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 Tetsuya Honda's research lab focuses on the immunomodulatory roles of lipid mediators in inflammatory and immune diseases, particularly in skin immunity and autoimmune conditions. The lab investigates how specialized pro-resolving mediators like resolvin E1 and prostaglandins regulate dendritic cell function, T cell activation, and immune cell trafficking in models of contact hypersensitivity and rheumatoid arthritis. Using genetically engineered mouse models, including conditional mast cell-deficient and receptor-knockout strains, the lab dissects the cell-specific roles of lipid mediators and their receptors in immune homeostasis and inflammation. Their work bridges innate immunity, lipid signaling, and tissue-specific immune regulation, with implications for developing targeted anti-inflammatory therapies.
Professor S. Suetsugu's research lab specializes in quantum condensed matter physics, focusing on strongly correlated electron systems and topological quantum materials. Key research directions include the search for quantum spin liquids, Majorana fermions, and topological superconductivity in frustrated magnets and Dirac materials. The lab employs advanced low-temperature, high-field transport and thermodynamic measurements to probe exotic quantum ground states and emergent quasiparticles.
Professor Hironori Katoh's research lab focuses on the molecular mechanisms underlying cytoskeletal dynamics and cell motility, with a central emphasis on Rho family GTPases and their downstream signaling pathways. The lab investigates how small GTPases such as Rho, Rac, Cdc42, and RhoG regulate neurite outgrowth, cell migration, and cancer cell invasion through specific guanine nucleotide exchange factors (GEFs) and effectors like ROKalpha, ELMO/Dock180, and Ephexin4. A key theme in the lab's work is the regulation of cellular morphology and migration in neuronal and cancer cells, particularly in the context of growth factor signaling and pathological conditions such as glioblastoma. The research also explores the metabolic vulnerabilities of cancer cells, especially their dependence on glucose metabolism and sensitivity to glucose deprivation.
Professor Kei Ohkubo's research lab specializes in photocatalysis and photoinduced electron transfer processes, focusing on the development of efficient, selective, and sustainable photocatalytic systems for the functionalization of hydrocarbons and small molecules under ambient conditions. The lab explores the mechanistic pathways of charge separation and radical intermediates using advanced spectroscopic techniques such as laser flash photolysis, with applications in the selective oxidation of arenes and alkanes to valuable oxygenated products. A key focus is on designing organic photocatalysts—particularly acridinium and quinone-based systems—that enable visible-light-driven transformations with high turnover numbers and quantum yields.
Professor Yosuke Funato's research lab focuses on the molecular mechanisms underlying cellular magnesium (Mg²⁺) homeostasis, with a central emphasis on the CNNM family of Mg²⁺ transporters and their regulatory interactions. The lab investigates how Mg²⁺ signaling impacts fundamental cellular processes such as energy metabolism, mTOR/AMPK signaling, and tumorigenesis, particularly through the PRL-CNNM4 axis. They also explore the roles of redox-regulated proteins like nucleoredoxin (NRX) in developmental pathways and oxidative stress responses. The lab integrates structural biology, cell biology, and in vivo models to dissect Mg²⁺-dependent signaling networks in health and disease.
Professor Hideki Taguchi's research lab specializes in the structural and functional analysis of protein folding chaperones, prion biology, and the self-assembly of amyloidogenic proteins. The lab employs advanced biophysical techniques such as cryo-electron microscopy, high-speed atomic force microscopy, and fluorescence correlation spectroscopy to investigate the dynamics of protein aggregates in living cells and in vitro. A central focus is understanding how intrinsically disordered proteins like Sup35 form pathological or functional amyloid fibrils, and how molecular chaperones such as GroEL-GroES and thermophilic chaperonins facilitate proper protein folding under extreme conditions. The lab also explores the synthesis and characterization of functional oxide materials, particularly perovskite-type manganites, via low-temperature sol-gel processes for potential applications in energy and catalysis.
Professor Takeharu Tsuge's research lab specializes in microbial biotechnology and metabolic engineering, focusing on the enzymatic synthesis and molecular design of biodegradable polyesters known as polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs). The lab investigates PHA synthase enzymes and their engineering to tailor copolymer compositions and molecular weights for enhanced material properties. Key research directions include protein engineering of PHA synthases, metabolic pathway optimization in recombinant hosts like *Ralstonia eutropha*, and the development of novel PHA-based materials with tailored thermal, mechanical, and degradability characteristics. The lab also explores the biosynthesis of aromatic and medium-chain-length PHAs to expand the functional diversity of these sustainable polymers.
