Purpose
Kyoto University
The synthetic chemistry of compounds with highly complicated molecular architectures, exemplified by bioactive natural products, has made remarkable progress in recent years. These advances have enabled the efficient supply of drug candidate molecules—whether natural or artificial—through shorter synthetic routes and higher overall yields. Breakthroughs such as molecular transformations mediated by organocatalysts and photoredox catalysts, the development of protecting-group-free synthetic methods, and the implementation of chemical reactions in aqueous media have brought about transformations once deemed impossible. More recently, the scope of these transformations has extended to biomacromolecules that underlie diverse biological functions, including peptides, proteins, glycans, and nucleic acids. Consequently, increasing attention has been directed toward molecular transformations carried out directly within the biological milieu—cells, tissues, and even whole organisms. This trend can be regarded as a shift from organic chemistry in the flask to organic chemistry in the complex environment of living systems. A symbolic milestone of this movement was the awarding of the 2022 Nobel Prize in Chemistry to Carolyn Bertozzi for pioneering “bioorthogonal chemistry.”
Innovations in molecular transformation science/technologies have given rise to cutting-edge molecular imaging tools, semi-synthetic biomacromolecules with non-natural architectures, and groundbreaking covalent inhibitors with exceptional target specificity. Furthermore, they are driving the emergence of unprecedented molecular strategies that enable the analysis, modulation, and intervention of various biological events at an ultimate level of molecular resolution, thereby opening new horizons in chemical biology—the interface between chemistry and biology. The ripple effects of this progress now extend from organic synthesis to medicinal chemistry, bio-organic and inorganic chemistry, biochemistry, cell biology, and biomedical engineering, bridging basic science and applied research alike.
The 55th Naito Conference would serve as a platform where researchers—ranging from world-leading pioneers to promising young scientists, from both Japan and abroad—gather on site, in person at the forefront of chemical biology. Through the presentation of the latest findings, in-depth discussion, and active exchange, the conference aims to foster new international networks that transcend generations, areas, and disciplines.