东京大学、京都大学、大阪大学等日本QS前10名大学的研究室信息。
Professor Toshiyuki Ko's research lab focuses on the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying cardiac fibrosis, heart failure, and cardiomyopathy, with a particular emphasis on DNA damage response, nuclear envelope pathology, and epigenetic regulation in aging and disease. The lab integrates multi-omics approaches—including single-cell RNA sequencing, spatial transcriptomics, ATAC-seq, and proteomics—to dissect the role of key regulators such as Htra3, mutant Lamin A/C, and TEAD1 in maintaining cardiac homeostasis and driving disease progression. A central theme is the intersection of nuclear integrity, genomic stress, and fibrotic remodeling in the aging heart, aiming to identify novel therapeutic targets for heart failure and laminopathies.
Professor Shotaro Torii's research lab specializes in viral virology and environmental virology, with a focus on understanding the behavior, recovery, and inactivation of human enteric viruses—particularly enveloped and non-enveloped viruses—in complex environmental matrices such as wastewater and drinking water. The lab investigates virus concentration methods, disinfection efficacy, and the impact of genetic diversity on viral susceptibility to chemical and physical disinfectants. A central theme is improving the reliability of wastewater-based epidemiology for pathogen surveillance by optimizing molecular detection and assessing variability in viral inactivation kinetics across genotypes and host cell systems.
Professor Satoshi Usami's research lab specializes in advanced longitudinal data analysis methods in the behavioral and social sciences, with a focus on modeling reciprocal relationships and causal inference between variables over time. The lab develops and compares statistical models such as the cross-lagged panel model (CLPM), random-intercept CLPM (RI-CLPM), general cross-lagged panel model (GCLM), latent change score (LCS) models, and autoregressive cross-lagged (ARCL) models to improve the validity of causal inferences in psychological and medical research. A central theme is the distinction between within-person and between-person effects, and the lab emphasizes methodological rigor in model selection and interpretation. The lab also explores innovative measurement techniques, including faking-resistant personality assessments using item response theory and pairwise preference-based designs.
Professor Tao Li's research lab specializes in self-supervised representation learning for video understanding, with a strong focus on contrastive learning, spatio-temporal modeling, and efficient motion feature extraction. The lab develops innovative methods such as Inter-Intra Contrastive learning and residual frame-based 3D ConvNets to improve video representation with reduced computational cost. They also explore multimodal human-computer interaction, including tactile feedback systems for prosthetics, aiming to enhance sensory feedback in assistive technologies. Their work bridges deep learning, video understanding, and human-centered applications.
Professor Qi Zhou's research lab specializes in sustainable built environments, with a focus on indoor air quality, energy efficiency, and the adaptive reuse of heritage buildings. The lab integrates computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and building energy simulation to optimize indoor environmental quality and thermal comfort in hospitals and historic structures. It also conducts field measurements and historical investigations to preserve architectural heritage while adapting it for modern functional and societal needs. The research bridges engineering, environmental science, and cultural heritage, emphasizing practical solutions for health, sustainability, and urban development.
Professor Chao Wang's research lab specializes in the development of innovative transition-metal-catalyzed and organocatalyzed transformations for the selective construction of complex organic molecules. Key research directions include C–O and C–C bond activation, enantioselective cascade reactions, and the generation of reactive intermediates such as silyl radicals and boronate esters for synthetic applications. The lab also explores the structure-property relationships of 2D nanomaterials, particularly graphene wrinkles, to understand and engineer thermal transport at the nanoscale. These interdisciplinary efforts bridge synthetic methodology, mechanistic understanding, and materials science to enable sustainable and efficient synthesis of high-value compounds.
Professor Kazuhiro Irie's research lab specializes in the molecular mechanisms underlying protein aggregation and signal transduction, with a focus on Alzheimer’s disease pathogenesis and the structural biology of signaling enzymes. The lab investigates the role of amyloid-beta peptides—particularly Aβ42—in neurodegeneration, exploring how specific amino acid residues and post-translational modifications influence aggregation, conformation, and toxicity. Additionally, the lab examines the structure-function relationships of cysteine-rich C1 domains in protein kinase C and diacylglycerol kinase, elucidating their ligand-binding specificity and potential for selective modulation. These studies integrate biophysical techniques such as solid-state NMR, site-directed mutagenesis, and binding assays to uncover molecular targets for neurodegenerative disease intervention and drug development.
