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 Junko Takita's research lab specializes in pediatric cancer genetics, with a primary focus on identifying genetic alterations underlying neuroblastoma pathogenesis. The lab investigates chromosomal abnormalities such as loss of heterozygosity (LOH), gene amplifications, and deletions—particularly on chromosomes 1p, 9p, 11q, and 18q—using molecular and genomic approaches. Key research directions include mapping tumor suppressor regions, identifying candidate oncogenes (e.g., MYEOV, NEGR1), and elucidating the role of ALK in neuroblastoma and other pediatric malignancies. The lab integrates molecular diagnostics, microarray analysis, and functional studies to uncover genetic drivers of tumor progression and prognosis.
Professor H. Matsuo's research lab focuses on molecular endocrinology and hematopoietic stem cell regulation, with a strong emphasis on the structure and function of pituitary hormones such as LH and FSH-releasing hormone. The lab also investigates transcriptional regulators like EVI1 and CEBPA in pediatric acute myeloid leukemia (AML), exploring their roles in leukemogenesis and clinical outcomes. Recent work integrates machine learning with clinical data to predict disease relapse in rheumatoid arthritis, reflecting a translational approach combining molecular biology with biomedical informatics. The lab's research spans from basic hormone structure to clinical applications in hematological malignancies and autoimmune diseases.
Professor Gonghui Wang's research lab specializes in geotechnical earthquake engineering and slope stability, with a focus on the mechanisms of liquefaction-induced landslides and undrained shear behavior of saturated soils. The lab investigates the progressive failure of slopes under seismic and rainfall-induced loading, particularly through advanced ring-shear testing to understand long-displacement shear behavior and post-liquefaction mobility. Research also emphasizes the influence of soil composition, such as loess content and initial density, on undrained strength and liquefaction potential in silty sands. The lab's work contributes to improved risk assessment and countermeasure design for landslide-prone regions.
Professor Toshiki Watanabe's research lab specializes in advanced seismic imaging and inverse modeling techniques, with a focus on high-resolution subsurface characterization using time-lapse and full-waveform seismic data. The lab develops innovative methods such as Fresnel volume-based tomography and frequency-domain viscoacoustic inversion to improve the accuracy of velocity and attenuation imaging. Additionally, the lab explores the interplay between microstructural evolution and mechanical properties in materials, particularly through in-situ nanoscale imaging of crack propagation and interfacial behavior in composites. The group also investigates solid-state battery interfaces, aiming to understand and control lithium dendrite formation through electrolyte doping and interfacial engineering.
Professor Takashi Nakajima's research lab specializes in ultrafast quantum dynamics and laser-matter interactions, with a focus on controlling atomic and molecular processes using tailored laser fields. The lab investigates phase-dependent phenomena in multiphoton ionization, autoionizing states, and few-cycle laser pulses, aiming to manipulate quantum pathways for selective population transfer and ionization control. Their work bridges theoretical modeling with practical applications in pulse characterization and coherent control of quantum systems.
Professor Yikai Hsieh's research lab specializes in space plasma physics, with a primary focus on relativistic electron dynamics in Earth's outer radiation belt. The lab investigates wave-particle interactions involving whistler mode chorus waves and energetic electrons, particularly through advanced test particle simulations and gyroaveraging techniques. Key research directions include nonlinear Landau resonance, energy transport of oblique waves, and the development of Green's functions to model electron acceleration and precipitation. The lab also explores the role of wave normal angles and wave amplitude in shaping electron distribution functions in space weather contexts.
Professor Ichirô Nakagawa's research lab specializes in microbial pathogenesis, with a primary focus on the molecular mechanisms of bacterial virulence, particularly in streptococci and Porphyromonas gingivalis. The lab investigates the genetic and genomic basis of pathogenicity, including the role of fimbrial adhesins and toxin production in invasive infections and periodontal disease. Key research directions include genome-wide comparative analysis of pathogenic strains, host-pathogen interactions, and the development of molecular typing methods to link bacterial genotypes with disease outcomes. The lab also explores the epidemiological and clinical significance of specific bacterial genotypes in systemic and localized infections.
