The world today is facing a period of dramatic changes. As industry and economy are suffering great instability on a global scale and the foundations of individuals’ livelihoods are being eroded, society is searching for a reliable compass to the future.　Academia is expected to sketch the outline of this future society and mark the path to reach that goal. The University of Tokyo is committed to fulfilling its public responsibility through academic research and fostering of new talent, thus providing a reliable compass to the future.　　To fulfill this purpose, we will focus not just on scholarship for acclaim today, but also ensure the sustenance, continued development and integration of diverse disciplines so that we can enrich the foundations of knowledge and nurture new sources of creativity.
In the medical field, although systematic molecular-level investigations into the cause of diseases are proceeding at a rapid rate, individual basic academic knowledge does not effectively lead to treatment of diseases. To solve this problem, it is necessary to conduct both basic academic research and innovative and integrative approaches. The University of Tokyo Center for NanoBio Integration will be a pioneering research center that integrates knowledge dispersed among different disciplines including biosensing technology, biomaterial technology, molecular simulation technology and nanoscale-biotechnology toward the medical applications.
　I believe that through the creation of knowledge, through education and through close association with society, now more than ever is the time in which the University of Tokyo must fulfill its public responsibility towards the future of Japan and of the world community. As a “Global Cornerstone of Human Knowledge”, the University of Tokyo, with its abundant conceptual powers, is determined to forge ahead on the pathway to that future.

In recent years, in science and engineering fields, assembly technology on a microscale or even nanoscale has made great strides. Not only in semiconductor technology, but also in mechanical engineering, micro/nanomachining technology based on micro/nano manufacturing and micro/nano assembly has been increasingly sophisticated, making steady progress toward high-performance and high-precision. On the other hand, in materials science and materials engineering, in addition to traditional design methods based on macroproperty, materials design based on nanoassembly that manipulates molecules and atoms has appeared, making a high impact on highly advanced functional materials area. The progresses in hardware including assembly, micronization and intellectualization are helping integrate materials science, materials engineering, electronic engineering and mechanical engineering that have been separately evolving based on the unique concepts. In other words, advances are helping integrate the bottom-up method of atomic or molecular assembly and top-down method of nano/microscopic manufacturing."Nano integration" is defined as the integration of sophisticated systems into materials on a nanoscale. On reflection, such"nano integration" can be seen in a large number of our body structures that govern complicated functions, suggesting that"nano integration" is a process suitable for biological evolution. In this sense, to further the development of sophisticated device systems based on"nano integration", it is important to promote research and development on"nanobio integration", including the understanding of structures and functions of the body on a nanoscale, the creation of structures and functions inspired by the operational principles of the body and the establishment of the methodology that regulates the functions of body components including biomolecules and cells and integrates them into devices.

"Nanobio integration", a concept covering traditional science and technology fields, is expected to develop in broad areas of industries, especially life science and biotechnology fields. Throughout the 20th century, life science and biotechnology have made tremendous progress and have contributed to building a safe and secure society through overcoming a number of intractable diseases and enhancing food and environmental safety. Moreover, in the 21st century, based on the integration of vast amounts of knowledge from molecular biology and cellular biology, rapid progress has been made in innovative medical technologies represented by gene diagnosis and therapy and tissue engineering. Environmental assessment techniques and alternative techniques for animal experiments which integrate the body system including proteins and cells have been developed. Even biosynthesis and bioprocessing technologies, inspired by smart body structures and functions, have been created. In the 20th century, the primary focus was placed on"research on the biological system at molecular and cellular levels." In the 21st century, an additional focus has been placed on utilization of the biological system at molecular and cellular levels.

Promoting nanodevice system research which highly integrates the above-mentioned life science and biotechnology, the Center for NanoBio Integration aims to create the interdisciplinary scientific technological system and intellectual basis that explore and reveal the nature of the biological functions on a nanoscale and to promote the construction of an innovative"nanomedical" system based on nanoscale spatiotemporal bioregulation and the establishment of new bioindustries that open up the future for our country. All of our members work hard and enthusiastically to produce and disseminate innovative research results"that may astonish the world". Your advice and support are greatly appreciated.