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Events related to midkine

  • Dr. Takashi Muramatsu moved to Nagoya as a professor, Department of Biochemstry, Nagoya University School of Medicine from Kagoshima University School of Medicine. Midkine research came to have two strong holds, Nagoya and Kagoshima.
  • Dr. Kenji Kadomatsu, associate professor, Department of Biochemistry, Nagoya University School of Medicine, received the Young Investigator Award from the Japanese Biochemical Society for "Discovery of midkine and its functional analysis".
  • COE Research on Molecular Medicine of Neurodegerative Disease and Malignant Tumorﾓ headed by Dr. Masahide Takahashi, professor, Nagoya University School of Medicine was started, and Dr. Muramatsu joined the team. Concentrated research on midkine became possible with sufficient research grant.
  • Dr. Takashi Muramatsu received the Chunichi Culture Award for "Discovery of a cell growth factor, midkine".
  • Center for Neural Disease and Cancer was opened at Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, based on achievements of COE research. Dr. Hisako Muramatsu, assistant professor, moved to the center (Division of Disease Models). Advances in analysis of midkine-deficient mice are expected.
  • Cell Signals Co. (president: Dr. Sadatoshi Sakuma) opened a laboratory at the Leading Venture Plaza, Yokohama to develop midkine as a tumor marker.
  • A COE program for the 21st Centry entitled ﾒIntegrated Medicine for Neurodegenative Disease and Tumorﾓ headed by Dr. Gen Sobue, professor, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine was initiated, and Dr. Muramatsu participated in the program. Research on the development of therapies based on midkine is going to be accelerated.
  • Dr. Takashi Muramatsu became a professor emeritus of Nagoya University, and was appointed as a professor of Aichi Gakuin University with continued research activity on midkine.
  • Dr. Kenji Kadomatsu was promoted to a professor, Department of Biochemistry, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine. Further progress in midkine research is expected.
  • Cell Signals transferred activities on midkine to MTY (now Cellmid).
  • The first international conference on midkine, “Excellence in Midkine Reserch” was held in Sydney on Nov. 4-6. Cellmid organized the symposium, and scientists from 11 countries attended and enjoyed exchange of information. The social program was Sydney Harbor cruise.
  • The first book on midkine, “Midkine: From Embryogenesis to Pathogenesis and Therapy” with 27 chapters written by experts was published from Springer (http://www.springer.com/biomed/book/978-94-007-4233-8). The editors were Mine Erguven, Takashi Muramatsu and Ayhan Bilir.
  • The second conference on midkine was held in Istanbul at the historical lecture hall of Istanbul University on June 28-30 with great success (http://www.cellmid.com.au/content_common/pg-midkine-conference.seo). Participants enjoyed Bosphorus cruise. The next conference is expected to be held in Kyoto, Japan in 2014.