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 Mitsuru Arima's research lab focuses on retinal vascular diseases, particularly diabetic retinopathy (DR) and retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), with a central emphasis on understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying blood-retinal barrier dysfunction. The lab investigates the interplay between angiogenic factors like VEGF and pro-inflammatory cytokines in disease progression, identifying key molecules such as basigin as shared therapeutic targets. A major research direction involves developing predictive models for treatment-requiring ROP and evaluating the long-term neurodevelopmental impact of anti-VEGF therapy in preterm infants. The lab also pioneers non-invasive imaging technologies for pediatric fundus examination to improve early diagnosis and reduce risks in fragile neonates.
Professor Chiharu Ishii's research lab specializes in the development and application of advanced analytical methodologies, particularly multi-dimensional liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) systems, for the sensitive and selective determination of chiral amino acids and their enantiomers in complex biological and food matrices. The lab focuses on exploring the physiological roles and biomarker potential of D-amino acids in mammalian systems, including their relevance in kidney function, protein aging, and host-microbiota interactions. A key research direction involves integrating metabolomics and microbiome data through innovative strategies such as metabologenomics to uncover metabolic insights in disease and health. The lab also pioneers analytical techniques for handling challenging sample types, including fermented foods and stored proteins, using derivatization and advanced image processing for data enhancement.
Professor Akio Miyara's research lab specializes in experimental and numerical investigations of heat transfer and fluid dynamics in advanced thermal systems, with a focus on phase change phenomena, refrigerant behavior, and fluid properties under industrial conditions. The lab conducts detailed studies on condensation heat transfer, viscosity measurements of environmentally friendly refrigerants, and pressure drop characteristics in microfin and smooth tubes, particularly for applications in high-efficiency heat pumps and organic Rankine cycles. Their work combines precise experimental techniques with advanced numerical modeling to support the design and optimization of sustainable thermal energy systems.
Professor Sagar Saren's research lab specializes in sustainable energy systems, with a primary focus on advanced sorption-based thermal cycles for low-grade heat recovery and temperature upgrading. The lab investigates innovative thermodynamic cycles such as adsorption heat transformers (AHT) to enhance energy efficiency and support decarbonization goals. It also explores the application of these technologies in real-world challenges, including pandemic-related energy and infrastructure crises. The research integrates thermodynamic modeling, material characterization, and system optimization for practical deployment in developing and industrialized contexts.
Professor Hideo Maruyama's research lab specializes in environmental and chemical engineering, focusing on sustainable solutions for water purification and waste valorization. Key research directions include the development of bio-based flocculants and adsorbents for removing endocrine-disrupting chemicals and oil pollutants from aqueous systems, as well as the utilization of biowaste materials—such as calcined scallop shells—as heterogeneous catalysts for biodiesel production. The lab also explores innovative separation techniques, including ultrasonic atomization and ion-exchange adsorption, to enhance efficiency in contaminant removal and product recovery.
Professor Yoshitsugu Nakanishi's research lab specializes in biliary tract oncology, with a focus on the pathological mechanisms, biomarkers, and prognostic factors of cholangiocarcinoma, particularly intrahepatic and extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma. The lab investigates tumor biology, including tumor budding, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), and the role of preoperative biomarkers such as s-CA19-9 in predicting lymph node metastasis and survival outcomes. They also explore rare biliary neoplasms, such as intraductal papillary neoplasms of the bile duct, with a particular interest in their cellular origins and morphological features. Their work emphasizes improving surgical outcomes through better risk stratification and recurrence monitoring.
Professor Hyojin Ahn's research lab specializes in environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding and aquatic biodiversity assessment, with a focus on fish and microbial communities in estuarine, riverine, and marine ecosystems across Japan. The lab investigates the impacts of environmental and biological factors—such as temperature, feeding behavior, and habitat development—on eDNA persistence and detection efficiency. They also develop and optimize eDNA sampling and extraction methods for challenging environments, including deep-ocean and low-biomass systems. Their work supports conservation monitoring, especially for rare and endangered species, by enhancing non-invasive biodiversity assessment techniques.
