Explore research labs at leading universities worldwide — research fields and key papers at a glance.
Professor Masateru Taniguchi's research lab specializes in molecular electronics and nanoscale device engineering, focusing on the development of single-molecule junctions and molecular-scale electronic components. The lab pioneers innovative techniques for detecting viruses using nanopores combined with artificial intelligence, aiming to enable rapid, extraction-free diagnostics. Central to their work is the design and characterization of molecular devices with tailored electronic and optical functions through precise molecular wiring and symmetry control. They also explore novel electrochemical transistors based on organic semiconductors and solid electrolytes, advancing the field of flexible and low-power molecular electronics.
Professor Jun Takaya's research lab specializes in synthetic organometallic chemistry, focusing on the development of transition metal catalysts featuring M–E bonds (E = main group metals or metalloids) for sustainable transformations. The lab pioneers the design of innovative ligand frameworks—such as PSiP pincer and terpyridine-based metalloligands—that enable precise control over catalytic activity and selectivity. Key research directions include CO₂ fixation into valuable carboxylic acids, selective borylation of alkenes and allenes, and the catalytic activation of small molecules like CO₂ and H₂. The group emphasizes the use of earth-abundant metals and environmentally benign conditions to advance atom-economical and selective synthetic methods.
Professor Qingxin Zheng's research lab specializes in sustainable materials recycling and green chemical processes, with a strong focus on hydrothermal technologies for the recovery of valuable metals and polymers from waste streams such as lithium-ion battery cathodes and multi-layer plastic films. The lab develops innovative, environmentally friendly leaching methods using organic ligands like citric acid and glycine to selectively extract lithium, cobalt, manganese, and other critical elements under mild conditions, avoiding high-concentration acids or reductants. They also pioneer advanced extraction techniques using alternative solvents such as liquefied dimethyl ether (DME) and explore the simultaneous chemical and material recycling of complex waste materials, including PET/PE films, to achieve high-purity monomers and polymers. The overarching goal is to enable carbon-neutral, circular economy solutions for electronic and plastic waste.
Professor Norio Suzuki's research lab focuses on the molecular mechanisms underlying erythropoiesis, kidney disease pathology, and the multifaceted roles of erythropoietin (Epo) beyond hematopoiesis. The lab investigates Epo gene regulation, the identity and plasticity of renal Epo-producing cells (REPs), and their transformation into fibrogenic myofibroblasts in chronic kidney disease. Using transgenic mouse models and molecular analyses, the lab explores how Epo-EpoR signaling contributes to tissue homeostasis, neuroprotection, and renal fibrosis, with a strong emphasis on oxidative stress and transcriptional regulation via Nrf2. The work bridges hematology, nephrology, and developmental biology to uncover novel therapeutic targets for kidney disease and anemia.
Professor Norihito Fukui's research lab specializes in the design and synthesis of novel π-conjugated molecules and macrocyclic architectures with tailored electronic and optical properties. The lab focuses on developing innovative strategies—such as oxidative fusion, heteroatom insertion, and structural modulation—to create nonplanar and planar porphyrin-based materials, heteroacene derivatives, and perylene bisimide analogues with unique electronic behavior and solubility. Their work emphasizes structure-property relationships, enabling applications in organic electronics, optoelectronics, and molecular materials. The lab also explores dynamic reactivity, such as sulfur extrusion, to achieve reversible transformations and functional material fabrication.
Professor Jun-ichi Kira's research lab specializes in the immunogenetics and neuroimmunology of demyelinating diseases, with a focus on multiple sclerosis, neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSD), and chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP). The lab investigates genetic susceptibility, particularly HLA class II associations, and the role of autoantibodies such as anti-AQP4 and anti-NF155 in disease subtypes. Using clinical, imaging, and molecular techniques—including PCR quantification of viral DNA—the lab explores the pathogenesis of neuroinflammatory conditions like HTLV-I–associated myelopathy and distinct cytokine profiles in cerebrospinal fluid across disease phenotypes.
