Research labs at Japan's QS Top 10 universities including Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka.
Professor Benjamin Le Ouay's research lab specializes in the design and engineering of functional metal-organic materials, with a focus on metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) and metal-organic polyhedra (MOPs). The lab explores innovative strategies to control porosity, stability, and functionality through the integration of polymers, redox-active species, and biomolecules. Key research directions include the development of conductive porous composites for chemiresistive sensing, stimuli-responsive MOF-polymer hybrids, and selective separation of polymers or small molecules via steric and electronic tuning. The lab also investigates charge-driven self-assembly and dynamic transformations in MOFs to create advanced materials for sensing, catalysis, and biointerfacing applications.
Professor Koichiro Kato's research lab specializes in computational quantum chemistry and materials science, focusing on first-principles electronic structure calculations using advanced methods such as the fragment molecular orbital (FMO) approach. The lab investigates molecular interactions, electronic properties, and reactivity in complex systems ranging from biomolecules and drug targets to carbon nanotubes and polymer surfaces. Key research directions include accurate prediction of atomic partial charges for drug design, understanding electronic polarization in biomolecules, and analyzing molecular interactions in viral proteins and functional materials. The lab combines high-accuracy quantum mechanical simulations with machine learning to enable efficient and precise modeling of large and complex systems.
Professor Zhenya Zhang's research lab specializes in the formal verification and quality assurance of complex cyber-physical systems (CPS), with a strong focus on hybrid systems and AI-enabled controllers. The lab develops advanced optimization-based falsification techniques—particularly leveraging Monte Carlo Tree Search (MCTS) and multi-armed bandit algorithms—to efficiently uncover edge-case failures in safety-critical systems like autonomous vehicles and fuel cells. A key research direction involves addressing the 'scale problem' in robustness semantics, where variables with vastly different units or magnitudes hinder effective falsification. The lab also explores practical applications in sustainable energy systems, such as thermal and water management in proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs).
Professor Takanori Shinjo's research lab focuses on the molecular mechanisms linking metabolic diseases—particularly diabetes and obesity—with systemic and local inflammation, with a strong emphasis on periodontitis and insulin resistance. The lab investigates how insulin signaling dysfunction in gingival tissues and immune cells contributes to periodontal destruction, and explores the therapeutic potential of DPP-4 inhibitors like anagliptin in modulating inflammation and tissue repair. Key research directions include the role of DPP-4 in macrophage and fibroblast responses, the impact of metabolic stress (e.g., high-fat diet) on islet regeneration, and the bidirectional relationship between diabetes and periodontitis.
Professor Lehel Balogh's research lab focuses on the integration of existential phenomenological psychotherapy (EPP) with neuroscience, exploring the brain-based mechanisms underlying psychotherapeutic change. The lab investigates how psychotherapy—particularly Japanese-origined approaches like Morita and Naikan therapies—modifies cognitive, emotional, and behavioral processes at the neural level. A central theme is bridging the gap between psychotherapy as a humanistic, philosophical practice and neuroscience as a biological science, aiming to unify their perspectives on mental health and the sense of self.
Professor Hisashi Satoh's research lab specializes in microbial ecology and environmental biotechnology, focusing on the dynamics of nitrifying and denitrifying bacteria in wastewater treatment systems and natural aquatic environments. The lab investigates the spatial organization, activity, and community structure of ammonia- and nitrite-oxidizing bacteria using advanced techniques such as microelectrodes, FISH, and 16S rRNA gene analysis. Key research directions include understanding oxygen and substrate gradients in biofilms and sediments, and how these influence nitrogen removal processes in engineered and natural ecosystems. The lab also explores the impact of benthic organisms, such as polychaetes, on biogeochemical cycles in intertidal sediments.
Professor Ryuta Muromoto's research lab focuses on the molecular mechanisms underlying immune regulation, particularly in hematopoietic cell development and innate immune signaling. The lab investigates key signaling molecules such as Daxx, STAT3, and Tyk2 in the context of interferon responses, B cell differentiation, and viral immune evasion. A central theme is the post-translational modification and subcellular trafficking of signaling proteins, including sumoylation and protein-protein interactions, that govern cell fate decisions in immunity and cancer. The lab also explores cytokine networks in inflammatory diseases like psoriasis, emphasizing the pivotal role of IL-17A in driving pathogenic signaling in epithelial cells.
