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 Masayuki Amagai's research lab specializes in autoimmune blistering diseases, with a primary focus on pemphigus and paraneoplastic pemphigus. The lab investigates the molecular and immunological mechanisms underlying these conditions, particularly the role of autoantibodies targeting desmosomal cadherins such as desmoglein 1 and 3. Using advanced molecular techniques—including recombinant protein expression, ELISA-based diagnostics, and genetically engineered mouse models—the lab aims to identify pathogenic epitopes and develop novel therapeutic strategies. Their work bridges basic immunology with clinical applications, contributing significantly to diagnosis and pathogenesis understanding of autoimmune skin disorders.
Professor Jumpei Sasabe's research lab focuses on the pathophysiological roles of D-amino acids, particularly D-serine, in neurodegenerative and renal diseases. The lab investigates the enzymatic regulation of D-serine by D-amino acid oxidase (DAO) and its implications in conditions such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and acute kidney injury. Using advanced analytical techniques like two-dimensional HPLC, the lab explores chiral amino acid metabolism and its impact on neuronal excitotoxicity and systemic homeostasis. A central theme is the translational connection between D-serine metabolism, DAO activity, and neurological disorders.
Professor Hiroyuki Yazu's research lab specializes in anterior segment ophthalmology, with a focus on diagnosing and managing corneal and cataract-related diseases using innovative, portable imaging technologies. The lab develops and validates smartphone-integrated slit-lamp devices—such as the Smart Eye Camera (SEC)—to enhance early detection of cataracts and corneal endothelial dysfunction in aging populations. Research also explores inflammatory and endothelial biomarkers in aqueous humor to predict surgical outcomes in endothelial keratoplasty, particularly in patients with bullous keratopathy. The lab emphasizes translational ophthalmic research that bridges clinical diagnostics with advanced imaging and biomarker analysis.
Professor Shu Wakino's research lab focuses on the molecular mechanisms underlying metabolic and cardiovascular diseases, with a central emphasis on the roles of PPARgamma and Sirt1 in regulating vascular function, insulin sensitivity, and renal protection. The lab investigates how nuclear receptors and sirtuin pathways modulate cellular signaling in smooth muscle cells, adipocytes, and renal cells, particularly in the context of hypertension, obesity, and chronic kidney disease. Key research directions include the regulation of Rho-kinase and nitric oxide pathways, the impact of metabolic stress on organ function, and the protective roles of endogenous and pharmacological ligands in disease models. The lab also explores gut microbiota-derived metabolites as potential mediators of renal and metabolic health.
Professor Kunihiko Kaneko's research lab specializes in nonlinear dynamics, complex systems, and statistical physics, with a focus on coupled map lattices, spatiotemporal chaos, and globally coupled chaotic systems. The lab investigates emergent phenomena such as spatiotemporal intermittency, pattern formation, and coherence in chaotic networks, exploring the interplay between local dynamics and global synchronization. A central theme is the breakdown and restoration of the law of large numbers in chaotic systems due to subtle correlations among elements, as revealed through mutual information and Lyapunov spectrum analysis. The lab also explores fundamental challenges in artificial life and the control of complex attractor dynamics through simple inputs and clustering mechanisms.
Professor Akira Nakayama's research lab specializes in theoretical and computational physics, with a focus on quantum many-body systems and their dynamical properties. The lab investigates quantum fluids such as liquid para-hydrogen and helium-4 using advanced path integral and semiclassical methods, aiming to understand superfluidity and quantum phase transitions. Another key direction involves the simulation of ultrafast electronic processes in biomolecules, particularly the nonradiative decay mechanisms of DNA bases using high-level quantum chemical methods. The lab also explores the interaction of alkali atoms with helium clusters and develops optical imaging techniques for biological systems, such as brown adipose tissue perfusion.
Professor Susumu Okazaki's research lab specializes in computational and theoretical chemistry, focusing on molecular simulations of aqueous solutions and interfacial phenomena. The lab employs Monte Carlo methods and quantum chemical calculations to investigate the thermodynamic and structural properties of water-solute interactions, particularly hydrophobic hydration and the effects of ions and surface modifiers on catalytic materials. Key research directions include the development of accurate intermolecular potential functions for water and organic molecules, and the application of these models to understand solvation behavior and catalytic activity in environmental and industrial processes.
