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 Masahiko Ajiro's research lab specializes in molecular mechanisms of alternative RNA splicing and its critical role in human diseases, particularly cancer and viral oncogenesis. The lab investigates how splicing regulators like SRSF3 and SRSF6 control the expression of oncogenes and tumor suppressors, and how viruses such as HPV16 and HPV18 exploit host splicing machinery to produce oncogenic isoforms. A central focus is on identifying cis-regulatory elements and trans-acting factors that govern splicing decisions, with translational applications in developing splice-modulating therapeutics for splicing-related diseases.
Professor Ken Mishina's research lab specializes in all-optical signal processing and advanced modulation formats for next-generation optical communication systems. The lab focuses on nonlinear optical signal processing, particularly all-optical modulation format conversion using fiber nonlinearity and semiconductor optical amplifiers (SOAs), with applications in high-speed, transparent photonic networks. A key research direction involves eigenvalue-based optical communication using the inverse scattering transform (IST), combined with machine learning techniques such as neural networks to enhance receiver sensitivity and mitigate impairments like fiber nonlinearity and carrier frequency offset. The lab also explores dispersion tolerance and robustness in all-optical transmission systems.
Professor Harald Gröger's research lab specializes in the development of innovative, catalytic methods for asymmetric synthesis, with a strong focus on enantioselective transformations. The lab pioneers the use of chiral organic catalysts, including bifunctional systems combining Lewis acid and base functionalities, to achieve high enantioselectivity in key reactions such as Strecker synthesis, aldol reactions, and phosphonylation. Their work bridges organic synthesis and biocatalysis, exploring both metal-based and metal-free catalytic systems for the efficient production of enantiomerically pure pharmaceutical intermediates. The research emphasizes sustainable and atom-economical routes to biologically active compounds, particularly α-amino and α-hydroxy phosphonates, and related chiral building blocks.
Professor Akihisa Koga's research lab specializes in strongly correlated electron systems, focusing on quantum phase transitions, Mott physics, and exotic quantum phases in low-dimensional and quasiperiodic lattices. The lab employs advanced theoretical and numerical methods such as dynamical mean-field theory, quantum Monte Carlo, and series expansion to explore the interplay of electron correlations, orbital degrees of freedom, and lattice geometry. Key research directions include the emergence of heavy-fermion behavior, spin-gap phases, and unconventional metal-insulator transitions in multiorbital and frustrated systems.
Professor Kengo Kubota's research lab specializes in environmental microbiology, with a focus on advanced molecular techniques for detecting and characterizing microbial communities in complex ecosystems. The lab pioneers the development and application of fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) technologies, particularly CARD-FISH, to enhance the sensitivity and specificity of rRNA and functional gene detection in environmental samples. Their work also extends to natural product chemistry, including the isolation and structural elucidation of bioactive compounds such as quassinoids from plant sources. The integration of molecular microbiology with environmental and pharmaceutical chemistry defines the lab’s interdisciplinary approach.
Professor Zheng-Ze Pan's research lab specializes in the design and fabrication of bio-inspired, hierarchical porous materials with tailored microstructures for advanced energy and environmental applications. The lab focuses on utilizing sustainable biomass-derived materials—particularly cellulose and lignin—combined with advanced processing techniques like unidirectional freeze-drying to create functional monoliths with controlled anisotropic architectures. Key research directions include the development of high-performance electrodes for lithium-sulfur batteries, supercapacitors, and defect-engineered carbon nanomaterials through precise structural control at the nanoscale. The lab also explores the fundamental principles of ice-templating and structural evolution during thermal treatment to optimize material crystallinity and performance.
Professor Masanori Natsui's research lab specializes in the development of energy-efficient, nonvolatile memory and logic-in-memory architectures for next-generation computing systems, particularly targeting IoT and AI applications. The lab focuses on spintronic devices such as magnetic tunnel junctions (MTJs), spin-transfer torque MRAM (STT-MRAM), and spin-orbit torque MRAM (SOT-MRAM), emphasizing high-speed, low-power operation with improved endurance and reliability. Key research directions include the integration of nonvolatile memory into microcontroller units (MCUs) and hardware accelerators through innovative circuit design, power-gating techniques, and 3D integration, enabling instant-on, normally-off operation with minimal leakage. The lab also develops automated design environments and precise device modeling to support practical implementation on advanced CMOS processes.