Professor Yuki Saito's research lab focuses on the role of cellular senescence in tissue repair, fibrosis, and age-related diseases, with a particular emphasis on its dual role in promoting regeneration and contributing to chronic inflammation and fibrosis. The lab investigates how senescent cells—especially fibro-adipogenic progenitors (FAPs) and mesenchymal cells—regulate muscle and wound healing in the context of chronic myopathies and diabetes. Using preclinical models and clinical samples, the lab explores the therapeutic potential of targeting senescent cells to improve tissue repair and prevent fibrotic degeneration. Their work also extends to cancer metabolism, examining how metabolic reprogramming, such as ALDOA overexpression, drives epithelial-mesenchymal transition and tumor progression in cervical adenocarcinoma.
Professor Kazuhiro Matsumoto's research lab specializes in advancing medical imaging and cancer immunotherapy. The lab focuses on optimizing spectral CT imaging using photon-counting detectors to improve diagnostic image quality while reducing radiation dose, with applications in routine clinical imaging. In parallel, the lab investigates innovative gene delivery strategies—particularly liposome-mediated intravesical IL-15 gene therapy—for enhancing anti-tumor immunity in bladder cancer. These dual research directions aim to improve both diagnostic accuracy and therapeutic outcomes in oncology.
Professor Yasushi Katayama's research lab specializes in electrochemistry and materials science, focusing on the development and characterization of room-temperature ionic liquids (RTILs) for advanced electrochemical applications. Key research directions include the electrochemical behavior of oxygen and metal ions (e.g., Ag⁺, Co²⁺, Li⁺) in RTILs, the role of solvation structure and electric double layer in charge transfer kinetics, and the design of ionic liquid-based electrolytes for energy storage and electrodeposition. The lab also explores integrated electrochemical systems, such as micro DC-DC converters, by combining electrochemistry with microfabrication techniques.
Professor Yuki Amari's research lab specializes in theoretical high-energy and condensed matter physics, focusing on topological solitons and skyrmionic structures in field theories and quantum magnets. The lab explores complex soliton solutions—such as skyrmion crystals, domain-wall skyrmions, bimerons, and knot solitons (Hopfions)—in models with non-trivial target spaces like $\mathbb{C}P^2$, $SU(3)/U(1)^2$, and flag manifolds. By combining techniques from string theory, integrable systems, and nonlinear sigma models, the lab investigates the emergence of stable, finite-energy topological configurations with potential applications in spintronics and quantum information. The work bridges fundamental field theory with realistic magnetic materials, aiming to uncover new phases of matter and topological order.
Professor Hideki Terai's research lab focuses on understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying drug resistance in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), particularly in EGFR mutation-positive patients treated with tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs). The lab investigates epigenetic regulation, persister cell populations, and novel therapeutic targets such as DDR2 and SHOC2 to overcome intrinsic and acquired resistance. Their work integrates functional genomics, epigenetic profiling, and targeted drug screening to identify new strategies for improving treatment efficacy and patient outcomes.
Professor Masahiro Toda's research lab specializes in viral oncolytic therapy and cancer immunotherapy, focusing on the development of replication-competent herpes simplex virus (HSV) vectors for targeted tumor destruction and immune activation. The lab investigates how oncolytic viruses like G207 and defective HSV amplicon vectors can induce both direct cytotoxicity and systemic anti-tumor immune responses, particularly through the delivery of immunostimulatory cytokines such as IL-12 and GM-CSF. A key research direction involves enhancing the therapeutic efficacy of these viral vectors in preclinical models of brain metastases and solid tumors, including breast and colorectal cancers. The lab also explores the interplay between lifestyle factors and health behaviors, as seen in studies linking mobile phone use to health-related lifestyles among young adults.
Professor Hiroaki Nozawa's research lab focuses on the molecular mechanisms underlying tumor progression, particularly the roles of immune cells and transcription factors in cancer angiogenesis and immune surveillance. The lab investigates key regulators such as MMP-9 and IRF-1 in tumor microenvironment dynamics, with a strong emphasis on their functions in pancreatic and gastric carcinogenesis. Using transgenic mouse models and clinical tumor samples, the lab explores genetic alterations like LOH at chromosome 5q and their implications in tumor suppression and metastasis. The research also extends to understanding the impact of these molecular pathways on patient outcomes, especially in colorectal cancer with brain metastasis.