Professor Atsuhiko Isobe's research lab specializes in marine environmental science, with a primary focus on the distribution, transport, and ecological impacts of microplastics in the world's oceans. The lab conducts large-scale field surveys using advanced oceanographic instruments and modeling to quantify pelagic microplastics across diverse marine environments, from the North Pacific to the Southern Ocean. A key research direction involves developing standardized datasets and gridded models to assess global microplastic abundance and its temporal variations, supporting evidence-based environmental policy. The lab also investigates the role of ocean currents and physical oceanographic processes in shaping microplastic transport and accumulation patterns.
Professor Jeonghwan Lee's research lab focuses on advancing kidney health through translational and mechanistic studies in chronic kidney disease (CKD) and kidney transplantation. The lab investigates genetic, metabolic, and microbial factors influencing kidney function and disease progression, with a strong emphasis on identifying novel biomarkers and therapeutic targets. Utilizing innovative models such as kidney-on-a-chip and preclinical AKI-to-CKD transition models, the lab explores drug responses, nephrotoxicity, and the role of gut microbiota in systemic inflammation and renal outcomes. The research also integrates population-based genomics and clinical data to uncover genetic determinants of kidney function in diverse populations, particularly in Koreans.
Professor Hwasoo Yeo's research lab specializes in intelligent transportation systems, with a focus on traffic flow modeling, travel-time prediction, and the integration of emerging technologies such as autonomous vehicles and big data analytics. The lab conducts advanced research on dynamic traffic simulation, accessibility analysis for urban services like healthcare, and condition-based maintenance of transportation infrastructure. A key emphasis is placed on leveraging real-world trajectory data and machine learning techniques—particularly recurrent neural networks with attention mechanisms—for improving the accuracy of urban mobility forecasting and decision support systems.
Professor Du Yeol Ryu's research lab specializes in the design and fabrication of advanced nanostructured materials through block copolymer self-assembly, with a focus on controlling microphase separation for applications in nanofabrication, templating, and functional materials. The lab investigates the thermodynamics and kinetics of block copolymer phase behavior under external stimuli such as pressure and temperature, utilizing advanced scattering techniques and surface characterization. Key research directions include directed self-assembly for large-area, high-order nanostructures, hybrid and inorganic-containing block copolymers for ultra-small feature fabrication, and interfacial engineering to control microdomain orientation. The lab also explores functional block copolymers, including porphyrin-based systems, for applications in sensing, energy conversion, and biomedicine.
Professor Jin-Won Song's research lab specializes in viral ecology and zoonotic disease surveillance, with a primary focus on the molecular characterization and evolutionary dynamics of rodent- and shrew-borne viruses, particularly hantaviruses and paramyxoviruses. The lab employs advanced molecular techniques such as RT-PCR and whole-genome sequencing to investigate viral diversity, phylogeography, and host-virus interactions in small mammals across East Asia. Their work emphasizes active surveillance in natural reservoirs to understand the emergence and spread of infectious agents with public health significance.
Professor Yoshimitsu Itoh's research lab specializes in organic synthesis and supramolecular chemistry, with a focus on developing novel catalytic transformations and functional materials. Key research directions include the design of highly efficient Lewis acid-catalyzed cyclization reactions—such as the Conia-ene reaction using indium(III) salts—and the development of radical trifluoromethylation methodologies for synthesizing valuable CF₃-containing compounds. The lab also explores the self-assembly of chiral and shape-persistent molecules, particularly in liquid crystalline and supramolecular systems, to create hierarchically ordered materials with unique optical and electrical properties. These studies integrate synthetic methodology, physical organic chemistry, and advanced structural characterization techniques such as electron crystallography.
Professor Hirofumi Inaguma's research lab specializes in end-to-end speech and speech-to-text processing, with a strong focus on multilingual and low-resource speech translation, automatic speech recognition (ASR), and sequence-to-sequence modeling. The lab explores efficient, scalable architectures for streaming and non-streaming inference, leveraging transfer learning, language model fusion, and self-supervised pretraining to improve performance across diverse linguistic settings. A key research direction involves reducing latency in online speech recognition through attention mechanisms and alignment-based training strategies.
