image: A group photo of the 2016 CARD-IP Cryo-Course students and staff. The course is a 5-day workshop presented by Naomi Nakagata of the Institute of Resource Development and Analysis (IRDA) of Kumamoto University, Japan and Jean Jaubert of the Institut Pasteur, France on such reproductive engineering technologies as in vitro fertilization and cryopreservation of 2-cell embryos and sperm in mice. Twenty-four participants from 14 countries were in attendance. view more
Credit: Dr. Naomi Nakagata
The Institute of Resource Development and Analysis (IRDA) of Kumamoto University, Japan held a signing ceremony for an agreement on institutional cooperation with the Institut Pasteur, France on the 24th of October 2016. The ceremony was followed by a workshop on reproductive engineering technology from the 24th to the 28th.
The IRDA conducts research, production, development, preservation and supply of experimental animals including genetically engineered animals, and construction and analysis of databases. Research, education, enlightenment, data management and technical support for experiments using animals, genetic materials and radioisotopes are also important objectives. The Institute of Pasteur, established 1888 in Paris, is one of the most authoritative laboratories on science and medicine in the world gathering prominent researchers of microbiology, serology, biochemistry, and related fields.
The ceremony was held in a stateroom where Lois Pasteur himself worked when he was the educational director of Pasteur Laboratories. Professor Naomi Nakagata from IRDA and Dr. Monica Sala from the Institut Pasteur signed the agreement which marks the beginning of active international exchange in research and education, and provides support for future research facilities.
Under the agreement, the IRDA hosted a 5-day workshop on reproductive engineering technologies such as external fertilization of mice and cryopreservation of fertilized eggs and sperm. Twenty-four participants from 14 countries attended and worked diligently to acquire new technical skills. The IRDA has held similar workshops 54 times, including 10 abroad, and all have been very well received.
Through their research, the IRDA has developed a cryopreservation solution, a sperm pre-incubation medium, an in vitro fertilization culture medium, and an ultra-superovulation agent. They have also obtained several patents for their new technologies and have been successful in commercializing their results. Their state-of-the-art reproductive engineering technologies are currently used in experiments and by experimental animal providers around the world. Building on these technologies, further progress will be made through future collaborative research and educational exchange with Institut Pasteur.
###
[LINKS]
Kumamoto University's Institute of Resource Development and Analysis (IRDA)
http://irda.kuma-u.jp/en/
Paris 2016 Mouse Training Course
http://cardipmouse2016.weebly.com/about.html
Kumamoto University - Mouse IVF Courses
http://www.mouse-ivf-training.com/archives/category/overseas
Cosmo Bio - Freezing & Culture Medium for Mouse Reproductive Engineering
https://www.cosmobio.com/contents/mouse_sperm_medium.html
Kyudo Company - Freezing & Culture Medium for Mouse Reproductive Engineering (Japanese only)
http://www.kyudo.co.jp/fertiup.html