Sylviane Muller’s lecture tour in Osaka and Okayama in January 2025
Thanks to a Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) fellowship for research (short-term) obtained by Prof Kaisho Tsuneyasu from Wakayama Medical University, Sylviane Muller went on a lecture tour in January to Osaka and Okayama.
Lectures in Osaka
In Osaka (16-27 January), Sylviane Muller was chaperoned by Dr Yasushi Shigeri (Department of Chemistry, Wakayama Medical University). She delivered three lectures :
- 20 January: Advanced medical research symposium Wakayama Medical University-Strasbourg University. Keynote lecture: “Strategy to therapeutically modulate autophagy in autoimmune and inflammatory diseases”, Organizer: Prof. Kaisho Tsuneyasu
- 22 January: Kansai Medical University, Osaka. Title: “Therapeutic control of autophagy lysosomal pathway in autoimmune and inflammatory diseases”, invited by Prof. Hidero Fukuyama
- 24 January: Osaka International Cancer Institute. Title: “The potential of the abscopal effect for treating autoimmune diseases” invited by Prof. Takashi Akazawa
Forum life reformation
In addition, on the 23 January, she participated to a unique social event named “Forum Life Reformation” (organised for the 1st time by Prof. Hidero Fukuyama, Kansai University). This meeting was attended by young women only and two men as observers. As a rule, Japanese women leave the workforce after marriage and return to work when their children are of school age. Yet, for societal and structural reasons women’s full participation in economic life and in science is still complicated. The meeting centred on how Sylviane successfully balanced her role as both a mother and a scientist. The exchanges were very interactive, including many questions.
Sylviane Muller had the opportunity to exchange with Prof Kaisho Tsuneyasu (Wakayama Medical University, Department of Physiological Regulation Mechanisms), on lines of research very close to the ones followed by Sylviane in Strasbourg Dr Tsuneyasu aims to clarify molecular and cellular mechanisms for regulating immune and inflammatory responses, mainly by utilizing a variety of gene-manipulated mice, and establish novel therapeutic manoeuvres for treating various immune disorders and inflammatory diseases.
She also visited Takashi Akazawa’s lab and had the opportunity to meet Nariaki Matsuura, President of the Osaka International Cancer Institute, engaging in highly informative scientific exchanges.
On a social point of view, Sylviane had several exceptional moments. To mention just two of them, she spent one night as a distinguished guest in a historical Japanese hotel at Yoshino mountain (Nara prefecture) after attending a Buddistic sutra recitation at the Kinpusenji temple (Nanbokucho period 1336-1392; Japanese national treasure and UNESCO world heritage); and a 3-hour theatrical performance at Bunraku, a form of traditional Japanese puppet theatre characterized by almost life-sized puppets accompanied by narrative chanting and shamisen music. This traditional Japanese puppet theatre has been founded in Osaka in the beginning of the 17th century, and is still performed today in auditorium full of amazed spectators.
Lectures in Okayama
In Okayama (27-31 January), Sylviane muller was guided by Dr Bernard Chenevier, former CNRS senior Scientist and currently University Research Administrator, in charge of international research partnerships development at Okayama University. She was hosted by Prof Jun Wada (Department of Nephrology, Rheumatology, Endocrinology and Metabolism, University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences).
- 27 January: meeting with her collaborator Pr Eiji Matsuura accompanied by Pr Takashi Ohtsuki and a PhD student (Department of Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering in Health Systems).
- 28 January: Meetings with the Pr Kentaro Akiyama’s group and the Dr Atsushi Ikeda’s group (Pr Shogo Takashiba’s lab).
Lecture at the Muscat Cube, Shikata Campus of the Okayama University. Title: “Curing causal mechanisms instead of treating symptoms in autoimmune diseases and inflammation” invited by Prof Shogo Takashiba, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences.
On the 30th of January: in the Jun Wada‘s lab, Sylviane Muller participated to two presentations of PhD students, one was centred on the P140 sent to Jun Wada in 2023:
- Conference 1 with Diabetes group: Presentation “The effects of P140 on diabetic kidney disease” by Boxuan Yang;
- Conference 2 with Rheumatology group: Presentation: “The adaptor protein 3BP2, a newly identified therapeutic target for systemic lupus erythematosus” by Shoichi Nawachi.
On a social point of view, Sylviane had again several exceptional moments. To mention just one among several others, she visited the Denchu Art Museum at Ibara (Okayama Prefecture). The museum originally opened as the Tanakakan in 1969, dedicated to preserving and showcasing the works of Hirakushi Denchu, a master of modern sculpture who lived to the remarkable age of 107 before passing away in 1979. He is internationally renowned for his traditional Japanese wood sculptures, especially realistically rendered painted wooden portrait sculptures, often incorporating Buddhist themes.
This 2-week JSPS fellowship was scientifically very dense and exciting, including meetings with collaborators and fellows who visited our lab in Strasbourg, and Japanese students and junior scientists both in Osaka and Okayama. It led to a series of productive exchanges on ongoing projects and future initiatives. It also fostered numerous meaningful social interactions and culturally enriching experiences. Not to mention the nearly hidden gem-like restaurants, in Osaka and Okayama where we savored refined dishes with exquisite flavors, enhanced by rituals that made the tasting experience even more delightful.