Program

Plenary Lectures

Dr. Yoshiro Saito (Director General, National Institute of Health Sciences)
Prof. Juske Horita (Department of Geosciences, Texas Tech University)

Symposium Sessions

Session Overview

■Title

International Symposium 1: Frontiers in Proteomics

■Organizer

Yasushi Ishihama (Kyoto University) / Yusuke Kawashima (Kazusa DNA Research Institute)

■Scope

Proteomics utilizing mass spectrometry has significantly expanded its applications from cell biology to clinical settings, driven by rapid technological advances. Particularly with improvements in sensitivity and throughput, single-cell proteomics, spatial proteomics, and plasma/tissue proteomics are becoming increasingly feasible. This session invites international researchers, primarily from Asia, to discuss the latest developments in this field.

■Keywords

Spatial Proteomics, Single-Cell Proteomics, Plasma/Tissue Proteomics

■Title

International Symposium 2: Metabolomics

■Organizer

Fumio Matsuda (The University of Osaka) / Daisuke Saigusa (Teikyo University)

■Scope

Mass spectrometry has played a crucial role in metabolomics for the comprehensive identification and quantification of metabolites. This session is dedicated to introducing various efforts being made by Asian researchers for future international collaboration, including the sharing of spectral data.

■Keywords

Metabolomics, International Collaboration

■Title

Hybrid Environmental Mass Spectrometry

■Organizer

Takafumi Hirata (The University of Tokyo) / Takaaki Itai (The University of Tokyo)

■Scope

Environmental chemistry encompasses the utilization of comprehensive data on elemental compositions, speciation, and isotopic information obtained from a wide variety of samples such as gases, liquids, solids, and aerosols. With advances in information science, new analytical techniques are required to meet the needs of large-scale, high resolution data analysis. Mass spectrometry is a key technique capable of meeting these rapidly evolving demands, offering the potential to obtain trace-level information from ever smaller sample volumes with high throughput. Following the joint session held at the Environmental Chemistry Society Meeting in July 2025, this session will highlight the forefront of mass spectrometry technology development that is driving innovation in Earth and environmental chemistry.

■Keywords

Environmental Chemistry, Hybrid Mass Spectrometry, High-speed Analysis, Robustness

■Title

Medical Sciences Session: Advances in Mass Spectrometry for Elucidating Human Diseases and Biological Processes

■Organizer

Yuta Matsuoka (Kyoto University) / Masamitsu Maekawa (Tohoku University)

■Invited

Yosuke Isobe (Laboratory for Metabolomics, RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences)

■Scope

Mass spectrometry has long served as a powerful analytical platform for a broad spectrum of biomolecules in pharmaceutical and life sciences research. Its analytical scope spans diverse chemical spaces, ranging from small metabolites to post-translationally modified proteins, each possessing distinct physicochemical properties. Moreover, the integration of MS with complementary technologies—such as chromatography, derivatization, hydrogen–deuterium exchange, sample-preparation strategies, and chemical biology approaches—has further expanded and refined the depth of biological information that MS can provide.
This session aims to discuss the latest advances in MS-based methodologies that drive deeper understanding of human biological processes, disease mechanisms, and biomarker discovery, thereby promoting the further development of biomedical research.

■Keywords

Human biology, Disease, Biomarkers, Molecular pathophysiology

■Title

Mass Spectrometry–Based Omics

■Organizer

Takeshi Bamba (Kyushu University) / Masaki Matsumoto (Niigata University)

■Invited

Masaki Matsumoto (Niigata University)

■Scope

Mass spectrometry–based omics (proteomics, metabolomics, and lipidomics) is a research field that comprehensively analyzes molecular classes such as proteins, metabolites, and lipids using mass spectrometry (MS) as a core analytical technology. In recent years, remarkable advances in MS instrumentation, ionization and separation techniques, as well as the integration of data analysis and artificial intelligence, have greatly enhanced the precision and throughput of omics research. This session will introduce the latest developments in MS-based omics, highlighting novel analytical strategies emerging from interdisciplinary collaboration, challenges in data integration and standardization, and applications in clinical, environmental, and food sciences. The session aims to provide a forum to explore the potential and future perspectives of comprehensive biological analysis enabled by mass spectrometry.