Professor Behnam Ghalei's research lab specializes in the design and development of advanced functional materials for environmental and energy applications, with a strong focus on membrane science and nanomaterials. The lab investigates polymeric and metal-organic framework (MOF)-based membranes for gas separation, particularly CO₂ capture and hydrogen purification, leveraging molecular engineering and nanostructured materials. Key research directions include the synthesis of bioactive wound dressings using electrospun nanofibers, functionalized mesoporous silica for polymer composites, and CO₂-philic membranes inspired by enzyme mechanisms. The lab also explores scalable synthesis of microporous polymers for high-performance separation processes.
Professor Ryuhei Hayashi's research lab focuses on regenerative medicine and stem cell biology, particularly the differentiation of human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) into ocular surface epithelial cells such as corneal and conjunctival epithelial cells. The lab develops innovative differentiation and purification strategies—such as stromal cell-derived inducing activity (SDIA) and CD200-negative selection—to generate transplantable epithelial cell sheets for treating ocular surface diseases. They also investigate molecular mechanisms regulating epithelial cell fate, including laminin isoform effects and KLF4's role in suppressing fibrosis via TGF-β2 inhibition.
Professor Hiroki Kurita's research lab specializes in stereotactic radiosurgery and radiosurgical outcomes in cerebrovascular and neurological disorders, with a focus on arteriovenous malformations (AVMs), cavernous sinus meningiomas, and epilepsy-related AVMs. The lab investigates both the clinical efficacy and early biological effects of radiation on neural tissues, including radiation-induced apoptosis in white matter and histological changes following radiosurgery. Additionally, the lab explores advanced materials for biomedical and structural applications, such as carbon nanotube-reinforced metal matrix composites. These diverse research directions reflect a strong translational focus, bridging clinical neurosurgery with experimental neuroscience and materials science.
Professor Haruo Kanno's research lab focuses on spinal cord injury repair, with a central emphasis on molecular mechanisms underlying neural regeneration and neuroprotection. The lab investigates the role of key signaling pathways such as mTOR and autophagy in modulating neuronal survival and axonal regeneration after spinal cord injury. Innovative therapeutic strategies, including pharmacological modulation with rapamycin and cell-based therapies using genetically engineered Schwann cells, are explored to overcome the inhibitory environment of the injured spinal cord. The lab also employs advanced imaging techniques to assess structural and functional outcomes in preclinical models.
Professor Takeo Yoshikawa's research lab focuses on the neurobiological mechanisms of brain histamine signaling, with a central emphasis on histamine metabolism, transport, and receptor function. The lab investigates the roles of astrocytes and microglia in regulating histaminergic tone, particularly through the expression and activity of histamine N-methyltransferase (HNMT) and histamine receptors. Using a combination of cellular, preclinical, and neuroimaging approaches—including PET imaging and genetically modified mouse models—the lab explores the pathophysiological implications of histaminergic dysfunction in neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease, schizophrenia, and narcolepsy. A key goal is to develop and evaluate central-acting compounds targeting the histamine system for therapeutic applications.
Professor Akinori Hosoyamada's research lab specializes in quantum cryptanalysis and post-quantum security of symmetric-key primitives. The lab focuses on analyzing the security of widely used cryptographic schemes—such as block ciphers, hash functions, and authenticated encryption—under quantum computing threats, particularly superposition queries. Key research directions include quantum key-recovery attacks, distinguishing attacks on Feistel structures and permutations, and the design of quantum-secure constructions in the idealized model. The lab also investigates the limitations and improvements of existing cryptanalytic techniques like limited birthday distinguishers and meet-in-the-middle attacks in the quantum setting.
