[WS4] APPA/PSSJ Joint Workshop Toward International Cooperation in Protein Science

[WS4-03] The Asia Pacific Protein Association and Collaboration with Asia-Pacific Partners

^○James R. Ketudat Cairns^1,2,3, Jisnuson Svasti^2,4 (1.School of Chemistry, Institute of Science, Surnaree University of Technology, 2.Laboratory of Biochemistry, Chulabhorn Research Institute, 3.Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 4.Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University)

The Asia Pacific Protein Association (APPA) is dedicated to organizing international protein research conferences and building collaboration in protein science in the Asia-Pacific region. APPA began with the organization of the Pacific Rim International Conference on Protein Science (PRICPS) organized by the Protein Science Society of Japan (PSSJ) in Yokohama, Japan, in 2004. The APPA was officially formed and named at the second PRICPS in Australia in 2008, and has since had triannual conferences in China, Korea, and Thailand. From our personal experience, collaboration with the Institute for Protein Research in Osaka University allowed us to solve the first structure of a glycoside hydrolase family 116 member, while collaboration with the University of Melbourne, Australia allowed us to study the effects of overexpression of the human member of this family on cellular sphingolipid levels. Collaborations with many other groups around the Asia Pacific have been critical to advancing our protein research, demonstrating the value of developing friendships and collaborations among protein researchers in the region that allow researchers to expand their capabilities and explore new areas.