Professor Kunimichi Niibe's research lab specializes in regenerative medicine and stem cell biology, with a focus on optimizing 3D culture systems to maintain the stemness and multilineage potential of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). The lab develops innovative bioreactor and hydrogel-based platforms—such as 3D shaking cultures and stiffness-tunable hydrogels—to enhance chondrogenic and osteogenic differentiation of iPSC-derived cells and MSC spheroids. A key research direction involves improving cell therapy outcomes through preconditioning strategies, such as hypoxia, to enhance paracrine signaling and tissue regeneration in periodontal and orthodontic applications.
Professor Kohei Fujiwara's research lab specializes in the discovery and characterization of novel functional materials, with a focus on topological quantum materials and amorphous semiconductors. The lab investigates the electronic and transport properties of materials such as magnetic Weyl semimetals and Fe-Sn amorphous films, exploring phenomena like the anomalous Hall and Nernst effects arising from short-range topological order. They also study organic anion transporters in biological systems, particularly in thyroid hormone transport, bridging materials science and molecular biology. Their work combines advanced thin-film fabrication techniques with sophisticated electronic and magnetic measurements to uncover new physics and potential applications in spintronics and bioelectronics.
Professor Michio Niwano's research lab specializes in surface and interface science of semiconductors and oxides, with a focus on the atomic-scale mechanisms of oxidation, passivation, and surface reactions. The lab employs advanced spectroscopic techniques—such as infrared spectroscopy in multiple internal reflection geometry, high-resolution photoemission spectroscopy with synchrotron radiation, and in situ real-time analysis—to investigate the chemical and electronic structures of silicon and titanium dioxide surfaces under various conditions. Key research directions include the initial oxidation of hydrogen-terminated silicon, the formation and stability of interfacial suboxides, and the generation and characterization of nanobubbles and photocatalytic nanostructures. The lab also explores surface modification processes using UV-ozone, HF treatment, and anodization for applications in nanoelectronics and environmental technologies.
Professor Taro Ozaki's research lab specializes in the discovery, characterization, and biosynthetic elucidation of novel natural products, particularly ribosomally synthesized and post-translationally modified peptides (RiPPs) and complex terpenoid and polyketide metabolites. The lab employs a multidisciplinary approach combining genomics, biochemistry, enzymology, and in vitro reconstitution to decode the enzymatic mechanisms underlying structural diversity in natural products. A key focus is on understanding the molecular basis of post-translational modifications, such as azole formation, dehydroamino acid generation, and prenylation, often involving unique or split-function enzymes.
Professor Bailong Liu's research lab specializes in the mechanical and fluid transport behaviors of unconsolidated and unconventional reservoir rocks, with a focus on hydraulic fracturing, fluid invasion, and permeability evolution. The lab develops advanced numerical models—integrating pore-scale network modeling, solid mechanics, and continuum mechanics—to simulate complex processes such as pore-throat clogging, microcrack formation, and visco-plastic deformation in porous media. Their work bridges microscale mechanisms with field-scale applications, particularly in challenging environments like oil sands and methane hydrate reservoirs. The lab emphasizes predictive modeling for enhanced hydrocarbon recovery and reservoir management.
Professor Yojiro Mori's research lab specializes in advanced optical communication systems and photonics, focusing on high-capacity, high-speed optical transmission technologies for next-generation networks. The lab investigates digital signal processing techniques—particularly decision-directed carrier-phase estimation and adaptive FIR filtering—for mitigating phase noise and nonlinear impairments in coherent optical systems. Their work spans experimental and theoretical studies on high-order QAM modulation, optical switching in data centers, and the application of advanced optical components such as ROADM and optical circuit switches. The lab also explores structural properties of chalcogenide semiconductors through high-pressure X-ray diffraction, linking materials science with photonic device applications.
Professor Manabu Bessho-Uehara's research lab specializes in the molecular and biochemical mechanisms of bioluminescence across diverse marine and terrestrial organisms. The lab investigates the ecological roles, evolutionary origins, and metabolic pathways of bioluminescent systems, with a particular focus on coelenterazine metabolism, luciferase diversity, and dietary acquisition of luminescent compounds. Key research directions include the discovery of novel bioluminescent species, especially in deep-sea and soil ecosystems, and the identification of biosynthetic sources of luciferins and luciferases in nature. The lab employs integrative approaches combining biochemistry, molecular biology, and environmental sampling to uncover the hidden diversity and ecological significance of bioluminescence in understudied invertebrate lineages.
