The 20th Departmental Research Conference
April 24, 2010 (Sat.) Presentation: 10min. and QA: 5min.

This conference was held at the amphitheater in the Clinical Medicine Lecture Building on April 24 (Sat.) 2010. Each of the 11 participating graduate students delivered a 10-muniute presentation followed by a five-minute Q&A session. The use of English has become common in the past couple of years. The slides are in English, and non-Japanese researchers actively participate in the discussions. The 1st Lab’s presentation was on the analysis of ABCA12 knockout mice, filaggrin gene mutation searches, and the relationship between tooth enamel formation and Type VII collagen.

The 2nd Lab reported on their studies on epitope mapping of autoantibodies from bullous pemphigoid patients, and ectodomain shedding of Type XVII collagen. The 3rd Lab’s presentation was on the creation of epidermolysis bullosa acquisita model mice, and the 4th Lab reported on research on malignant tumors and the creation of model mice for severe drug exanthema.

Doctors who have started their Ph.D. courses, resident doctors and doctors from affiliated hospitals participated, and the five minutes allotted to each presentation seemed all too short. Professor Shimizu and staff doctors pointed out some points for improvement, which made the conference even more meaningful.

It is expected that the presenters will review their results based on these opinions and further brush up on and improve their research by the time of next presentation in December.

Download 'The 20th Departmental Research Conference' in the annual report 2011,
(, 271KB)

The 21st Departmental Research Conference
Dec. 18, 2010 (Sat.) Presentation: 10min. and QA: 5min.

The conference was held at Furate Hall, the newly constructed fraternity house of the Hokkaido University School of Medicine. A total of 19 persons, including staff doctors, presented their research.

The 1st Lab presentations focused on the following: gene mutation searches, which had been under way for some years; analyses of the occurrence of proteins associated with keratinosis; analyses of amelogenesis in epidemolosis bullosa; and readthrough therapy, a novel therapy. The 2nd Lab did a series of presentations on research on Col7 and Col17, and on the creation of model mice for the dystrophic form of EB. These made a strong impression. The 3rd Lab’s presentations addressed analyses of BP model mice, the creation of EBA model mice and the development of therapies for EBA. The presentations generated lively discussion. The presentation topics of the 4th Lab were numerous and wide-ranging: They covered drug exanthema, malignant tumors, cell therapy for EB and near-infraredbioimaging.

The conference went forward without Professor Shimizu. Perhaps to compensate for his absence, the participants exchanged questions and opinions with particular enthusiasm, which demonstrated their high motivation. I believe the conference was meaningful not only for us but also for the doctors who are considering the possibility of continuing their research in the graduate school.

Download 'The 21st Departmental Research Conference' in the annual report 2011,
(, 271KB)