08 July 2026
First Annual Meeting of the Integrative Microbial Science Community Held at OIST Land neXus
The first Annual Meeting of the Integrative Microbial Science (IMS) Community was held at OIST Land neXus from June 29 to July 1, 2026. The meeting brought together researchers from a wide range of disciplines centered on microbial science, with the aim of fostering a new interdisciplinary research community and strengthening collaborative networks.
The meeting was organized by Fumiaki Yokoyama of the Microbial Lifeform Dynamics Group, a Buribushi Fellow supported through OIST's J-PEAKS initiative. Researchers from OIST joined participants from leading institutions across Japan, including the University of Tokyo, Kyoto University, The University of Osaka, Hokkaido University, Shinshu University, Tokushima University, Yamaguchi University, JAMSTEC, and the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), engaging in discussions that crossed traditional disciplinary boundaries.
The meeting opened with a keynote lecture by Professor Simone Pigolotti of OIST’s Biological Complexity Unit and featured presentations covering a broad range of topics in microbial science, including microbial communities across scales, theoretical approaches to cell death, microbial population dynamics, microbiome analysis, and the application of advanced multi-omics technologies. Researchers from OIST and institutions across Japan shared their latest findings and perspectives, fostering vibrant discussions on emerging opportunities in microbial science and future interdisciplinary collaborations.
The Integrative Microbial Science Community aims to advance new frontiers in microbial science by bringing together expertise from diverse disciplines, including physics, chemistry, biology, ecology, and engineering.
Fumiaki Yokoyama, an OIST Buribushi Fellow supported through the J-PEAKS initiative and organizer of the meeting, highlighted the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration in advancing microbial science.
"Microbes possess relatively simple cellular structures, yet they have evolved remarkable strategies to thrive in an extraordinary diversity of environments. We hope to better understand these fascinating organisms from multiple perspectives. We also believe that multiscale approaches—from molecules and individual cells to microbial communities and even global ecosystems—will deepen our understanding of how microbes shape the Earth’s environment and our own lives. Such cross-scale research requires interdisciplinary collaboration among researchers with diverse expertise. Bringing scientists from different fields together to exchange ideas and perspectives is therefore essential. We hope IMS will serve as a place where these interdisciplinary collaborations begin and grow.
That said, there is also a much simpler motivation behind IMS: I genuinely enjoy learning about research from perspectives different from my own. There are so many exciting branches of science, and I want to learn as much about them as I can.
IMS is still in its early stages, but we hope to welcome many more researchers in the years to come and continue expanding the microbial science community. Our annual meeting is conducted in English so that it can bring together not only Japanese-speaking researchers but also the many outstanding scientists conducting research in Japan. We hope IMS will provide opportunities for exchanging ideas, building collaborations, and strengthening the microbial science network across disciplines and cultures.
Science knows no borders. We look forward to exploring the diverse world of science together. "
As an example of J-PEAKS-supported efforts to foster research communities, the meeting provided an opportunity to strengthen interdisciplinary networks and explore new collaborative possibilities at OIST Land neXus. As the inaugural annual gathering of the Integrative Microbial Science Community, the event marked an important step toward future collaborations and the continued growth of a nationwide research network.
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