CCII), Kyoto University
Yoshida-Konoe-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan (Google Map)
Directions from Kyoto Station
By K.LOOK Kyoto University Hospital Liner (hoop)
- Travel Time: 30 minutes
- Departure: Kyoto Station Hachijo Exit (E1 Bus stop)
- Arrival: Kyoto University Hospital (approx. 5-minute walk)
Directions from Imadegawa Station
Imadegawa station is the nearest station when using the subway from Kyoto station.
By City Bus (Exit 6)
Line 201 to Gion/Hyakumanben
- Travel Time: 15 minutes
- Departure: Karasuma Imadegawa
- Arrival: Konoedori (approx. 3-minute walk)
Organizer
Cantas ALEV | WPI-ASHBi, Kyoto University
Host
Institute for the Advanced Study of Human Biology (WPI-ASHBi)
Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development (AMED)
Advanced International Collaborative Research Program – Adopting Sustainable Partnerships for Innovative Research Ecosystem (ASPIRE)
Co-host
JSPS International Leading Research: “Creating a Kidney”
Contact
ashbi-event[at]mail2.adm.kyoto-u.ac.jp
Please change [at] to @.