YOSHIKI SASAI
MEMORIAL
SYMPOSIUM

 Organoids - three-dimensional structures derived from stem cells - have revolutionized biomedical research. Through this technology, miniature versions of organs such as the brain, intestine, liver, kidney, and lung can now be generated in vitro, offering transformative platforms with the potential to greatly advance basic biology, disease modeling, drug discovery, and regenerative medicine.  This remarkable progress in organoid research can be traced back to the seminal contributions of Dr. Yoshiki Sasai. He began his scientific journey as a developmental biologist. Using model systems including Xenopus and pluripotent stem cells, he made a cascade of pioneering discoveries in fundamental biological processes such as neural induction, positional information-mediated regionalization, tissue self-organization, and developmental robustness. Building on these conceptual advances, he extended his work into new frontiers, demonstrating the directed differentiation of pluripotent stem cells into functional cell types, such as dopaminergic neurons - and, even more strikingly, into complex self-organizing organoid structures of the cerebral cortex, optic cup, and pituitary gland. These achievements astonished the global scientific community and opened uncharted horizons for developmental biology and stem cell-based regenerative medicine.  The symposium will be held with the participation of leading researchers - including those directly mentored by Dr. Sasai - to reflect on his scientific legacy and the far-reaching impact of his work. Through shared discussion, we aim to revisit the past, explore perspectives on the present, and envision the future that Dr. Sasai aspired to realize. We warmly invite you to join us for this special occasion.

 This symposium will be held as a satellite event of The 12th Takeda Science Foundation Symposium on PharmaScience, titled "Organoid 4D: Development, Disease, Diversity and Discovery.
► Link to Organoid 4D

 We are deeply grateful to the Takeda Science Foundation, Toshiro Sato (Keio University), Takanori Takebe (Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center), and Mitsuru Morimoto (RIKEN BDR) for their generous support and exceptional kindness.

Secretariat of the Yoshiki Sasai Memorial Symposium Hiroshi Kawasaki, Kanazawa University
Kenji Mizuseki, Osaka Metropolitan University
Noriaki Sasai, Nara Institute of Science and Technology
Kiichi Watanabe, Fujita Health University
Masatoshi Ohgushi, Kyoto University
Hideya Sakaguchi, RIKEN BDR
Satoru Okuda, Kanazawa University

Thursday, January 22, 2026, 13:00–18:30 (JST)

Congrès Convention Center, Grand Front Osaka
Grand Front Osaka North Tower B2F
3-1 Ofuka-cho, Kita-ku, Osaka 530-0011, Japan

Please refer to the following link:
► Access section of Organoid 4D

English

Free of charge

Time	Speakers
13:00-13:05	Opening Address – Hiroshi Kawasaki
13:05-13:15	Welcome Remarks – Toshiro Sato
	Welcome Remarks – Kohji Nishida
13:15-13:30	Biography of Dr. Sasai – Kenji Mizuseki
Session 1
13:30-14:30	S1-1 Noriaki Sasai
	S1-2 Hiroshi Kawasaki
	S1-3 Kiichi Watanabe
	S1-4 Hideya Sakaguchi
14:30-14:45	Coffee Break
Session 2
14:45-15:45	S2-1 Nozomu Takata
	S2-2 Atsushi Kuwahara
	S2-3 Satoru Okuda
	S2-4 Masatoshi Ogushi
15:45-16:00	Coffee Break
Session 3
16:00-17:55	S3-1 Jun Takahashi
	S3-2 Masayo Takahashi
	S3-3 Juan Carlos Izpisua Belmonte
	S3-4 Jürgen Knoblich
	S3-5 Sergiu Pasca
18:00-18:05	Closing Remarks – Ryoichiro Kageyama
18:30-18:30	Banquet at Congrès Convention Center

We are pleased to invite participants to the symposium banquet, which will provide an opportunity for informal discussions and networking in a relaxed atmosphere.

Banquet Start Time: 6:30 p.m.
Venue: Congrès Convention Center
Registration Fee: ¥8,000 (Japanese Yen)

Registration for the banquet should be made through the Takeda Symposium registration form, together with the symposium registration. Information on how to pay the banquet fee and the payment deadline will be provided by email.

All participants, including those attending only as audience members, must register online in advance. Please register using the shared form linked from Organoid 4D:
► Registration section of Organoid 4D Note: Participants must be able to communicate in English.

Friday, October 31, 2025 (JST)

Free of charge

Due to capacity limitations, some applicants may not be able to attend. All registrants will be notified of their participation status after the registration deadline.