Professor Hiroyuki Fujimoto's research lab specializes in advanced materials science with a focus on high-temperature superconductors and energy storage materials. The lab investigates the mechanical and superconducting properties of rare-earth barium copper oxide (REBCO) materials, particularly through melt-processing techniques to enhance fracture toughness and critical current density for practical applications. In parallel, the lab conducts cutting-edge studies on lithium-ion battery materials, employing in situ and operando techniques such as synchrotron X-ray diffraction to unravel the structural evolution and reaction mechanisms in graphite anodes. The integration of materials characterization with functional performance analysis underpins the lab’s mission to develop reliable, high-performance materials for energy and biomedical applications.
Professor Hanako Ohashi Ikeda's research lab focuses on retinal degenerative diseases, particularly retinitis pigmentosa, glaucoma, and Bietti's crystalline dystrophy, with an emphasis on understanding disease mechanisms and developing neuroprotective strategies. The lab utilizes stem cell-derived models, including iPSC-derived retinal organoids and retinal pigment epithelium cells, to study disease pathology and screen therapeutic compounds. A central theme is the role of cellular energy metabolism—especially ATP homeostasis—in retinal neuron survival, leading to the discovery and development of small molecules and metabolic modulators (e.g., BCAAs, VCP inhibitors) that protect photoreceptors and RPE cells.
Professor Kazuki Nagayasu's research lab focuses on the neurobiological mechanisms underlying mood regulation, with a central emphasis on serotonergic (5-HT) neurons in the dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN). The lab investigates how these neurons modulate reward and aversion circuits, particularly through projections to the ventral tegmental area (VTA), and explores their role in mediating the effects of antidepressants and memory-related behaviors. Using advanced optogenetic, chemogenetic, and ex vivo slice electrophysiology techniques, the lab examines synaptic and neurochemical adaptations in serotonergic systems in response to stress, antidepressants, and neuromodulators such as acetylcholine. A key focus is understanding the delayed therapeutic onset of antidepressants and the circuit-specific regulation of serotonin release.
Professor Kei Kamide's research lab focuses on the molecular mechanisms underlying cardiovascular and metabolic diseases, with a particular emphasis on the roles of non-coding RNAs such as ANRIL and signaling molecules like RGS2 in disease pathogenesis. The lab investigates how genetic variations and epigenetic regulation contribute to conditions including hypertension, left ventricular hypertrophy, and metabolic syndrome, often using animal models to dissect the contributions of the renin-angiotensin system and sympathetic nervous system. Current research explores the interplay between insulin resistance, local tissue RAS activation, and cardiac remodeling. The lab aims to identify novel therapeutic targets for preventing and treating cardiovascular and metabolic disorders.
Professor Hiroshi Yoshikawa's research lab specializes in stimuli-responsive biomaterials and laser-based microfabrication, focusing on the development of smart hydrogel substrates and ultrafast laser techniques for precise control of cellular microenvironments and protein crystallization. The lab investigates how mechanical cues—such as tunable elasticity in hydrogels—regulate cell morphology and adhesion, while also pioneering femtosecond and deep-UV laser applications to induce nucleation and pattern protein or small-molecule crystals with minimal damage. Their work bridges materials science, cell biology, and ultrafast optics to enable advanced tools for structural biology and regenerative medicine.
Professor Ikutaro Hamada's research lab specializes in theoretical and computational materials science, focusing on the electronic structure, surface chemistry, and interfacial phenomena of advanced materials. The lab employs advanced density functional theory (DFT) methods—particularly van der Waals density functionals and self-consistent screening techniques—to investigate weak interactions, adsorption processes, and catalytic mechanisms at surfaces and heterostructures. Key research directions include the design and simulation of 2D materials, transition metal catalysts, and electrochemical interfaces, with applications in energy conversion and sustainable materials. The lab emphasizes accurate modeling of dispersion forces, electrostatic effects, and electronic responses under realistic conditions such as electric fields and solvation.
