The 5th TMDU International Summer Program (ISP2013), “Biomaterials: From the Laboratory to the Clinic”, was held from Monday, August 26th to Thursday, August 29th. In total twenty-seven students and young researchers were invited to participate in ISP2013, hailing from sixteen countries in Asia. Thirteen researchers – from overseas, from Keio University, and from TMDU – presented lectures or symposium talks. ISP2013 attendees enjoyed lab visits, a tour of the Institute of Biomaterials and Bioengineering (IBB), a tour of the TMDU Library, social and cultural events, and other activities in addition to the talks.

On Monday, August 26th, ISP2013 kicked off with the Orientation and Welcome Reception. The academic program began the next day. Lecture Course, Day 1, featured talks by Prof. Kazuo Takakuda (ISP2013 Chair; Medical and Dental Device Technology Incubation Center), Prof. Takao Hanawa (Dept. of Metallic Biomaterials), Associate Prof. Akiko Nagai (Dept. of Material Biofunctions), Assistant Prof. Atsushi Tamura (Dept. of Organic Biomaterials), and Junior Associate Prof. Alireza Sadr (Cariology and Operative Dentistry). After the lectures, Prof. Ikuko Morio (Director, International Exchange Center) gave the invited participants an overview of TMDU. The participants then embarked upon the Laboratory Visit, where they were able to go to labs that they had expressed a desire in visiting. They then toured the Institute of Biomaterials and Bioengineering (IBB), where they visited Yui Lab, Yasuda Lab, Hanawa Lab, and Kawashima Lab. Lastly, fourteen participants, and eight TMDU students, presented their research at the ISP2013 Poster Session.

Lecture Course, Day 2, was held the next day, and ISP2013 welcomed lectures from Prof. Kenji Kawashima (Dept. of Biomechanics), Prof. Shohei Kasugai (Dept. of Oral Implantology and Regenerative Dental Medicine), Dr. Karl-Heinz Kunzelmann (Dept. of Operative Dentistry, University of Munich), Prof. Kenji Yasuda (Dept. of Biomedical Information), and Dr. Dennis Discher (Dept. of Engineering and Applied Science, and the Graduate Groups of Physics, Pharmacology, and Cell & Molecular Biology, University of Pennsylvania). In the afternoon, the invited participants went on a Library Tour and Optional Tours (Kanda Myojin, International Origami Center, and an Introduction to Japanese Culture on DVD). At the ISP2013 Social Hour, Trustee Kikuo Ohno (Planning and International Exchange) gave a short speech, and the gifts of appreciation, the ISP2013 Commemorative Certificates, and the ISP2013 Best Poster Awards were presented. We also enjoyed the performance of Japanese entertainment by .Japanese Traditional Dance Circle and Kyogen Club from Ochanomizu University.

ISP Symposium 2013 “Biomaterials: From the Laboratory to the Clinic”, co-sponsored by the 37th Graduate School Seminar, was held on Thursday, August 29th. The Symposium welcomed Prof. Akio Kishida (Dept. of Material-based Medical Engineering), Prof. Atsushi Okawa (Dept. of Orthopaedic and Spinal Surgery), Dr. Dennis Discher, Associate Prof. Masaya Nakamura (Dept. of Orthopaedic Surgery, Keio University), and Dr. Karl-Heinz Kunzelmann.

Throughout ISP2013, as the representative researchers from various research fields shared their knowledge and ideas, and as the invited students and young researchers actively participated in the lectures and programs, there was much knowledge exchanged and deepened, and many international friendships were made.