Professor Takayuki Nakamuro's research lab specializes in advanced electron microscopy and single-particle dynamics, focusing on visualizing transient atomic and molecular processes in real time. The lab develops cutting-edge transmission electron microscopy techniques to observe stochastic phenomena such as crystal nucleation, molecular self-assembly, and structural transformations at the nanoscale with sub-nanometer and millisecond resolution. Their work bridges fundamental physical chemistry with materials science, enabling direct experimental access to previously inaccessible dynamic processes like entropy changes in melting and enantioselective organic reactions. The lab uniquely combines in situ imaging, time-resolved analysis, and theoretical modeling to unravel the mechanisms of complex chemical and physical phenomena at the single-molecule level.
Professor Fuminao Kishimoto's research lab specializes in the development of advanced functional materials and interfacial systems for sustainable energy conversion and catalysis. The lab focuses on manipulating electron transfer processes through external fields—particularly microwave irradiation—enabling remote, selective control of chemical reactions without altering temperature or material composition. Key research directions include microwave-enhanced photocatalysis, nanostructured host-guest systems (e.g., in zeolites, clay, and nanosheets), and the design of artificial photosynthetic systems with tailored energy transfer and Schottky barrier engineering. The lab integrates physical chemistry, materials science, and nanotechnology to create efficient, selective, and energy-saving catalytic processes.
Professor Kazuki Fukushima's research lab specializes in sustainable polymer science, focusing on the development and transformation of bio-based and biodegradable polymers for advanced applications. Key research directions include the synthesis and modification of aliphatic polycarbonates—particularly poly(trimethylene carbonate) and polylactic acid—through organocatalytic processes, with an emphasis on depolymerization and stereocomplex formation. The lab also explores innovative catalytic strategies using metal-free organocatalysts like TBD to enable efficient recycling and upcycling of waste plastics such as PET, aiming to create high-value monomers and functional materials. Their work bridges green chemistry, polymer engineering, and biomedical applications, targeting sustainable solutions for environmental and healthcare challenges.
Professor Takehiko Ohkawa's research lab specializes in computer vision and machine learning, with a focus on 3D hand pose estimation, egocentric vision, and domain adaptation. The lab develops large-scale datasets and advanced deep learning methods to address challenges in accurate 3D hand annotation, particularly in complex, real-world interactions involving hand-object manipulation. Key research directions include self-supervised and weakly supervised learning, image-to-image translation with cycle consistency, and robust segmentation under domain shift. The lab's work bridges fundamental vision research with practical applications in robotics, AR/VR, and human-computer interaction.
Professor Masaya Sato's research lab focuses on advancing the understanding and diagnosis of liver diseases, particularly hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), through innovative integration of clinical data, molecular biomarkers, and artificial intelligence. The lab specializes in developing machine learning and deep learning models that combine multimodal data—such as medical imaging (ultrasonography), patient background factors, and blood-based biomarkers—to improve diagnostic accuracy and predict disease progression. A key research direction involves elucidating the roles of bioactive lipids, like sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P), in liver fibrosis and inflammation, as well as the impact of genetic polymorphisms (e.g., IL28B, PNPLA3) on disease outcomes in chronic hepatitis C and HCC. The lab aims to translate these findings into clinically applicable tools for early detection and personalized management of liver diseases.
Professor Masanori Kunieda's research lab specializes in advanced manufacturing processes, particularly electrical discharge machining (EDM), with a focus on fundamental phenomena in micro- and nano-scale electrical discharge environments. The lab investigates the dynamics of discharge behavior, debris particle motion, and bubble formation in dielectric fluids using high-speed imaging and numerical simulations. A key innovation is the use of transparent conductive materials like SiC single crystals to enable real-time observation of discharge processes. The lab also develops computational models to analyze electrostatic forces and particle trajectories in narrow gaps, contributing to improved precision and efficiency in EDM applications.
