The 21st East Asia Joint Symposium was held at the SAMSUNG Medical Center in Seoul from July 17th-18th, hosted by the Samsung Biomedical Research Institute, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine. A total of 7 institutes participated. Aside from Sungkyunkwan University and IMSUT, the Institute for Virus Research of Kyoto University, the Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of National Taiwan University, the Institute of Molecular Biology & Genetics of Seoul National University, and Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University also participated. This symposium started 20 years ago with the aim of strengthening exchanges among top Asian life science researchers, and the participating institutes rotate hosting duties.

A total of 4 PIs and 4 young researchers took part from IMSUT, and the PIs gave oral presentatinons of 20 minutes including Q&A, while the young researchers supplemented their posters with 5-minute short talks and poster presentations. The level of the presentations were very high, and we reacknowledged the superb level of Asian research institutes. As always, the atmosphere was very friendly and peaceful. We hope that this symposium triggers opportunities for collaborative research.

On Saturday, 19th July, the participants made further exchange by visiting the Dongdaemun Design Plaza and Seoul N Tower. This year again, the symposium drew to a close with great success. Next year, the symposium will be hosted by the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University.