Professor Manabu Igarashi's research lab focuses on viral pathogenesis and host-virus interactions, with a central emphasis on understanding the molecular mechanisms of RNA virus replication, particularly influenza and SARS-CoV-2. The lab investigates viral cap modification pathways, host factors involved in immune evasion, and the development of broad-spectrum antiviral therapeutics targeting host enzymes such as MTr1. Key research directions include structural virology, host-directed antiviral strategies, and the discovery of endogenous antiviral elements in vertebrate genomes. The lab integrates structural modeling, functional virology, and in silico drug screening to identify novel therapeutic targets and inhibitors.
Professor Junichi Kurihara's research lab specializes in upper atmospheric and space physics, with a focus on the dynamics and energetics of the polar thermosphere and ionosphere. The lab conducts coordinated multi-instrument observations using sounding rockets, ground-based radars (such as EISCAT and FPI), and advanced remote sensing techniques—including UAV-based hyperspectral imaging and multispectral sensors on microsatellites—to study atmospheric responses to solar-terrestrial interactions. Key research directions include energy deposition in the thermosphere, neutral and ion temperature variations, wind dynamics, and early detection of environmental stress in tropical vegetation using spaceborne and airborne remote sensing. The lab also explores the physiological roles of endocannabinoids in neurogenic signaling, bridging atmospheric science with biomedical applications.
Professor Ziheng Wang's research lab specializes in interdisciplinary data science, focusing on advanced machine learning and multimodal data analysis for biomedical and healthcare applications. The lab develops innovative models that integrate spatio-temporal dynamics, structured sparsity in deep learning, and hierarchical relationships among biological or behavioral signals—such as facial expressions, action units, and muscle activity. A key research direction involves leveraging hidden information and multi-omics data to enhance model interpretability and performance in low-data regimes, particularly for aging and disease prediction. The lab also pioneers efficient deep learning inference techniques, such as sparse computation acceleration, to support real-world deployment in healthcare systems.
Professor Arthur Favrel's research lab specializes in fluid machinery and hydraulic systems, with a primary focus on cavitation-induced instabilities in Francis turbines and pump-turbines. The lab investigates the hydro-acoustic behavior of precessing vortex ropes in draft tubes, particularly under off-design operating conditions such as part load and full load, aiming to predict and mitigate pressure pulsations and system resonances. Using advanced experimental techniques like Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV), high-speed visualization, and pressure measurements, the lab combines physical modeling with one-dimensional numerical simulations to understand the transition between stable and unstable flow regimes. Their work supports the reliable integration of hydropower into modern, renewable-energy-integrated power grids by extending the stable operating range of hydraulic machines.
Professor Akihiro Takamiya's research lab specializes in neuropsychiatry and neuroimaging, focusing on the neurobiological mechanisms underlying electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) in severe mood disorders. The lab investigates how ECT induces structural and functional brain changes—particularly in limbic circuits, default mode network, and frontotemporal connectivity—linking these to clinical outcomes in treatment-resistant depression and late-life depression. Using advanced neuroimaging techniques such as amyloid PET and structural MRI, the lab explores the interplay between depression, neurodegeneration, and Alzheimer’s disease pathology in older adults. The research also emphasizes patient-reported outcomes and ethical considerations in involuntary ECT, integrating clinical, neurobiological, and psychosocial perspectives.
Professor Hideyuki Hayashi's research lab specializes in translational cancer genomics and precision oncology, focusing on identifying and validating molecular biomarkers for cancer prognosis and treatment selection. The lab develops and implements next-generation sequencing (NGS)-based genomic profiling platforms to detect actionable gene alterations, microsatellite instability (MSI-H), and mismatch repair deficiency (dMMR) across various solid tumors. A key emphasis is on the clinical application of molecular diagnostics, including the comparison of PCR-based and NGS methods for MSI/dMMR detection, and optimizing chemotherapy regimens such as FOLFIRINOX for Japanese pancreatic cancer patients. The lab also explores the structural and functional mechanisms of enzymes involved in metabolic pathways, as demonstrated by studies on aspartate aminotransferase and its catalytic intermediates.