Professor Ryo Takigawa's research lab specializes in advanced bonding technologies and nanofabrication techniques for hybrid photonic integrated circuits, with a focus on lithium niobate (LiNbO₃) and silicon-based platforms. The lab develops room-temperature and low-temperature bonding methods—such as surface-activated bonding and Au–Au microbump bonding—to enable high-performance, compact, and thermally stable optoelectronic devices. Key research directions include the fabrication of low-loss waveguides, air-gap structures for high-speed modulators, and the integration of III-V semiconductors and Si substrates with ferroelectric materials like LiNbO₃.
Professor Toshihiro Tsuchiyama's research lab specializes in advanced materials processing and microstructure control, particularly focusing on high-chromium martensitic steels and high-nitrogen stainless steels. The lab investigates fundamental phenomena such as recrystallization, tempering behavior, and grain refinement through techniques like mechanical alloying, powder consolidation, and heat treatment. Key research directions include the development of fine-grained, high-strength steels with enhanced creep resistance and corrosion stability by manipulating precipitation behavior and grain boundary dynamics. The lab also explores the role of nanoscale carbides and nitrides in controlling microstructural evolution and mechanical properties.
Professor Shinsuke Fujii's research lab focuses on the molecular mechanisms underlying circadian rhythms, particularly in Drosophila, with an emphasis on how neural circuits and molecular clocks regulate social behaviors such as male courtship. The lab also investigates the role of signaling pathways—especially Wnt/β-catenin and MAPK—in developmental disorders and tumorigenesis, including odontogenic neoplasms and squamous cell carcinomas. A key interest lies in understanding how epigenetic regulation, such as DNA hypomethylation, influences oncogenic gene expression, exemplified by ARL4C in cancer progression. Additionally, the lab explores stress response mechanisms in yeast, particularly trehalose accumulation and membrane fluidity in barotolerance. These diverse yet interconnected research directions highlight a strong focus on cellular signaling, developmental biology, and translational implications in disease.
Professor Takeshi Fujisawa's research lab specializes in the design and optimization of advanced photonic integrated circuits and optical components for high-speed, low-loss, and energy-efficient optical communication systems. The lab focuses on novel waveguide structures—such as slot waveguides, photonic crystal fibers, and compact bend configurations—enabling polarization-insensitive and broadband functionalities essential for next-generation optical interconnects. Key research directions include nonlinear optical devices, dispersion compensation in fiber systems, and ultra-compact components for dense integration. The lab combines rigorous full-vector finite-element simulations with innovative structural designs to achieve breakthrough performance in optical signal processing and transmission.
Professor Kyoko Hida's research lab focuses on tumor angiogenesis and the genetic and phenotypic abnormalities of tumor endothelial cells (TECs) within the tumor microenvironment. The lab investigates how hypoxia and other microenvironmental stresses contribute to chromosomal instability and drug resistance in TECs, challenging the long-held assumption that TECs are genetically normal. Using human tumor xenograft models and advanced cellular and molecular techniques, the lab explores the crosstalk between tumor cells and endothelial cells, particularly through extracellular vesicles like TMV, to uncover novel mechanisms driving tumor progression and metastasis. Their work aims to identify new therapeutic targets for anti-angiogenic therapies and improve cancer treatment strategies.
Professor Kiyotaka Uchiyama's research lab focuses on improving the quality of life and clinical outcomes in patients with chronic kidney disease, particularly those on peritoneal dialysis (PD) and autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD). The lab investigates the benefits of non-pharmacological interventions such as home-based exercise programs and medication optimization—like combining tolvaptan with trichlormethiazide—to enhance physical function, reduce disease progression, and mitigate treatment-related side effects. A key emphasis is placed on understanding the interplay between gut microbiota, metabolic dysfunction, and muscle wasting in uremic patients. The lab also explores surgical feasibility and long-term outcomes in dialysis patients, including the use of jejunal grafts in specific clinical contexts.