■Keywords

Proteomics, Metabolomics, Lipidomics

■Title

Mass Spectrometry Enabling Innovation in New Modality Therapeutics

■Organizer

Kazutaka Shimbo (Ajinomoto Co., Inc.) / Kazumi Saikusa (National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST))

■Invited

Akiko Ishii-Watabe (National Institute of Health Sciences)

■Scope

In recent years, the development of biopharmaceuticals—including new modalities such as antibody drugs, nucleic acid drugs, gene therapy, and cell therapy—has rapidly advanced. Compared to traditional small molecule drugs, these pharmaceuticals have more complex structures and functions, creating many challenges in structural analysis, characterization, and pharmacokinetic studies. In particular, advanced and precise analytical technologies are necessary for quality assessment, safety assurance, and understanding mechanisms of action.
This session will showcase how the latest analytical technologies, especially mass spectrometry, are addressing these challenges and supporting the research and development of innovative biopharmaceutical modalities. It will also serve as a forum for open discussion about the current status and future prospects, featuring insights and perspectives from leading researchers in the field.

■Keywords

Novel modalities, biopharmaceuticals, gene therapy & cell therapy, structural analysis & characterization, pharmacokinetic analysis

■Title

Ionization and Related Techniques for New Methods in Mass Spectrometry

■Organizer

Lee Chuin Chen (University of Yamanashi) / Kanako Sekimoto (Yokohama City University)

■Invited

Ryosuke Sugiyama (Chiba University)

■Scope

Advances in ionization and related techniques, together with deeper insights into gas-phase ion chemistry, have greatly driven the progress of mass spectrometry. This session will highlight recent studies on various ionization methods, related technological innovations, and gas-phase ion processes, aiming to explore new directions and applications in mass spectrometry.

■Keywords

Ionization, Gas Phase Ion Reaction, Sample Preparation, Ion Mobility, New Methods

■Title

New Frontiers in MS Research Pioneered by Early Career Researchers

■Organizer

Kosuke Ogata (Kyoto University) / Eisuke Kanao (Kyoto University)

■Scope

Mass spectrometry (MS) is an essential tool across various research fields—ranging from life sciences to Earth and planetary sciences—allowing for precise measurements at molecular and isotopic levels. However, rapid advancements in science and technology necessitate innovations that go beyond conventional techniques, including achieving greater sensitivity and accuracy in measurements and expanding applications to novel targets. This symposium aims to showcase cutting-edge research from early career researchers (ECRs) who are exploring new frontiers in MS research and to foster interdisciplinary discussions. By bringing together ECRs engaged in diverse approaches and technological developments, we seek to promote the exchange of fresh perspectives and creative ideas, ultimately aiming to cultivate the next generation of the MS research community. We hope this session will accelerate the development of MS measurement technologies and contribute significantly to the advancement of scientific research.

■Keywords

Early Career Researchers, Sample Preprocessing/Separation, Ionization, Data Analysis

■Title

Instrument Development and New Progress Supporting the Advancement of Mass Spectrometry

■Organizer

Michisato Toyoda (The University of Osaka) / Yoichi Otsuka (The University of Osaka)

■Invited

Kouichi Hirata (National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST))

■Scope

Further advancements in mass spectrometry rely on innovations in instrumentation technology to support its expanding applications across diverse fields, including materials science, food science, environmental science, drug discovery, and the life sciences. As analytical targets grow increasingly complex and the demand for higher sensitivity and resolution continues to rise, there is a strong need for mass spectrometer technologies based on new principles and mechanisms. This symposium aims to explore cutting-edge developments in instrumentation and technology, as well as future prospects in the field. Topics will include advances in fundamental technologies—such as chromatography, ionization, ion separation, ion optics, fragmentation, and detectors—along with hybrid mass spectrometry systems that integrate these components, and the development of control and analysis software closely linked to the instruments. By bringing together researchers engaged in these areas to share challenges and opportunities in mass spectrometry instrumentation, the symposium seeks to foster new ideas and cross-disciplinary collaboration, providing a venue to collectively envision the direction of next-generation mass spectrometry technologies.

■Keywords

Instrumentation, Ionization, Ion optics, Hyphenated technology, Software development

■Title

Data Science for Mass Spectrometry in Life Science Research

■Organizer

Hiroshi Tsugawa (Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology) / Kohei Nishino (Tokushima University)

■Invited

Takaaki Nishioka (Kyoto University)

■Scope

In parallel with genome research, depositing mass spectrometry datasets in public repositories has become a standard practice at the time of publication. In Japan, repositories such as MB-POST, MetaboBank, jPOST, and GlycoPOST have been established, providing well-organized platforms for storing omics datasets generated by mass spectrometry. These repositories not only serve as resources for preservation and data sharing but also gain their true value through reanalysis and reuse, enabling new knowledge discovery.
This symposium will focus on methodologies for extracting and leveraging knowledge—such as spectral information, biomolecular features, and expression profiles—from mass spectrometry datasets. We aim to discuss emerging strategies and technologies for maximizing the scientific impact of mass spectrometry data in life science research.

