Awards
A student from the research physician course won a design award at the National Retreat 2025
Takashi Kawano, a fifth-year School of Medicine student in the Research Physician Course (affiliated with Laboratory of Medical Frontiers Institute for Advanced Medical Sciences) at our university, received the Design Award at the National Retreat 2025, held in Chiba Prefecture on March 16th and 17th, 2025. The National Retreat 2025 was held with the aim of encouraging students from all over the country to deepen mutual exchange by giving poster and oral presentations on their research, and to promote the training of basic medical researchers.
Awarding Organization
Nationwide Retreat 2025
Award-winning Abstract
Development of an airtight small cell culture observation technique using a 4K photosensor and Teflon
Research Summary
As typified by SpaceX in the United States, humans have achieved space expansion at the private level. However, the effects of the space environment on the human body are unknown, and it is necessary to conduct cell-level experiments in space similar to those on the ground. Generally, cell culture requires strict control of temperature, humidity, and atmosphere using large equipment, making small-scale experiments on satellites difficult. Therefore, we aim to realize a small-scale cell culture observation technology by combining a small-scale microscope device that does not use lenses, "AminoME" (IDDK), with a Teflon container that may act as an auxiliary for the gas metabolism of cells. In this presentation, we reported that cells could be cultured and observed on AminoME, that long-term survival of more than two weeks was observed even under airtight conditions in the Teflon container, and that three-dimensional culture was possible using a medium containing polyvinyl alcohol (PVA). In the future, we aim to combine these results and develop an experimental system that can realize small-scale space biological experiments.
Comments on the award
The experience of School of Medicine students conducting research from all over the country gathering together and presenting to each other was very stimulating and meaningful. I am extremely honored that my presentation was recognized and that I received an award. I will continue to work hard to connect the connections I made this time to the future. Although there are only a few at our university, there are many students across the country who are conducting research freely. I would be very happy if I could be an opportunity to increase the number of students interested in research.