Professor Erwin Wu's research lab specializes in human motion understanding and interactive training systems, with a focus on leveraging computer vision, deep learning, and immersive technologies like VR and mixed reality. The lab develops real-time 3D human pose estimation and motion forecasting systems to enhance skill acquisition in sports and martial arts, emphasizing intuitive feedback and personalized training. Key research directions include vision-based hand and body pose estimation, temporal modeling of human motion, and the design of intelligent training systems that simulate expert performance for skill transfer. The lab also explores how visual and haptic cues in virtual environments can improve learning efficiency and motor skill development.
Professor Cong Huang's research lab focuses on the genetic and molecular mechanisms underlying complex agronomic traits in upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum), utilizing genome-wide association studies and high-throughput genotyping to identify key genetic variants. The lab also investigates the roles of microRNAs in cellular processes such as osteoblast differentiation and proliferation in mesenchymal stem cells, contributing to bone biology and regenerative medicine. Additionally, the lab explores the epidemiological links between metabolic factors—like uric acid levels—and human health outcomes, including muscle strength and mental health. These interdisciplinary efforts bridge plant genetics, molecular biology, and human health research.
Professor Joji Kusuyama's research lab focuses on the molecular and epigenetic mechanisms regulating mesenchymal stem cell differentiation, particularly the balance between adipogenesis and osteogenesis. The lab investigates how mechanical stimuli—such as low-intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS)—influence cell fate decisions and tissue regeneration, with applications in bone repair and metabolic disease prevention. A key theme is the role of mechanical and environmental cues in epigenetic reprogramming, including DNA demethylation and histone modifications, especially in the context of maternal health and offspring metabolic programming. The lab also explores the regulatory roles of secreted factors like SOD3 and OPN in modulating cellular responses to stress and growth factors.
Professor Mingxu Liu's research lab focuses on atmospheric chemistry and air quality, with a particular emphasis on the sources, transformations, and impacts of gaseous and particulate pollutants in China. Key research directions include ammonia (NH₃) emissions and their role in secondary aerosol formation, acid rain, and nitrogen deposition, as well as the development of high-resolution emission inventories using satellite observations and chemical transport modeling. The lab also investigates the interplay between industrialization, agricultural practices, and atmospheric pollution, especially during severe haze events in the North China Plain. Additionally, the lab explores sustainable solutions such as carbon-neutral hydrogen storage using formic acid-based catalytic systems.
Professor Kaoru Yamanouchi's research lab specializes in ultrafast laser spectroscopy and molecular dynamics, focusing on high-intensity laser-matter interactions, vibrational and electronic structure analysis of molecules, and the development of advanced optical techniques for real-time chemical probing. The lab investigates fundamental processes in polyatomic molecules, van der Waals complexes, and excited-state dynamics using high-resolution fluorescence and stimulated emission spectroscopy. It also pioneers novel ultrafast laser sources and parametric amplification schemes for long-wavelength, few-cycle pulses, enabling applications in coherent Raman spectroscopy and nonlinear optics. The research bridges quantum chemistry, molecular physics, and photonics to explore light-induced phenomena at the quantum level with high temporal and spectral resolution.
Professor Hiroyasu Yamahara's research lab specializes in advanced functional materials and nanoscale devices for next-generation sensing and spintronic applications. The lab focuses on oxide semiconductors, graphene-based nanomaterials, and magnetic oxides, with key research directions including flexoelectricity in epitaxial oxide films, low-dimensional semiconductor heterostructures, and high-sensitivity gas sensors using suspended graphene and surface acoustic waves. The team integrates advanced thin-film growth techniques such as pulsed laser deposition with cutting-edge characterization methods to develop materials for ultra-sensitive, low-power, and room-temperature operation in healthcare and environmental monitoring.
