Development plan for ASHBi has been approved

On December 17, 2025, the WPI Program Committee approved the Development Plan for ASHBi (Institute for the Advanced Study of Human Biology) at Kyoto University. This plan defines the institute’s strategy for sustained excellence and evolution beyond the initial 10-year WPI funding period. Supported by Kyoto University, ASHBi will continue to pursue ambitious goals to remain a world-leading research hub.

To further advance human biology research, ASHBi will welcome new Principal Investigators (PIs) from diverse fields, including international researchers, to explore the fundamental question of “What makes us human”. Furthermore, the institute will establish a new organizational unit dedicated to providing comprehensive research and administrative support for international researchers to ensure they thrive in both their work and daily lives. This initiative also aims to develop a training system for international support staff and share this model both within and outside the university. In line with this organizational expansion, ASHBi is planning the construction of a new building in collaboration with the Graduate School of Medicine.