Professor Satoshi Fukumoto's research lab focuses on developmental biology and regenerative medicine, with a central emphasis on epithelial-mesenchymal interactions in organogenesis—particularly in tooth development and dental stem cell biology. The lab investigates molecular mechanisms underlying tissue morphogenesis, including the roles of extracellular matrix components like laminin-10/11 and signaling molecules such as SCFAs in gastrointestinal motility. Additionally, the lab explores stem cell differentiation and neurotrophic signaling pathways, as seen in studies on dental pulp stem cells and neuronal cell lines. Their work bridges developmental biology, cell signaling, and translational applications in tissue repair and regeneration.
Professor Yoshihiro Sakoda's research lab specializes in virology and molecular epidemiology of avian influenza viruses, with a focus on the surveillance, genetic characterization, and transmission dynamics of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) viruses such as H5N1. The lab investigates the role of wild migratory birds in the spread of HPAI, particularly in East Asia, and conducts field and laboratory studies to understand viral evolution and zoonotic potential. Their work contributes critical data for early detection and control strategies in both poultry and public health contexts.
Professor Michiko Yuki's research lab focuses on aging-related health challenges, particularly sarcopenia, post-stroke recovery, and nutritional status in older adults. The lab investigates the prevalence, risk factors, and non-pharmacological interventions for conditions such as post-stroke fatigue and malnutrition, with a strong emphasis on community-dwelling older adults in geriatric and rehabilitation settings. Her work also addresses environmental exposure to chemotherapy drugs, highlighting patient and family safety in home care. The lab integrates clinical, nutritional, and rehabilitative perspectives to improve geriatric healthcare outcomes.
Professor Jaewon Choi's research lab specializes in corporate finance and fixed income markets, with a focus on market microstructure, liquidity provision, and risk management in corporate bond markets. The lab investigates how financial intermediaries, particularly dealers, manage liquidity and risk, especially under stress conditions such as financial crises or regulatory changes. Key research directions include the dynamics of bid-ask spreads, the role of non-dealer liquidity providers, and the impact of funding constraints on market stability. The lab also explores corporate financing decisions, such as debt maturity structure and yield-chasing behavior in mutual funds.
Professor Kyung Hee Lee's research lab focuses on improving health-related quality of life (QoL) across diverse populations, with a strong emphasis on aging, dementia care, and patient-centered health interventions. The lab investigates consumer behavior toward health-promoting products—such as organic coffee—using behavioral theories like the Theory of Planned Behavior, while also exploring clinical outcomes in reproductive health, particularly in endometriosis and IVF. A central theme is the integration of theoretical frameworks, such as the PRECEDE-PROCEED model, to design effective health promotion programs that enhance knowledge and behavioral outcomes. The lab’s work spans public health, gerontology, clinical health services, and health psychology, with a commitment to reducing health disparities and improving patient-centered care.
Professor Joonwon Kim's research lab specializes in advanced functional materials and microfluidic systems with a focus on biomedical applications and flexible electronics. The lab develops nanoengineered surfaces for extreme fluidic performance, such as superhydrophobic coatings that drastically reduce droplet flow resistance, and designs biocompatible hydrogels for endovascular embolization. It also pioneers flexible, bending-insensitive capacitive sensors with electromagnetic interference shielding for wearable and robotic technologies. Additionally, the lab creates high-fidelity 3D vascular phantoms using elastomer-hydrogel multilayers to simulate real endovascular interventions.
Professor Kyungjae Myung's research lab focuses on the molecular mechanisms underlying genome stability and DNA damage response, with a particular emphasis on DNA replication, repair pathways, and the regulation of chromosomal integrity. The lab investigates key proteins and complexes—such as PCNA, RPA, CAF-I, RCAF, Ku86, and ATAD5—that maintain genomic fidelity during replication and in response to genotoxic stress. Using yeast and mammalian models, the lab explores how defects in these pathways lead to genomic instability, cancer predisposition, and cellular senescence, with a strong focus on post-translational modifications like ubiquitination and phosphorylation. Their work bridges fundamental DNA metabolism with human disease mechanisms, especially cancer and aging-related disorders.
