Norifumi Shioda, Ph.D.
Director, IMEG, Kumamoto University
My name is Norifumi Shioda from the Department of Genomic Neurology. I am pleased to announce my appointment as Director of the Institute of Molecular Embryology and Genetics (IMEG). I look forward to working with you.
Thanks to the continuous efforts of all our institute members, our institute has established a unique position in Japan as an “institute aiming to integrate life sciences and medicine from developmental perspectives,” and we continue to disseminate the latest scientific evidence to the global science community. Moving forward, our institute must continue to achieve results that elucidate the fundamental principles of life and contribute to medicine and healthcare, based on original ideas. My core responsibility is to “continue providing an environment where all institute members can pursue their own unique research.” I have outlined the following management policies and future plans. By maintaining a broad perspective and ensuring smooth operations in coordination with the university administration, I aim to further advance our institute.
(1) “Balanced Institute Management” that identifies issues through appropriate status reports, information sharing, and discussion, and determines the best course of action by organizing information
(2) “Improvement of the Research Environment” through the ongoing projects and acquisition of new ones
(3) “Providing Opportunities for Scientific Exchange” that enables researchers to accelerate research based on their own ideas
From the perspective of the history of all life, our human lifespan is a fleeting moment. Furthermore, from a biological point of view, humans are vastly less capable than other animals regarding running speed and the ability to fly. Fortunately, however, humans have been endowed with the “power of perception” that allows us to look out across time and space. Humans can board a tiny boat traveling at incredible speeds—the perception of time—and, from a four-dimensional perspective on biological events, use our imagination to gaze upon the great river of life and uncover the endless history of life. By combining this power of perception with scientific discoveries, we may be able to glimpse the vistas of “the origin or the end of life” accessible to us at this time. I am committed to ensuring that our institute remains a “paradise for scientists” where such an eternal journey can be enjoyed.
To this end, I would like to express my sincere appreciation to all institute members for their continued efforts, and to those outside the institute for their continued support.
April 2026
