Yoshiki Sasai

Prof. Yoshiki Sasai is a leading researcher at the RIKEN Center for Developmental Biology in Kobe, Japan. His work focuses on understanding how stem cells self-organize to form complex organs like the brain and eyes. He pioneered 3D culture systems to recapitulate organ development in vitro, emphasizing the 'community effect' where cells collectively create structures through intercellular communication. His research bridges basic biology and translational medicine, aiming to revolutionize therapies for conditions like retinitis pigmentosa.

Research Interests:

• Self-Organization: Investigating how thousands of cells autonomously form structures like optic cups through local interactions.
• 3D Cultures: Developing culture mediums and imaging techniques (e.g., in toto imaging with Olympus) to study mesoscopic tissue formation.
• Translational Applications: Creating human retinal tissues for drug testing and cell transplantation therapies.

Awards & Collaborations:

• Recipient of the 2013 Hans Sigrist Prize, funding foundational studies on multicellular organization principles.
• Collaborates with CELLnTEC Advanced Systems AG (University of Bern spin-off) on optimizing culture mediums.

Future Directions: Expanding interdisciplinary work with physicists and engineers to develop novel measurement tools and deepen understanding of self-organization mechanisms.