News
Kuraray Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; President: Hitoshi Kawahara), on September 4, 2024, opened Tokyo Lab, an urban research base of operations specializing in cell culture, to expand the application range of its proprietary microscopic cellular solidifying PVA microcarriers (Product name: SCAPOVA™) and enhance customer points of contact.
1.Background of the Development
We have developed PVA microcarriers for cell cultures used in regenerative medicine that were released in Japan in March 2024 for limited physical and chemical applications. To date, research had been conducted at our Tsukuba Research Center (Tsukuba City, Ibaraki Prefecture). However, due to the limited number of cells and equipment that can be handled and the lack of accessibility to the downtown area, we have established a new urban research center equipped with experimental facilities specializing in Life Sciences, primarily cell cultures.
*From the left, Goro Kobayashi, Senior Manager, Life Innovation Promotion Group, Research and Development Division, Kuraray Co., Ltd.,
Tatsuya Shimizu, Director & Professor, Institute of Advanced Biomedical Engineering and Science, Tokyo Women’s Medical University,
and Nozomu Sugo, General Manager, Research and Development Division
2.Overview and Objectives
The Tokyo Lab is located within TWIns, the Tokyo Women's Medical University-Waseda University Joint Institution for Advanced Biomedical Sciences, established with the aim of integrating medicine, science and engineering. At this urban open laboratory, customers can observe and deepen their understanding of actual culturing methods. While having its own experimental facilities enables Kuraray to rapidly acquire data and facilitates the development of highly practical applications, it also focuses on maintaining close communication with customers.
We also aim to accelerate the development of new technologies through collaboration with many people and companies, including the leading researchers in the field of regenerative medicine at TWIns and other tenants. Moving forward, we would like Tokyo Lab to serve as a functional evaluation laboratory that will explore the applicability of our materials and technologies in the field of life innovation.
3.Location
Kuraray Co., Ltd. Tokyo Lab
N101, TWIns 3F, 8-1 Kawada-cho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 162-8666, Japan
Inquiries about Tokyo Lab
Life Innovation Promotion Group, Research and Development Division, Kuraray Co., Ltd.
Email: Contact.LIPG@kuraray.com
