Events February 3-5, 2020 The UK-Japan Neuroscience Symposium 2020

The 3rd UK-Japan Neuroscience Symposium was held over 3 days, from the 3rd until the 5th February 2020 at the John McIntyre Conference Centre in Edinburgh, organised jointly by AMED and the Medical Research Council (MRC). This symposium was held in accordance with the Memorandum of Cooperation signed by AMED and the MRC in February 2017, and focused on new approaches in neuroscience and mental health. Its overall aim was to enable the formation of new collaborative research partnerships between researchers in Japan and the UK.

Approximately 60 participants representing academia, research institutions and research-supporting institutions from both Japan and the UK came together for the symposium, actively engaging in lectures on state-of-the-art research projects, poster sessions and broad panel discussions. The event was opened with some words of welcome from both organisers, and the Consul General of Japan in Edinburgh, Mr Nozomu Takaoka.

On the first day, Professor Richard Morris of the University of Edinburgh delivered a plenary lecture on “The making and keeping of memory”, which was followed by a session of research presentations on the theme of “Neurodegenerative conditions: Strategies and synaptopathies”.

The second day began with a plenary lecture from Professor Adrian Bird of the University of Edinburgh on “DNA methylation and the origin of Rett Syndrome”, before thematic sessions on “Synapse and circuit development in relation to neuropsychiatric conditions” and “New technology and novel approaches in Neuroscience”. The day concluded with highlighted poster presentations, focusing on the work of young researchers.

On the final day of the symposium, all participants joined a lively group discussion on strategies and challenges relating to further promotion of UK-Japan collaborative research in the future.

AMED and the MRC plan to continue to work together to organise joint symposia in the future, with the aim to facilitate the advancement of Japan-UK cooperation in the field of neuroscience. The next symposium is expected to be held during FY2020 in Japan.

The symposium was held as part of the Japan-UK Season of Culture – an initiative to showcase Japan’s multifaceted appeal, from its culture and art to innovation and cutting-edge technology in areas such as medicine, science and industry.