Professor Yoshinori Ikenaka's research lab specializes in environmental toxicology and chemical pollution, focusing on the fate, distribution, and health impacts of heavy metals and pesticides in ecosystems and humans. The lab investigates contamination by neonicotinoid insecticides in children, tea, and aquatic environments, emphasizing exposure assessment and ecological risk. Their work combines field sampling, chemical analysis, and ecotoxicological experiments to evaluate the effects of pollutants such as benzo[a]pyrene and heavy metals on aquatic organisms and ecosystems. The lab also contributes to public health and environmental safety through risk assessment and exposure monitoring.
Professor Mitsuhiro Akiyama's research lab focuses on the immunological mechanisms underlying autoimmune and fibrotic diseases, with a central emphasis on the role of T follicular helper (Tfh) cell subsets—particularly Tfh2 cells—in the pathogenesis of IgG4-related disease (IgG4-RD). The lab investigates how specific Tfh subsets drive IgG4 class-switching, plasma cell differentiation, and chronic inflammation, while also exploring the impact of immune checkpoint molecules such as OX40 and TIGIT on disease activity. Their work integrates clinical immunology with translational research to identify novel therapeutic targets for autoimmune and vasculitic disorders.
Professor Shohei Okamoto's research lab focuses on the intersection of health, aging, and socioeconomic factors, with a particular emphasis on cognitive aging, financial literacy, and health disparities across the lifespan. The lab investigates how education, occupation, income, and social determinants influence cognitive functioning, health behaviors, and decision-making in older adults, especially in the Japanese context. A key focus is on promoting healthy aging through policy-relevant insights on financial literacy, vaccine acceptance, and employment beyond retirement. The lab also examines intergenerational socioeconomic influences on adolescent health and well-being.
Professor Éric Leclerc's research lab specializes in the development of advanced microfluidic biochips for in vitro toxicology and drug metabolism studies. The lab focuses on creating organ-on-a-chip models—particularly liver-kidney co-cultures—using primary and cell line models to better predict human physiological responses and reduce reliance on animal testing. Their work integrates microengineering, cell biology, and systems biology to study metabolic pathways, drug toxicity, and first-pass effects with high physiological relevance. The lab also emphasizes multi-omics approaches (transcriptomics, proteomics) to understand how microfluidic environments influence cellular function and drug response.
Professor Yoshikazu Ohya's research lab focuses on molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying fundamental processes in budding yeast (*Saccharomyces cerevisiae*), with a central emphasis on cell wall biogenesis, membrane trafficking, and calcium homeostasis. The lab investigates the regulation of 1,3-beta-glucan synthase and its key regulators, such as Rho1p and Fks1p, to understand cell wall integrity and morphogenesis. Using genetic, biochemical, and imaging approaches—including high-content phenotypic analysis of mutants—the lab explores gene function, signaling networks, and the systems-level organization of cellular processes. Their work bridges molecular genetics with functional genomics, revealing conserved mechanisms relevant to eukaryotic cell biology and human disease.
Professor Chun-Dong Zhang's research lab focuses on gastrointestinal oncology, with a primary emphasis on gastric cancer and early-onset colorectal cancer. The lab investigates tumor microenvironment factors such as hypoxia and lymphovascular invasion (LVI), exploring their roles in cancer progression, prognosis, and therapeutic response. Key research directions include surgical outcomes in gastric cancer, particularly the comparison of laparoscopic vs. open distal gastrectomy, and the molecular mechanisms of tumor-related genes like PRR11 in non-small cell lung cancer, especially in cell cycle regulation and autophagy. The lab integrates clinical oncology with molecular biology to identify prognostic biomarkers and potential therapeutic targets.
Professor Minoru Yamashita's research lab specializes in quantum condensed matter physics, focusing on strongly correlated electron systems, quantum spin liquids, and unconventional superconductivity. The lab employs advanced low-temperature thermal transport measurements—particularly thermal conductivity and thermal Hall effect—to probe the nature of quasiparticle excitations and topological order in quantum materials. Key research directions include identifying gapless spinon-like excitations in quantum spin liquids, characterizing unconventional superconducting order parameters with line or point nodes, and exploring exotic topological states such as Majorana fermions in superfluid 3He-A. The lab also investigates the interplay between electronic order, lattice effects, and magnetic fields in quantum materials using highly sensitive transport and spectroscopic techniques.
