Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for collaboration and cooperation in the Human Glycome Atlas Project was signed

Soka University, together with the Tokai National Higher Education and Research System and the National Institutes of Natural Sciences, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on collaboration and cooperation to initiate the Human Glycome Atlas Project as an important life science research project. In conjunction with the conclusion of the MOU, a press conference was held by the three organizations on Thursday, November 11, 2021, at a press conference room of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT).
Glycans are linked structures of sugars bound to cell surfaces and proteins, and the term “Human Glycome” refers to comprehensive glycan information on humans. This project aims to realize dramatic progress toward next-generation life science and innovation in medicine and healthcare by creating a database of human glycan information and making it available to researchers and research institutions in Japan and overseas.
This project is to be promoted as a core project in collaboration with three research facilities: the Institute for Glyco-core Research (iGCORE) where jointly established by Nagoya University and Gifu University in the Tokai National Higher Education and Research System, the Exploratory Research Center on Life and Living Systems (ExCELLS); the National Institutes of Natural Sciences, and Soka University Glycan and Life Systems Integration Center (GaLSIC), as described in the “Fundamental concepts for promoting large scientific research projects/Formation of a roadmap - Roadmap 2020 -” released by the Council for Science and Technology in September, 2020.
At the press conference, J-GlycoNet, consisting of the above three research facilities, which were approved as Joint Usage/Research Centers by the MEXT, was explained, and a special symposium on the Human Glycome Atlas Project scheduled for December 6, 2021, was introduced.
Soka University’s Chairperson of the Board of Trustees, Yasunori Tashiro, stated, “We will do our utmost to fulfill the mission of the core center in order to continue to lead the world in the field of glycoscience.” Professor Shoko Nishihara, Director of GaLSIC, said, “As an institute advocating the integration of glycobiology (biological studies involving glycans) and glycoinformatics (informatics studies of glycans), we will do our best to promote the Human Glycome.” “We would like to utilize the glycoscience portal GlyCosmos that we have developed so far and further expand and improve it so that it will be useful for glycoscience research worldwide,” said Professor Kiyoko F. Aoki-Kinoshita, Deputy Director of GaLSIC.
Director・Distinguished Professor
NISHIHARA Shoko
Specialized field
Functional biochemistry
Cell biology
Developmental biology
General medical chemistry
Research theme
1. Functional analysis of glycans
2. Genome-wide analysis of glycan functions using Drosophila RNAi system
3. Functional analysis of sulfation by regulation of PAPS transporters

Deputy Director・Professor
KINOSHITA Flora Kiyoko
Specialized field
Computer system network
Biological/living body informatics
Applied genome science
Living organism molecular science
Research theme
Development of a glycome informatics resource to reveal glycan function
