Londa SCHIEBINGER

Professor Londa SCHIEBINGER is the John L. Hinds Professor of History of Science at Stanford University and a pioneer in the field of Gendered Innovations. She has initiated groundbreaking projects on gender in science, medicine, engineering, and the environment, and has delivered lectures for the United Nations, the European Parliament, and leading funding bodies. A recipient of numerous prestigious accolades, including the Alexander von Humboldt Research Award and a Guggenheim Fellowship, she holds a Ph.D. from Harvard University and is a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. She has also received honorary doctorates from universities such as Valencia (2018), Lund (2017), and the Free University of Brussels (2013).

About Gendered Innovations

Gendered Innovations focuses on integrating sex and gender analysis into the design of research and development processes. This includes not only sex-based analyses but also intersectional approaches, which consider variables such as gender identity, age, race, ethnicity, geographic diversity, and socioeconomic status. While this approach has gained significant traction internationally, its recognition and application in Japan remain limited. Many researchers express interest but often feel uncertain about how to incorporate these perspectives effectively into their work.

Opening remarks 

Associate Professor SASAKI Narie (Department of Biological Science, Graduate School of Science, University of Tokyo)

1: Odor-specific changes in olfactory Sensitivity in Alzheimer’s Disease Model Mice

(ADACHI Yuta, Graduate School of Science, University of Tokyo)

ADACHI Yuta, a member of the Takeuchi Laboratory, investigates the use of olfactory systems in mice as a model for studying the prevention and treatment of neurological disorders.

His research focuses on understanding the mechanisms behind olfactory impairments—known as early symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease (AD)—and aims to establish diagnostic methods using olfaction during the early stages of the disease.

AD is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by memory loss, cognitive decline, and changes in behavior and personality. It is linked to the accumulation of abnormal proteins, such as amyloid plaques, in the brain. These proteins can also build up in the olfactory pathways, causing olfactory dysfunction that often precedes cognitive symptoms. However, performing extensive olfactory tests on AD patients at specific stages remains challenging. Adachi’s work leverages mouse models of AD to examine abnormalities using a variety of scents, potentially uncovering new diagnostic tools.

2: Large-Scale Production of Uniform Adipocyte Spheroids Using Microfluidic Devices

(MAEKAWA Ruri, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, University of Tokyo)

MAEKAWA Ruri began her journey in 3D cell culture models through her undergraduate research on artificial lungs at Georgia Institute of Technology. Currently, she is developing technologies for constructing bio-digital twins.

Her focus lies in adipocyte spheroids—three-dimensional cellular aggregates that replicate in vivo functions more accurately than 2D cultures, making them crucial in pharmaceutical research. Adipocyte spheroids are particularly significant for studying obesity, enabling the analysis of stress responses and the development of therapeutic drugs. Given that obesity affects over one billion people globally, her work addresses an urgent societal need.

Producing small, uniform spheroids at scale has been a longstanding challenge. MAEKAWA has developed a novel technique to efficiently produce spheroids smaller than 100 micrometers in diameter. This advancement reduces research costs, enhances reproducibility, and provides higher reliability in experimental results.

3: Exploring Betta Fish as a Novel Vertebrate Model for Sleep Studies

(CHIBA Ryunosuke, Graduate School of Science, University of Tokyo)

CHIBA Ryunosuke’s research employs Betta fish, a freshwater species known for its unique breeding and sleep behaviors, as a model organism for studying sleep. Betta fish offer novel insights due to their distinctive genetic traits, which likely involve multiple genes in sex determination.

Sleep is a critical behavior observed across the animal kingdom, yet its mechanisms and evolutionary significance remain largely mysterious. Hard-boned fish, with their simpler brain structures and ancestral vertebrate characteristics, serve as ideal models for investigating fundamental aspects of sleep and its evolution.

CHIBA has identified clear sleep patterns in Betta fish, enabling new discoveries in this field. His work demonstrates the potential of Betta fish to serve as a valuable model for understanding the complexities of sleep.

In the feedback session, Professor Londa SCHIEBINGER provided a detailed lecture using the Stanford University Gendered Innovations website. She discussed how to incorporate biological and social gender perspectives into research design and emphasized the significance of intersectional analysis, which considers factors such as age, body size, race, ethnicity, and geographic or environmental contexts.

Professor SCHIEBINGER advised the three presenters on ways to update their research through the lens of Gendered Innovations.

Responding to a question about whether it suffices to add female mice to studies initially conducted with male mice, she clarified:

“Research should be designed to account for both sexes from the outset. Adding female subjects as an afterthought does not align with the principles of Gendered Innovations. However, this fundamental perspective is still not widely recognized, which remains a challenge.”

She further stressed the importance of moving beyond binary sex analyses by incorporating broader factors like age, race, and geographic context. While intersectional analyses have traditionally been qualitative and rooted in history or sociology, she highlighted the potential for quantitative approaches to identify and model intersections of age and gender in future studies.

Additionally, Professor SCHIEBINGER emphasized the importance of publishing findings even when no significant differences are observed in sex or intersectional analyses. Such transparency is crucial for advancing this field of study and enriching its methodologies.

The session concluded with enthusiastic questions and discussions from both presenters and participants, creating an engaging and dynamic exchange of ideas.

About Blend

Blend is an initiative aimed at advancing the practice of Gendered Innovations (GI) in Japan, particularly among younger generations. Acting as a casual, interdisciplinary hub akin to a coffeehouse, it encourages students from diverse fields to discuss GI concepts, refine their research, and collaborate on updates and innovations. Blend hosts events and programs that challenge early-career researchers to incorporate GI perspectives into their work.