On Wednesday, July 19, Ms. NAGAOKA Keiko, the Minister of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) of Japan visited the Institute for Glyco-core Research (iGCORE) Gifu Research building on campus. iGCORE is currently carrying out "Human Glycome Atlas Project (HGA)" adopted by the MEXT for the first time in the field of life sciences as MEXT's academic frontier project. Director KADOMATSU Kenji of iGCORE (also Trustee of Tokai National Higher Education and Research System (THERS)) is leading this project.

The Minister's visit to Gifu University started with the opinion exchange with Chancellor MATSUO Seiichi of THERS and President YOSHIDA Kazuhiro of Gifu University. Next, Director Kadomatsu and Vice Director ANDO Hiromune of iGCORE gave her the summary of glycan research programs currently undertake at iGCORE. In the following talk session, the Minister expressed MEXT's continued support for HGA in the days to come.

After their talks, the Minister was invited to observe the state-of-the-art equipment installed at the Gifu Research building. She was intently listening to the detailed explanations given from the researchers at the facility, which gave her some insights on the frontline of glycan research of today.

The Minister then attended the exchange meeting with Gifu University students who are studying and conducting various glycan research. In the meeting with the Minister, students spoke about their reasons why they are studying PhD courses and their future dreams, as well as troubles they have, requests to the government, and their strong interests in glycan research. Through candid exchange of opinions with the Minister, the students were given an invaluable opportunity to make a step forward to pursue their career and spearhead the research in life sciences in the future.

The Minister was accompanied by the following staff from the MEXT; Mr. OKOSHI Takahru, Mr. ISHIKAWA Sentaro, Mr. KOKUBUN Masahide (all three are the Secretary to the Minister), Ms. SAKURAGI Youko (press secretary) and Mr. KURONUMA Ichiro, Director of the Scientific Research Institutes Division, Research Promotion Bureau, MEXT.