about us
Quantum Nano Medicine Research Center (QNM center) has been approved by Kyoto University to be operated as one of its “on-site laboratories”, and was opened in October 2019 in the Institute for Integrated Cell-Material Sciences (iCeMS).
The Center aims to highlight the recent emergence of a new field of science created by the convergence of quantum beams research and nanomaterial studies. Various types of quantum beams, including X-rays, charged particles, and neutrons, have been developed and play important roles in medicine. On the other hand, nanomaterials loaded with multiple elements that can respond to quantum beams have been created. We believe that the convergence of these two fields of study may lead to new medical innovation. The center intends to provide a platform for discussion on these points.
The idea of the QNM Center was an outgrowth of the Kyoto University-UCLA symposium held in November 2018 at UCLA’s California NanoSystems Institute (CNSI). The symposium, titled "Harnessing physical forces for medical applications - The Convergence of Physics, Nanomaterials, Cell Biology and Cancer Research ", featured heated discussions on the convergence of physics, nanomaterials and medicine. This two-day symposium attracted about 200 participants, and 13 faculty and staff from Kyoto University, including the Vice President, participated in the event.
The event was supported by CNSI, MIMG, UCLA Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA Clinical and Translational Science Institute, UCLA Interdisciplinary, and Cross Campus Affairs, Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (SF office) and Kyoto University International Symposium.
The opening ceremony took place on October 5 with two gests from UCLA: Chancellor Gene D Block and Professor Dino Di Carlo. Attendees from Kyoto University were Professor Nagahiro Minato, provost and executive vice-president for strategy coordination, research, planning, and hospital administration, Professor Yasuyuki Kono, vice-president for international strategy and director of the International Strategy Office, KUIAS director-general Shigefumi Mori, iCeMS Director Susumu Kitagawa and other researchers and administrators from iCeMS. The ceremony was followed by a reception, where researchers from UCLA and iCeMS discussed various possibilities for scientific interactions.
We will hold symposiums and seminars on the theme of quantum medicine to promote interdisciplinary research. These activities will be carried out in collaboration with CNSI and Dept. of Microbiology-Immunology & Molecular Genetics (MIMG).
We also look forward to working closely with two unique facilities for medical research in Japan. One is Spring-8, one of the largest synchrotron facilities in the world. The other is an experimental nuclear reactor that is operated by Kyoto University. Both facilities are about 2 hours from the main campus of Kyoto University.