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 Goro Motomura's research lab specializes in orthopedic biomechanics and osteonecrosis of the femoral head (ONFH), focusing on the pathological mechanisms underlying femoral head collapse and the biomechanical stress distribution in early-stage disease. The lab employs advanced imaging techniques, patient-specific finite element modeling, and histological analysis to investigate how necrotic bone lesions progress to structural failure. A key research direction involves evaluating the protective effects of combined medical therapies—such as anticoagulants and lipid-lowering agents—against steroid-induced osteonecrosis in preclinical models. The lab also explores the role of sclerotic boundaries and trabecular architecture in disease progression using micro-CT and surgical specimen analysis.
Professor Kentaro Tanaka's research lab focuses on molecular mechanisms underlying immune regulation and cancer development, particularly in T cell differentiation and hepatocellular carcinoma. The lab investigates key signaling molecules such as SOCS1 in autoimmune diseases and explores hormonal and genetic factors contributing to cancer progression, including EGFR mutations in non-small cell lung cancer. Their work bridges immunology, oncology, and molecular medicine to identify therapeutic targets and resistance mechanisms in cancer. The lab employs both murine disease models and clinical cohort studies to translate molecular insights into potential clinical applications.
Professor Shozo Jinno's research lab specializes in the neuroanatomy and neurobiology of the hippocampus, focusing on the cellular and circuit-level organization underlying cognitive and affective functions. The lab employs advanced stereological and neuroanatomical techniques to investigate regional and laminar differences in neuronal and glial populations, including GABAergic interneurons, microglia, and adult-born neurons. Key research directions include the topographic organization of the hippocampus along the dorsoventral and transverse axes, the role of calcium-binding proteins and perineuronal nets in neural circuit plasticity, and the functional diversity of interneuron subtypes. The lab also explores the dynamic interactions between neural activity, extracellular matrix structures, and neurogenesis in health and disease.
Professor Hiroshi Kajihara's research lab specializes in the systematics, taxonomy, and evolutionary morphology of nemerteans (ribbon worms), with a particular focus on the diversity and phylogenetic relationships within the class Palaeonemertea and the order Monostilifera. The lab conducts detailed morphological analyses of type specimens and newly collected materials to resolve species boundaries, validate taxonomic nomenclature, and revise higher-level classifications. Their work integrates historical literature with modern anatomical studies, often leading to the description of new species and the re-evaluation of long-standing taxonomic concepts. The lab also maintains a strong focus on Japanese marine biodiversity, contributing comprehensive faunal catalogs and critical assessments of species identities in regional faunas.
Professor Keiji Tanino's research lab specializes in synthetic organic chemistry, with a strong focus on the development of novel cycloaddition reactions and stereoselective synthesis methods. The lab is particularly known for pioneering the use of dicobalt acetylene complexes in [5+2] cycloadditions and in the construction of complex carbocyclic frameworks, such as those found in natural products like ingenol. Their work also extends to innovative strategies for diastereoselective polyol synthesis and the design of fluorescent labeling reagents with tunable emission properties. These methodologies have broad applications in the synthesis of bioactive natural products and functional molecules.
Professor Mamoru Morikawa's research lab specializes in maternal-fetal medicine, focusing on the complex interplay between metabolic disorders—such as diabetes and glucose intolerance—and hypertensive disorders in pregnancy. The lab investigates predictors of preeclampsia, fetal growth restriction, and adverse perinatal outcomes, with particular attention to glycemic control, gestational hypertension, and proteinuria. Their work also explores preventive strategies, such as seat belt use and early screening for gestational diabetes, to improve maternal and neonatal health outcomes.
Professor Mariko Morimoto's research lab specializes in consumer behavior, with a focus on the psychological and cultural dynamics underlying advertising effectiveness, privacy concerns, and media attitudes. The lab investigates how factors such as psychological reactance, persuasion knowledge, cultural identity, and perceived intrusiveness shape consumer responses to direct marketing and personalized advertising. Key research directions include the impact of race, ethnicity, and cultural congruency on source credibility, as well as cross-cultural differences in advertising perceptions across Japan and Asian American communities. The lab also examines the role of privacy concerns and information control in shaping attitudes toward unsolicited e-mails and digital advertising across social media platforms.
Professor Yosuke Nakazawa's research lab specializes in bioactive natural compounds and their therapeutic applications, particularly focusing on carotenoids and flavonoids in disease prevention. The lab investigates the anti-cancer and anti-cataract properties of marine and dietary compounds such as fucoxanthin and hesperetin, with an emphasis on their mechanisms of action and bioavailability enhancement. Key research directions include the molecular regulation of lens transparency, water transport in the eye, and the development of novel, safe, and affordable nutraceuticals for long-term treatment of cataracts and cancer.
Professor Mitsuhiro Sado's research lab focuses on the societal and economic burden of mental and neurological disorders in Japan, with a particular emphasis on schizophrenia, depression, anxiety disorders, and dementia. The lab investigates cost components such as productivity loss, informal care, and healthcare utilization, aiming to identify effective interventions—especially in mental health care access and suicide prevention. A key focus is on improving outcomes through non-pharmacological treatments like Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT), particularly for treatment-resistant conditions. The lab also examines the psychological impact on caregivers, highlighting the need for holistic support systems.
Professor Nobuo Matsubayashi's research lab specializes in industrial organization and microeconomic theory, with a focus on strategic firm behavior in differentiated markets. The lab investigates key issues such as product positioning, quality competition, and vertical differentiation under constraints like repositioning costs and network externalities. It also explores the strategic interactions between retailers and manufacturers, particularly in the context of store brand outsourcing and e-commerce dynamics. Additionally, the lab examines the impact of information technology and consumer behavior on market equilibrium and welfare in both online and offline retail environments.
