A "Mirror Lab" is a collaborative framework for researchers from OIST and its partner institutions to establish long-term and forward-looking partnerships with each institutions’ recognition.
Mirror Labs foster sustained exchange, shared scientific goals, and infrastructure/resource integration.

Mirror Labs are flexible in structure but united by their emphasis on:

Joint research and training
Promoting academic/academic-industry collaborations
Regular interaction between faculty, students, and staff between OIST and the mirror lab partners
Shared growth of early-career researchers by creating an ecosystem
Shared practices including administrative practice (recruitment, grant applications, etc.)
Visibility and strategic positioning for both partners for joint programs and funding

"Mirror Labs" have similar, but not identical, structures on each side. Two or more partners work together and benefit from each others expertise.

Established Mirror Labs

Strategic partnerships currently operating under the J-PEAKS initiative.

	"EARLY" Mirror Lab (OIST, CNRS) OIST PI: Vincent Laudet [Marine Eco-Evo-Devo Unit] The International Research Laboratory "EARLY" (Eco-Evo-Devo of Coral Reef Fish Life Cycle) is a joint laboratory between CNRS (France) and the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST, Japan) and one of the first Mirror Labs. EARLY brings together interdisciplinary teams to study coral reef fishes and the reef ecosystems through the integrative lens of ecology, evolution, and development, with a focus on climate change responses. Detailed activity: https://www.oist.jp/early-cnrs
	OIST-Tohoku University Mirror Labs OIST PI: Filip Husnik [Evolution, Cell Biology, and Symbiosis Unit] Tohoku University PI: Takeshi Obayashi [Coastal Ecosystem Services Research Unit] Tohoku University PI: Cheryl Ames [Marine Biology Integrative Research Unit]
	OIST-The University of Osaka Mirror Lab OIST PI: Paola Laurino [Protein Engineering and Evolution Unit] UOsaka PI: Mariko Okada [Laboratory for Cell Systems, Institute for Protein Research]
	OIST-The University of Tokyo Mirror Labs OIST PI: Yoko Yazaki-Sugiyama [Neuronal Mechanism for Critical Period Unit] UTokyo PI: Takao Hensch [IRCN Director / Principal Investigator / Project Professor Human/Clinical] UTokyo PI: Yasushi Okada [Principal Investigator in Technology] UTokyo PI: Shoji Takeuchi [Principal Investigator in Technology]
	The Evolutionary History of Archaic and Modern Humans Mirror Lab (OIST, Max-Planck, Karolinska) Until about 40,000 years ago, at least three forms of humans existed in Eurasia: Denisovans, Neanderthals and modern humans. Our groups use the genome sequences of these groups to ask questions about how they differ from each other and how genetic admixture between the groups have transferred variants and phenotypic traits between groups. We also study the recent population history of humans, particularly in the Japanese Archipelago. To that end, we identify genetic variants that occur at high frequency in the different groups and introduce them into the genomes of cells and of mice to study their physiological consequences. We also make extensive use of biobanks to study the effects of archaic genetic variants that occur in present-day humans because of gene flow from archaic humans. To achieve this, we profit from the expertise of several different groups. For example, the groups of Svante Pääbo and Izumi Fukunaga at OIST specialize in animal and cellular models; the Department of Evolutionary Genetics at the Max Planck Institute in Leipzig, Germany, specializes in genome editing and sequencing of ancient genomes; Hugo Zeberg’s group at the Karolinska Institute, Sweden, specializes in bioinformatics and model systems. For population genetic analyses, we profit from the expertise of the group of Leo Speidel at RIKEN in Tokyo. OIST PI: Svante Pääbo [Human Evolutionary Genomics Unit] Max-Planck PI: Stephan Riesenberg [Genome Engineering and Repair Group] Karolinska PI: Hugo Zeberg [Genetic and pharmacological epidemiology Laboratory]
	OIST-Keio University Mirror Lab OIST PIs: Matthias Wolf [Molecular Cryo-Electron Microscopy Unit] and Oleg Sitsel [Marine Structural Biology Unit] KEIO PI: Kunimichi Suzuki [Structural Analysis Unit, Human Biology Microbiome Quantum Research Center (WPI-Bio2Q)]

Mirror Labs – FAQ

1. What is a Mirror Lab?

A Mirror Lab is a long term collaborative framework connecting OIST with partner institutions through joint research, training, and shared development of early career researchers. Each partner contributes complementary strengths, creating a sustainable ecosystem for scientific exchange.

2. How are Mirror Labs established?

The initiative began with a pilot group of partnerships in areas where strong collaboration already existed. As the program expands, OIST will launch internal calls for OIST PIs to propose new Mirror Labs in collaboration with domestic and/or international partners.

3. Who can apply to establish a new Mirror Lab?

Future application rounds will begin with OIST principal investigators as the primary applicants. Collaborating PIs at partner institutions may participate as co-proposers.

4. What types of activities are supported within a Mirror Lab?

May different collaborative activities can be held in a Mirror Lab, for example:

• joint seminars and meetings (also online)
• exchange of researchers and students
• shared use of facilities or methods
• sharing and development of administrative best practices

5. Can a partner institution host more than one Mirror Lab?

Yes. If multiple collaborations meet the criteria and demonstrate clear scientific value, multiple Mirror Labs can operate within the same institution.

6. How is progress reported?

Mirror Labs submit periodic activity reports (e.g. annual summaries), focusing on scientific progress, exchanges, and outcomes.

Details of reporting requirements will be provided to participating PIs.