The 28th Prediction Science Seminar took place on October 8, 2024 (Tuesday), from 16:00 to 17:30 (JST) and was delivered by Dr. Masaya Hagiwara from RIKEN BDR (first row in the picture).

In experimental biology, in vitro experiments using cultured cells are popular due to their ease of handling and observation. However, the heterogeneity of cell states, such as gene expression, makes it challenging to obtain reproducible results across multiple experiments. To address this challenge, Dr. Hagiwara has developed unique microdevices for precise control of the microenvironment around cultured cells.

First, he introduced a system to control the initial shape of the cell population in two dimensions. This system enabled him to achieve highly reproducible results, allowing for the exploration of systems inside the cell by comparing them with mathematical models. He then introduced a cube-shaped culture device and its applications. By utilizing bioprinting, microfluidic chips, and biomaterials technology, the cube system offers easy manipulation, precise control, and 3D image acquisition. In the last part of the seminar, he discussed the future direction of the study using the data assimilation technique. Following his presentation, a fruitful discussion took place about the technical details and prospects of the research.