Professor Yuji C. Sasaki's research lab specializes in advanced x-ray scattering and imaging techniques to investigate the dynamic behavior of nanoscale materials and biomolecules at the single-particle level. The lab focuses on developing and applying diffracted x-ray tracking (DXT) to study real-time Brownian motion, rotational dynamics, and structural changes in individual nanoparticles, proteins, and DNA. Key research directions include single-molecule dynamics in complex environments, magnetic nanomaterials for high-density data storage, and structural biology using x-ray interference and resonant scattering. The lab combines synchrotron-based x-ray methods with materials synthesis and biophysical analysis to address fundamental questions in nanoscience and molecular biology.
Professor Yasushi Kawaguchi's research lab focuses on viral pathogenesis, particularly the molecular mechanisms of herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) infection. The lab investigates viral-host interactions, with a central emphasis on viral regulatory proteins such as ICP0 and their interactions with host cellular factors like cyclin D3 and elongation factor 1δ. A key research direction involves understanding the role of conserved herpesvirus protein kinases (CHPKs), including HSV-1 UL13, in modulating host and viral functions through post-translational modifications. The lab also explores the pathogenic mechanisms of fibrotic diseases such as systemic sclerosis, linking viral protein functions to aberrant cytokine production and fibrosis.
Professor Yohey Suzuki's research lab specializes in microbial geochemistry and environmental microbiology, focusing on the biogeochemical cycling of uranium and other metals in contaminated and extreme environments. The lab investigates microbial mechanisms of uranium reduction, sequestration, and resistance, particularly in acidic, anaerobic, and hydrothermal systems. Key research directions include the role of microbial communities in U(VI) to U(IV) reduction, the formation of uranium-bearing minerals like uraninite, and the symbiotic relationships between hydrothermal vent gastropods and sulfur-oxidizing or iron-reducing endosymbiotic bacteria. The lab employs advanced techniques such as XANES, electron microscopy, FISH, and molecular phylogenetics to unravel microbial metal metabolism and environmental detoxification processes.
Professor Naoki Sato's research lab focuses on the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying organelle genome maintenance and lipid metabolism in photosynthetic eukaryotes, particularly in plants and algae. The lab investigates plastid DNA binding proteins, such as PEND, and the biogenesis of nucleoids in chloroplasts, as well as the subcellular pathways and enzymes involved in the synthesis of polyunsaturated fatty acids in plastid membranes. Additionally, the lab explores the regulation of fatty acid desaturation in response to environmental stresses like temperature shifts, emphasizing the roles of light, oxygen, and protein synthesis. These studies contribute to understanding the evolutionary and physiological adaptations of photosynthetic organisms at the molecular level.
Professor Satoru Okajima's research lab specializes in atmospheric dynamics and climate variability, with a focus on storm-track systems, midlatitude cyclones and anticyclones, and their interactions with large-scale circulation and oceanic fronts. The lab investigates the mechanisms behind key climatic phenomena such as the midwinter minimum of North Pacific storm tracks, persistent anticyclonic anomalies linked to sea surface temperature anomalies, and the role of transient eddies in maintaining westerly jets. Using advanced modeling techniques—including Lagrangian tracking and atmospheric general circulation models—researchers examine eddy energetics, air-sea interaction, and the feedbacks between synoptic-scale vortices and large-scale climate patterns.
Professor Kazushige Touhara's research lab specializes in the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying chemosensation in animals, with a primary focus on olfactory and gustatory systems in insects. The lab investigates the structure, function, and signaling mechanisms of chemosensory receptors—particularly odorant and pheromone receptors—using a combination of molecular biology, electrophysiology, and imaging techniques. A central theme is understanding how insect olfactory receptors, which are evolutionarily distinct from vertebrate G-protein-coupled receptors, transduce chemical signals into electrical responses through heteromultimeric complexes involving the conserved Orco co-receptor. The lab also explores the functional diversity and ligand specificity of gustatory receptors, particularly in lepidopteran species such as the silk moth.