Professor Hiroyuki Tamura's research lab specializes in theoretical and computational materials science, focusing on charge transfer and energy conversion processes in organic semiconductors and quantum nanostructures. Key research directions include the fundamental mechanisms of exciton dissociation and free carrier generation in organic photovoltaics, singlet fission dynamics in acene-based materials, and the electronic and vibronic coupling effects governing charge separation. The lab also investigates ion channel dysfunction in human disease models and hypernuclear gamma transitions using advanced quantum dynamical simulations and first-principles methods.
Professor S. Ninomiya's research lab specializes in plant phenomics and agricultural image analysis, focusing on developing advanced computer vision and machine learning techniques to automate the assessment of plant growth, yield, and stress responses. The lab emphasizes non-invasive, high-throughput phenotyping for both model plants and field crops, with applications in yield prediction, seedling vigor evaluation, and soil amendment impact assessment. A key focus is on overcoming challenges related to environmental variability and threshold dependency in image-based plant trait estimation.
Professor Tomohiro Tanaka's research lab specializes in integrated hydrological and hydraulic modeling, with a focus on flood risk assessment, climate change impacts, and the simulation of surface water dynamics in complex river systems and floodplains. The lab applies advanced numerical models—such as distributed hydrological models with kinematic wave approximation and 2D local inertial equations—to simulate river discharge and flood propagation under varying climatic conditions, particularly in mountainous and tropical basins. A key emphasis is on leveraging large ensemble climate datasets (e.g., d4PDF) and big data analytics to develop probabilistic flood risk curves and assess simultaneous flood risks across river networks. The lab also explores neurophysiological mechanisms underlying visual-motor integration, particularly in saccadic eye movement control, through single-neuron recordings in primate brain areas.
Professor Masao Nagasaki's research lab specializes in computational systems biology and genomic medicine, focusing on the integration of high-throughput genomic data with systems-level modeling to understand human disease mechanisms. The lab develops advanced bioinformatics tools—such as GON and Cell Illustrator—for modeling and simulating biopathways, enabling systems-level analysis of genetic and molecular networks. It also conducts large-scale population genomics studies, including the 1KJPN project, to characterize genetic variation in the Japanese population and identify genetic factors underlying complex diseases like amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The lab bridges genomics, systems biology, and clinical research to uncover disease-associated variants and regulatory mechanisms.
Professor Yasushi Hiraoka's research lab specializes in advanced optical microscopy and multispectral imaging techniques to investigate cellular dynamics and chromosomal organization in living cells. The lab focuses on developing and applying high-resolution, three-dimensional imaging systems to study gene localization, chromosome pairing, and codon usage bias in model organisms such as *Drosophila melanogaster* and *Schizosaccharomyces pombe*. A central theme is the integration of computational image analysis with live-cell imaging to understand the spatial and temporal regulation of cellular components at the molecular level. The lab also explores the functional implications of non-coding RNAs in homologous chromosome pairing and gene expression regulation.
Professor Shinya Kanemura's research lab focuses on theoretical particle physics, particularly exploring physics beyond the Standard Model through precision Higgs boson studies, electroweak baryogenesis, and models of dark matter and neutrino mass generation. The lab investigates radiative corrections and quantum effects in two Higgs doublet models, extended Higgs sectors, and gauge symmetries such as $U(1)_{B-L}$, aiming to connect theoretical predictions with future collider experiments. Key research directions include the phenomenology of Higgs couplings, the nature of dark matter candidates, and the realization of strong first-order phase transitions for baryogenesis. The lab emphasizes testable models that link electroweak symmetry breaking, neutrino masses, and dark matter within a unified theoretical framework.
Professor Kazu Suenaga's research lab specializes in the atomic-scale characterization of advanced nanomaterials, with a focus on carbon-based nanostructures such as carbon nanotubes, fullerenes, and boron nitride hybrids. The lab pioneers cutting-edge electron microscopy and spectroscopy techniques—particularly electron energy-loss spectroscopy (EELS) at the single-atom level—to visualize and identify individual atoms and their dynamic behaviors within nanostructures. Their work reveals fundamental mechanisms of nanotube growth, molecular motion, and interfacial interactions at the nanoscale, providing critical insights for next-generation nanodevices and materials. The lab's innovative approach bridges materials synthesis with ultra-high-resolution analytical imaging, enabling unprecedented observation of atomic and molecular phenomena in confined environments.
