A base for research on nano-technology and thepromotion of nano-bio research

The Frontier Institute for Biomolecular Engineering Research (FIBER) was established in November 2003 as a center of excellence for advanced research and education regarding the field of biomolecular technology. In April 2009, FIBER was moved to Port Island area in Kobe, together with establishing a new faculty of Konan University named FIRST (Faculty of Frontiers of Innovative Research in Science and Technology). FIBER and FIRST will cooperate with each other to lead the way in nanobiochemistry research area and the highest global standard education for bioengineering and nanotechnology. FIBER and FIRST participate Medical Industry Development Project at Port Island area in Kobe, which is advantageous to promote the collaboration with academic, industrial, and governmental entities.

The FIBER research project has also been adopted as Core Research Project " Design of functional molecules under molecular crowding condition applicable to gene expression system (2009-2014) by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, providing opportunities to conduct joint research with other universities and research organizations.

Faculty member

Name	Title	Field of Research	Subject of Research
SUGIMOTO, Naoki	Director and Professor	Biophysical Chemistry	Nucleic acids chemistry.
ENDOH, Tamaki	Associate Professor	Cellular Engineering, Biomolecular Engineering	Application of artificial RNA-protein conjugates for cellular engineering. Analyses of RNA conformational transition essential for intracellular gene regulation.
TAKAHASHI, Shuntaro	Associate Professor	Biophysical Chemistry	Biophysical studies of nucleic acids and related enzymatic reactions under high pressure.
TATEISHI-KARIMATA,Hisae	Associate Professor	Biochemistry	Functionalized nucleic acids using molecular environments. Quantitative analysis for biomolecular interactions toward development of nanobio-materials.
MATSUMOTO,Saki	Assistant Professor	Biofunctional Chemistry	Development of chemical tools for human health related to nucleic acids.