Overview

Abstract

5. Conclusions: In April 2001, Keio University established the Institute for Advanced Biosciences, which specializes in Systems Biology, in Tsuruoka City (Yamagata Prefecture), Japan. The ultimate objective of the research at this institute is to construct a computer model of the cellular metabolism, and it has given high priority to metabolome research since its opening. As of 2005, the institute is equipped with the following world-class instrumentation for metabolome analysis: 19 CE systems, six LC systems, two GC/MS systems, nine quadrupole MS systems, four ion-trap MS systems, two Triple QMS/MS systems, six electrospray ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometers (ESI-TOF-MS), one Q-TOF-MS and one nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectrometer. The major projects being conducted at the Institute include: E. coli Modeling Project funded by the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO) of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry of Japan, with the ultimate aim of designing useful microorganisms; Leading Project for Biosimulation funded by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (Monbusho), which is performing metabolome analysis and simulation of red blood cells; and the Grants for Scientific Research and Scientific Research of Priority Areas (funded also by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology), and 21st Century COE program at Keio University entitled The Understanding and Control of Life's Function via Systems Biology, which are developing the basic technologies for metabolomics and cell simulation. In addition, the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Tokyo, Japan, established the Center for Metabolome in February 2003. This group is focusing primarily on lipid metabolomics using LC/MS technology. Finally, Keio University and its partners invested in the establishment of a bio-venture company, Human Metabolome Technologies (HMT) Inc., in Tsuruoka City in July 2003. Utilizing the metabolome technology of the Institute for Advanced Biosciences of Keio University, HMT is now conducting joint research with major food companies, to understand bacterial metabolism of fermentation used in the food industry. Their future plan is to apply this technology to the fields of medical sciences through collaborations with drug companies.