Professor Kentaro Jingushi's research lab focuses on the role of extracellular vesicles (EVs) and non-coding RNAs in renal cell carcinoma (RCC), particularly clear cell RCC (ccRCC). The lab specializes in direct isolation of tissue-exudative EVs (Te-EVs) from human surgical specimens to identify tumor-specific biomarkers and signaling molecules, such as AZU1 and LAIR1, that contribute to tumor microenvironment remodeling and metastasis. They also investigate the functional roles of microRNAs like miR-629 and miR-122 in cancer progression and therapeutic response, alongside exploring the influence of microbial components in EVs on cancer pathogenesis. The lab integrates clinical samples with proteomic, genomic, and functional analyses to uncover novel mechanisms and biomarkers in kidney cancer.
Professor Isao Matsui's research lab focuses on the pathophysiology of kidney disease, particularly the roles of polyamines, vitamin D metabolism, and mineral metabolism in renal injury and vascular calcification. The lab investigates molecular mechanisms underlying podocyte damage, extraosseous calcification, and the protective functions of endogenous inhibitors such as fetuin-A and lysine in chronic kidney disease. Key research directions include the regulation of polyamine metabolism, the renoprotective effects of vitamin D, and the impact of dietary amino acids on calcification and renal outcomes.
Professor Masakazu Hamada's research lab focuses on the molecular mechanisms of nucleoporins, particularly RanBP2/Nup358, in nucleocytoplasmic transport, mitosis, and viral infection—especially HIV-1. The lab investigates the roles of these transport factors in cancer biology, including head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), and explores targeted therapies such as sphingosine kinase 1 inhibitors and oncolytic viruses. The lab also examines host-pathogen interactions, including the role of *Helicobacter pylori* in systemic conditions like obesity, linking oral microbiota to metabolic health.
Professor Md Sayeedul Islam's research lab focuses on computational and systems biology approaches to address pressing challenges in health and agriculture. The lab specializes in bioinformatics, phytochemical database development, and structure-based drug design, particularly targeting viral proteases like those of SARS-CoV-2 and influenza A. It also investigates plant stress responses, with recent work exploring the role of hydrogen-rich water in enhancing wheat resilience and the dynamic subcellular interactions between mitochondria and chloroplasts in photosynthetic cells. The lab integrates computational modeling with experimental validation to advance sustainable agriculture and drug discovery.
Professor Kotaro Satoh's research lab specializes in precision polymer synthesis, focusing on the development of advanced polymerization techniques such as living radical and controlled cationic polymerizations. The lab pioneers methods for stereoselective and sequence-controlled polymerization, enabling the creation of polymers with tailored architectures, tacticity, and functional end groups. Key research directions include the synthesis of functional and stimuli-responsive polymers using RAFT, NMP, and cationic mechanisms, often in environmentally benign media like water or fluoroalcohols. The lab also explores the transformation of natural terpenes into high-performance polymers with unique thermal, optical, and reactive properties.
Professor Natsue Yoshimura's research lab specializes in non-invasive brain-computer interface (BCI) systems, focusing on decoding motor and speech-related brain activities using electroencephalography (EEG) combined with functional MRI (fMRI). The lab develops advanced signal processing and machine learning methods—such as hierarchical Bayesian inference and matrix factorization—to estimate cortical current sources and identify brain activity synergies for precise neural decoding. A key research direction involves applying these techniques to assistive technologies for communication and motor control in individuals with neurological impairments, including those with speech or mobility disorders.
Professor Chunwei Zhang's research lab specializes in pore-scale multiphase flow and solute transport in porous media, with a strong emphasis on understanding fundamental mechanisms governing fluid displacement, dispersion, and trapping in geologic and engineered systems. Using advanced imaging techniques such as micro-focus X-ray computed tomography and numerical simulations like the lattice Boltzmann method, the lab investigates phenomena including capillary trapping, snap-off dynamics, and non-Fickian dispersion under varying wettability, capillary numbers, and flow conditions. The work bridges microscale physics with macroscale transport behavior, with direct applications in carbon dioxide sequestration, enhanced oil recovery, and subsurface environmental remediation.