Professor Arihiro Iwasaki's research lab specializes in the discovery and structural elucidation of bioactive natural products from marine cyanobacteria, with a focus on novel lipopeptides and depsipeptides exhibiting potent biological activities. The lab employs advanced spectroscopic techniques, chiral HPLC, and degradation studies to determine the gross structures and absolute configurations of these compounds. Key research directions include the identification of compounds that inhibit cancer cell growth, induce apoptosis, or target specific enzymes and ion pumps such as SERCA. The lab also explores the chemodiversity of cyanobacteria from unique marine environments, particularly in East Asia, contributing to the discovery of new natural product scaffolds with therapeutic potential.
Professor Junichi Sasaki's research lab specializes in molecular virology and RNA biology, with a focus on unconventional translation mechanisms in positive-sense RNA viruses, particularly those infecting insects. The lab investigates internal ribosome entry site (IRES)-mediated translation initiation, revealing that some viral capsid proteins are synthesized not from an AUG start codon but via alternative mechanisms involving non-AUG initiation, such as glutamine as the initiating amino acid. The lab also explores the structural and biochemical properties of bacterial cell wall components, particularly peptidoglycans containing D- and L-amino acids like 2,4-diaminobutyric acid, contributing to microbial taxonomy and cell wall biosynthesis. Their work bridges virology, translation biology, and microbial biochemistry, using biochemical and molecular techniques to uncover fundamental mechanisms of gene expression and microbial cell wall diversity.
Professor Teruaki Hayashi's research lab focuses on data-driven innovation and the development of digital ecosystems, particularly in the context of data exchange platforms and marketplaces. The lab explores methods for fostering creative problem-solving through role-based innovation games and investigates the structural and behavioral dynamics of data platforms to enhance data usability and value creation. A key focus is on enabling secure, privacy-preserving data sharing and matching by modeling user data requests and provider capabilities. The lab also examines the permeation mechanisms of pharmaceutical compounds through biological membranes, contributing to drug delivery science.
Professor Ryota Tanomura's research lab specializes in integrated photonics, focusing on the design and realization of reconfigurable optical unitary processors for next-generation photonic systems. The lab pioneers compact, scalable, and robust photonic integrated circuits based on the multi-plane light conversion (MPLC) concept, enabling high-performance optical signal processing in applications such as optical communications, optical neural networks, and quantum information processing. By leveraging novel components like half-integer multimode interferometers and multiport directional couplers, the lab achieves energy-efficient, multi-wavelength, and polarization-multiplexed optical processing on silicon and InP platforms.
Professor Zilu Liang's research lab focuses on intelligent systems for health and transportation, with a strong emphasis on wearable technology and urban traffic management. The lab investigates the accuracy, usability, and credibility of consumer sleep-tracking devices like Fitbit, exploring how personal health data from wearables influences behavior and decision-making. Simultaneously, the lab develops proactive traffic prediction models to enhance Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS), particularly for urban road networks where traditional highway-centric models fall short. Research spans data-driven modeling, human-computer interaction, and real-world validation of health and mobility technologies.
Professor Satoshi Yamaguchi's research lab specializes in the development of advanced biomaterials and molecular systems for life science and biomedical applications. Key research directions include designing stimuli-responsive materials—such as supramolecular hydrogels and ultrasound- or light-activatable carriers—for controlled protein and gene delivery. The lab also focuses on innovative molecular probes for visualizing membrane microdomains and dynamic molecular recognition, leveraging supramolecular chemistry and advanced imaging techniques. Their work bridges synthetic chemistry, materials science, and cell biology to create smart, non-invasive tools for precision medicine and functional protein engineering.
Professor Masahiro Ibe's research lab specializes in theoretical particle physics and cosmology, with a focus on physics beyond the Standard Model. Key research directions include supersymmetric models—particularly those based on gravity mediation and gauge mediation—dark matter phenomenology, and the theoretical underpinnings of cosmic ray and neutrino signals. The lab investigates the interplay between dark matter, Higgs boson physics, and baryogenesis, aiming to connect theoretical predictions with observations from the LHC, direct detection experiments, and high-energy neutrino observatories like IceCube.
