The 4th Young Scientists Study Group 2023 (Program of totipotency: From decoding to designing) was held at LecTore Yugawara (Kanagawa, Japan) on July 3-5. From our lab, Dr. Ogura, Dr. Shikata, Ms. Watanabe, Mr. Tatebe, Mr. Tokita, and Mr. Pham participated. Dr. Ogura gave a lecture. Title: Looking back on 40 years of reserch *Oral Presentation* Naomi WATANABE: Preservation of wild-derived mouse strains by nuclear transfer using peripheral blood cells. *Poster Session* Daiki SHIKATA: Suppression of enhancer-like endogenous retrovinus in mouse somatic cell nuclear transfer embryos.

A Discovery Evening was held at RIKEN Wako for Special Postdoctoral Researchers (SPDR), Junior Research Associate (JRA), RIKEN Student Researcher (RSR), and International Program Associate (IPA). Mr. Tatebe and Mr. Pham participated from our laboratory. *Poster Session* Takaki TATEBE: Membrane trafficking in early embryogenesis and mouse somatic cell nuclear transfer cloning technology PHAM Quoc Dinh: Advance in cattle cloning by somatic cell nuclear transfer

The second FY2023 plenary meeting of RIKEN Science Council (RSC) was held at the Tsukuba Campus. After the meeting and the BRC Director’s introduction to the BRC, the BRC laboratories held an introductory tour for the RSC members. We Bioresource Engineering Division demonstrated in vitro fertilization of mouse and the thawing of frozen sperm. Many RSC members, including the chairs, asked questions enthusiastically for a long time.

The 70th Annual Meeting of the Japanese Association for Laboratory Animal Science (JALAS) was held at the Tsukuba International Congress Center (Tsukuba, Ibaraki) on May 24-26. *Poster Session* Keiji MOCHIDA: Increased litter size in rats treated with anti-inhibin monoclonal antibody Ayumi HASEGAWA: Improvement of litter size using in vitro developed embryos after in vitro fertilization in A strain mice Narumi OGONUKI: Fertilization of azoospermia mice using ICSI technique Michiko HIROSE: Genome-edited hamsters and their conservation Kimiko INOUE: Development of embryo manipulation methods for monoallelic genome editing technology

The 64th Annual Meeting of Japanese Society for Ova Research (JSOR) was held at the Tsukuba International Congress Center (Tsukuba, Ibaraki) on May 20-21. On-demand distribution was also available from May 31 (Wed.) – June 7 (Wed.). *Symposium 1 “Gametes that Weave Life: Knowing, Making, and Using”* Atsuo OGURA: Development of ICSI techniques in laboratory animals – Focusing on the latest results *Poster Session* Keiji MOCHIDA: Increase in litter size in mice and rats by administration of anti-inhibin monoclonal antibody

Advisory Committee members visited our laboratory as part of the 8th BRC Advisory Council Laboratory Tour.

The International Year of Basic Sciences for Sustainable Development SRD (The Society for Reproduction and Development) General Public Symposium was held online on May 13. Ms. Narumi OGONUKI gave a lecture. Title: Will a baby be born from a germ cell before sperm?

A delegation from the National University of Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh City (VNUHCM), visited RIKEN BioResource Research Center (BRC) and toured our laboratory. We were also delighted to see our old friend, Dr. Thuan, a former researcher at RIKEN CDB. The purpose of this visit is to see the facilities of the host laboratory of a IPA student coming from VNUHCM this June. It is expected that the Vietnamese students will continue to come to BRC.

36th International Mammalian Genome Conference (IMGC2023) was held at Epochal Tsukuba International Congress Center (Ibaraki, Japan) and online hybrid on 28-31 March. IMGC2023 Twitter *RIKEN Symposium ”Developmental Epigenetics” Invited Lecture* Atsuo Ogura: Nuclear transfer for the study of the developmental epigenetics *Poster Session* Dr. Kimiko INOUE: Elucidation of imprinted genes responsible for hyperplasia in somatic cell nuclear transferred (SCNT) placentas Narumi OGONUKI: Fertilization using spermatocytes overcomes azoospermia caused by meiotic arrest Michiko HIROSE: Generation of knockout hamsters as a new experimental model strategy Dr. Daiki SHIKATA: Suppression of enhancer-like endogenous retrovirus in mouse somatic cell nuclear transfer embryos Naomi WATANABE: Preservation of wild-derived mouse strains using nuclear transfer technology

Prof. HONDA, Jichi Medical University, visited our laboratory to observe and practice embryo freezing and thawing. He enthusiastically listened to Ms. Hasegawa’s explanation, observed the practical skills, and confirmed the key points.