Professor Cevayir Coban's research lab focuses on innate immunity and host-pathogen interactions, particularly in the context of malaria. The lab investigates the role of pathogen-associated molecular patterns—such as hemozoin and CpG DNA motifs—in activating Toll-like receptors (TLRs), especially TLR9, and their downstream effects on dendritic cell maturation and adaptive immune responses. A central theme is understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying the immunostimulatory effects of DNA vaccines and parasite-derived products, with the goal of enhancing vaccine efficacy through rational adjuvant design. The lab also explores how innate immune signaling pathways, such as MyD88-dependent TLR signaling, contribute to immunopathology in severe malaria.
Professor Masaki Nakano's research lab specializes in the development and characterization of advanced oxide and two-dimensional (2D) semiconductor heterostructures, with a focus on creating high-performance electronic and optoelectronic devices. Key research directions include the fabrication of high-efficiency UV photodetectors using ZnO single crystals and conducting polymers, the growth of high-quality 2D materials via molecular beam epitaxy, and the exploration of emergent quantum phenomena such as 2D ferromagnetism and field-effect modulation in oxide interfaces. The lab also investigates electric-field-controlled optical switching in materials like VO₂ for smart window applications, emphasizing the integration of functional oxides with organic semiconductors to enable novel functionalities in nanoscale devices.
Professor Masahiro Kinoshita's research lab specializes in theoretical and computational physical chemistry, focusing on the molecular-level understanding of solvation phenomena, protein folding, and intermolecular forces in complex fluids. The lab develops advanced integral equation theories—such as RISM and hypernetted-chain approaches—combined with Monte Carlo simulations to investigate the thermodynamics and structural properties of water and solutes in confined and heterogeneous environments. Key research directions include the hydrophobic effect, water's translational entropy in biomolecular processes, and ion-specific effects in aqueous solutions. The lab also pioneers predictive methods for protein folding and solvation free energies in solvent environments.
Professor Eisuke Kanao's research lab specializes in the development and application of advanced separation media, particularly carbon-based nanomaterials (CNMs) such as fullerenes, graphene, and carbon nanotubes, for high-performance liquid chromatography (LC). The lab focuses on understanding and exploiting weak intermolecular interactions—such as hydrogen bonding, halogen-π interactions, and π–π interactions—using novel stationary phases like functionalized silica monoliths and C70-fullerene-coated columns. A key research direction involves leveraging these interactions to achieve selective separation and analysis of isotopologues, glycan-modified extracellular vesicles (EVs), and aromatic compounds, enabling new insights in analytical chemistry and biomarker discovery. The lab also explores fundamental interactions at the molecular level through techniques like NMR and UV spectroscopy to correlate molecular structure with retention behavior.
Professor Toshimichi Ohmura's research lab specializes in the development of novel transition-metal-catalyzed asymmetric transformations, with a strong focus on enantioselective synthesis. Key research directions include the design of chiral ligands for iridium and rhodium catalysis, enabling highly enantioselective allylic amination and hydroboration reactions. The lab also pioneers innovative silaboration methodologies using silylboranes, achieving regio- and enantioselective C–C bond cleavage in strained systems such as methylenecyclopropanes. These methodologies provide efficient access to enantioenriched organoboron and organosilicon compounds, which are valuable building blocks in complex molecule synthesis.
Professor Takayuki Nakagawa's research lab specializes in inner ear immunology and regenerative medicine, focusing on the role of innate immunity in hearing disorders and the development of targeted drug delivery systems for the cochlea. The lab investigates cochlear macrophage origins and functions, explores the therapeutic potential of growth factors like IGF-1, and pioneers the use of biodegradable hydrogels and PLGA nanoparticles for localized inner ear drug delivery. Their work aims to improve treatments for noise-induced hearing loss and sudden sensorineural hearing loss, particularly in cases resistant to conventional therapies.
Professor Shuichi Shimma's research lab specializes in the development and application of advanced mass spectrometry techniques for biomedical and life science research. The lab focuses on imaging mass spectrometry, particularly matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) imaging, to visualize molecular distributions—such as steroids, drugs, and metabolites—directly on tissue sections with high sensitivity and spatial resolution. A key research direction involves the integration of tandem mass spectrometry (MSⁿ) and on-tissue derivatization or digestion methods to enable structural identification and differentiation of isomeric compounds. The lab also pioneers innovative instrumentation, including compact time-of-flight mass spectrometers and customized data analysis tools, to enhance analytical performance and clinical applicability.
