On November 21st and 22nd, The 1st (First) International Symposium for Intercellular Communication and Extracellular Vesicles (ICEV-1) was held at Okayama University.

This international symposium focused on “extracellular vesicles” such as exosomes, whose importance had been rapidly unveiled in recent years. Researchers at Okayama University held this symposium under a specific aim to develop “elucidation and medical application of extracellular vesicle-mediated biomedical network” driven by a vision “to implement a number of large projects to elucidate intercellular communication networks and to build up a world-class research core” that lead the university and the world.

In total, over 100 people participated in the symposium. Eight keynote lectures were given.
Dr. SHEN Tang-Long from International Taiwan University gave a lecture on “how glycosylated exosomes facilitate the pre-metastatic niches in specific organs in cancer.”
Dr. TAKEI Kohji at Okayama University lectured on “a novel mode of action of dynamin in membrane traffic.”
Dr. SHIBA Kiyotaka from Cancer Institute introduced their efforts to maximize “the diagnostic information of oral fluid by focusing on certain types of extracellular vesicles.”
Dr. EGUCHI Takanori at Okayama University gave a talk on “how oncogenic extracellular vesicles (oncosomes) facilitate tumor progression and drug resistance”, using three-dimensional tumoroid models.
Dr. YOSHIKO Yuji from Hiroshima University gave a lecture on “Bone matrix acting as a reservoir of microRNA” to prevent bone dissolution.
Dr. EKUNI Daisuke at Okayama University talked on “salivary microRNAs for potential diagnostic tools in chronic periodontitis and pancreatobiliary tract cancer.”
Dr. KOSAKA Nobuyoshi from Tokyo Medical University talked on “extracellular vesicles released from cancer cells are the target for novel anti-cancer therapy.
Dr. YOSHIDA Kaya from Tokushima University gave a talk on “how periodontal P. gingivalis infection causes hyperglycemia and pneumonia, mediated by extracellular vesicles.”
Two more speeches and 14 poster presentations were given followed by brisk discussions and active exchanges at the social gathering as well.

Aiming at “fostering next-generation research” leading the university and the world, a poster presentation competition was held among early carrier researchers and students. The Young Investigator Awards were awarded to Dr. KAWAI Hotaka and two graduate students, Ms. LI Chunning and Ms. TAHA Ahmed Eman, at Okayama University Graduate School.

Prior to this symposium, Okayama University was selected as one of the research universities driven by“the program for promoting the enhancement of research universities.” Then, Okayama University has specified the project “BioMedical Network of Extracellular Vesicles” as a “Priority Research Area” at the University since 2018 and chosen the ICEV project “Elucidation and Medical Application of Extracellular Vesicle-mediated BioMedical Network” as a “Next Generation Research Development Group” in 2019.

◯ Priority Research Area and Next Generation Research Development Group
Since 2018, Okayama University has designated the research areas that represent the potential strengths of the University as “Priority Research Areas” and has provided priority support. In addition, in order to nurture large-scale research projects in the “priority research areas”, highly potential research groups have been identified and strengthened as “Next Generation Research Development Groups” to promote project formation.

Contact:
Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences
Department of Dental Pharmacology. Professor Kuniaki Okamoto
ICEV secretariat: Chiharu Sogawa
ICEV-1 organizer: Takanori Eguchi
e-mail: icev.officem◎gmail.com
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Phone number: 086-235-6661
https://sites.google.com/view/icev