Professor Masaru Ogura's research lab specializes in the design, synthesis, and application of advanced porous materials, with a focus on zeolites, mesoporous silica, and carbon-based materials. Key research directions include the controlled synthesis of hierarchical porous structures, surface modification for catalytic and adsorption applications, and the development of composite materials for thermal energy storage and environmental remediation. The lab also investigates the fundamental behavior of materials during synthesis and processing, such as phase transformations and structural evolution under drying conditions. Their work bridges materials chemistry, catalysis, and sustainable energy technologies.
Professor Taku Kitanosono's research lab specializes in sustainable organic synthesis, with a central focus on advancing catalytic reactions in water as a green reaction medium. The lab explores the unique reactivity and selectivity enhancements observed in aqueous environments, particularly in asymmetric catalysis using transition metal complexes such as Cu(II) and Sc(III) with chiral ligands. Key research directions include the development of water-compatible Lewis acids, mechanistic studies on rate acceleration in water, and the design of heterogeneous and homogeneous catalytic systems that exploit interfacial effects for enantioselective transformations. The lab also investigates the role of solvent effects and counteranions in controlling reaction pathways and selectivities, contributing to the broader vision of atom-economical and environmentally benign synthesis.
Professor Shuo Cheng's research lab specializes in advanced vehicle dynamics control and active safety systems for autonomous driving. The lab focuses on developing robust, model-based control strategies—particularly model predictive control (MPC), H∞ control, and nonlinear estimation techniques—to enhance vehicle stability, path tracking, and collision avoidance under uncertain and time-varying conditions. Key research directions include integrated steering and braking control, side-slip angle estimation, and human-machine cooperative driving systems that balance automation with driver comfort and safety.
Professor Nobutake Yamamichi's research lab focuses on gastrointestinal diseases, particularly the molecular and epigenetic mechanisms underlying colorectal and gastric carcinogenesis. The lab investigates non-coding RNAs such as miR-21, epigenetic regulators like the SWI/SNF complex, and the impact of lifestyle factors—including diet, sleep, and coffee consumption—on acid-related disorders and colorectal conditions. Their work integrates molecular pathology, clinical endoscopy, and large-scale epidemiological data to identify biomarkers and understand disease progression.
Professor T. Katayama's research lab specializes in marine microalgae biotechnology, focusing on the sustainable production of high-value bioactive compounds such as eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), fucoxanthin, and other carotenoids. The lab investigates physiological responses of microalgae—particularly diatoms like *Chaetoceros gracilis* and *Thalassiosira weissflogii*—to environmental stressors such as light intensity, dark storage, and nutrient availability (e.g., silicate), aiming to optimize biomass and compound yields in controlled cultures. A central theme is the regulation of light-harvesting and photoprotective pigments, with applications in nutraceuticals, functional foods, and renewable bioproducts.
Professor Shintaroh Kubo's research lab specializes in integrative structural biology and computational biophysics, focusing on the molecular mechanisms of motor proteins and membrane-bound enzymes at near-atomic resolution. The lab combines cryo-electron microscopy, high-speed atomic force microscopy (HS-AFM), and advanced molecular simulations—such as molecular dynamics and hybrid Monte Carlo methods—to investigate dynamic processes like proton translocation in F<sub>O</sub> ATP synthase, allosteric signaling in dynein, and structural remodeling in ciliary microtubules. A central theme is understanding how conformational changes and energy transduction drive cellular motility and bioenergetics. The lab also develops innovative image processing techniques, including Kalman filtering and hysteresis correction, to enhance the accuracy of HS-AFM data.
Professor Shumpei Ishikawa's research lab specializes in computational pathology and artificial intelligence-driven analysis of cancer histopathology. The lab focuses on developing deep learning-based methods to quantitatively decode tumor morphology from whole-slide images, with an emphasis on universal representation learning through deep texture representations (DTRs). Key research directions include unsupervised histological profiling, content-based image retrieval, and the integration of histopathological features with genomic and clinical data to identify biomarkers and predict treatment responses.
Professor Shun Okumura's research lab specializes in theoretical condensed matter physics, focusing on quantum materials with complex magnetic textures such as skyrmions, chiral soliton lattices, and magnetic hedgehog lattices. The lab investigates the interplay between electronic structure, electron correlation, and topological spin configurations, particularly in itinerant electron systems and chiral magnets. Using advanced theoretical and computational methods—including variational calculations, simulated annealing, and micromagnetic simulations—the lab explores emergent phenomena like topological transport, optical responses, and spin wave instabilities in low-dimensional magnetic systems. Their work bridges fundamental many-body physics with potential applications in spintronics and quantum devices.
Professor Kazuki Sawayama's research lab specializes in subsurface fluid-rock interactions, with a focus on understanding the hydraulic and geophysical properties of fractured rocks under variable stress and fluid conditions. The lab integrates experimental rock mechanics, numerical simulations (including lattice Boltzmann and digital fracture modeling), and geophysical monitoring techniques to investigate permeability, electrical resistivity, and elastic wave velocity changes in response to fluid saturation and stress. Their work bridges fundamental rock physics with practical applications in geoengineering, geothermal energy development, and earthquake hazard assessment.
Professor Ryoichi Sakata's research lab specializes in advanced photonic devices, particularly photonic-crystal surface-emitting lasers (PCSELs) with spatially modulated nanostructures. The lab focuses on developing mechanical-free, high-power, and high-beam-quality two-dimensional beam scanning lasers for applications in LiDAR, smart mobility, and adaptive illumination. Key research directions include dually modulated photonic crystals, inverse design of beam patterns, and integration of Q-switching for ultrafast structured light generation.