■Keywords

Omics, Spectral Data, Repository, Database, Reanalysis

Proposed Sessions

Session Overview

■Title

Exploring Scientific Frontiers with MSI: From Technological Innovation to Applications in Diverse Research Fields

■Organizer

Shuichi Shimma (The University of Osaka) / Yoichi Otsuka (The University of Osaka)

■Scope

Amid the rapidly growing interest in "spatial omics," which integrates spatial information within tissues with comprehensive molecular data, Mass Spectrometry Imaging (MSI) is solidifying its status as a core analytical technology. Current technological trends are expanding beyond high-spatial-resolution and single-cell analyses to encompass fusion with diverse imaging modalities (multimodal imaging) and MSI informatics, leveraging AI and machine learning. This symposium aims to provide an overview of the latest technological trends in methodology, and to share cutting-edge applications across a wide range of fields, including medicine, biology, plant science, food science, and material science. Through these discussions, we hope to deepen our understanding of the future directions of next-generation MSI research from multifaceted perspectives.

■Keywords

Mass Spectrometry Imaging, Sample Preparation, Medical Science, Drug Analysis, Food, Plant, Material

■Title

Native and Charge-Detection Mass Spectrometry of Large Molecular Complexes

■Organizer

Susumu Uchiyama (The University of Osaka) / Satoko Akashi (Yokohama City University)

■Scope

More than 30 years have passed since the emergence of Native MS, and numerous studies have demonstrated its capability to analyze large complexes while preserving their noncovalent interactions. The field continues to advance rapidly. In recent years, charge detection mass spectrometry (CD-MS), which enables the simultaneous determination of the mass-to-charge ratio and the charge of individual ionized particles, has become practically available, making it possible to analyze highly heterogeneous, high-molecular-weight complexes. In this session, we will focus on Native MS and CD-MS applied to biomolecular complexes, featuring presentations by researchers from Japan and abroad covering topics ranging from fundamental principles to the latest measurement examples.

■Keywords

NativeMS, CD-MS, Protein Complexes, Megamolecules

■Title

Innovations in Extracellular Vesicles Pioneered by Mass Spectrometry

■Organizer

Tatsuya Ikehara (SHIONOGI & CO., LTD) / Jun Adachi（National Institutes of Biomedical Innovation, Health and Nutrition）

■Scope

Extracellular vesicles (EVs), once considered "cellular garbage," are now attracting attention as important biological functions involved in intercellular signaling and as biomarkers for disease and drug efficacy. However, due to their structural diversity, elucidating their function and validating them as biomarkers remains challenging. Highly sensitive and specific mass spectrometry is expected to play a major role in resolving these issues. In this session, we will introduce the latest trends in mass spectrometry technology enabling advanced EV analysis, discuss its potential application in drug discovery, and the future perspective for EV research.

■Keywords

Extracellular Vesicles, Biomarker, Omics, Intercellular communication

■Title

Beyond the Black Box: Practical Issues and Solutions in Quantitative Analysis with Mass Spectrometry

■Organizer

Kazutaka Shimbo (Ajinomoto Co., Inc.) / Masayuki Kubota (Waters Corporation)

■Scope

Mass spectrometers have become widely used and are now applied in a variety of fields. As a result, both the backgrounds of users and their applications have diversified, and the instruments themselves have increasingly become "black boxes." Consequently, it has become more difficult to determine whether measurements are being performed correctly. This session aims to address and resolve the "black box" concerns experienced by mass spectrometry users. We will present several case studies and firsthand experiences from mass spectrometry vendors regarding questions and challenges in quantitative analysis. Furthermore, we hope to deepen our understanding of these issues and explore possible solutions through interactive discussions with all participants.

■Keywords

Corporate Program Working Group (WG), Reference Materials, Calibration Curve, Quantitative Analysis, Data Quality

Fundamental Sessions

Omics, Imaging, Material, Isotope Analysis, Space and Planetary Sciences, Informatics, Instrument Development, Young Researchers' Sessions (Int'l)

• Oral session: Candidates will be selected through a call for entries.