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 Yasutaka Fushimi's research lab specializes in advanced neuroimaging techniques, with a primary focus on optimizing magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) sequences and reconstruction methods for improved visualization of cerebrovascular structures and brain tissue microstructure. The lab investigates high-field (3.0 T) MRI applications, including time-of-flight MRA, diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), and quantitative susceptibility mapping (QSM), to enhance diagnostic accuracy for cerebrovascular diseases such as moyamoya disease and cerebral aneurysms. A key research direction involves the development and validation of compressed sensing and parallel imaging techniques to reduce scan time while maintaining image quality and quantitative accuracy. The lab also explores the long-term effects of gadolinium-based contrast agents on brain tissue, particularly in the dentate nucleus, using quantitative susceptibility mapping.
Professor Takayuki Miyazawa's research lab specializes in virology, with a primary focus on retroviruses and coronaviruses affecting animals, particularly feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV), koala retrovirus (KoRV), and SARS-CoV-2. The lab investigates viral pathogenesis, host-virus interactions, viral receptors, and mechanisms of viral persistence, including viral reservoirs in immune cells. They also develop cell culture systems and molecular tools to isolate and characterize emerging and zoonotic viruses.
Professor Yoji Kobayashi's research lab specializes in the design and synthesis of advanced functional materials through topochemical and solid-state transformations, with a focus on transition metal oxides, oxyhydrides, and metal-organic frameworks. Key research directions include the development of porous semiconducting MOFs, the activation of nitrogen and hydrogenation to ammonia using solid-state hydrides, and the creation of novel layered perovskites with tailored anion and cation compositions. The lab also explores nanoscale morphological engineering, such as nanotube formation and 2D-to-1D transformations, to access materials with unique magnetic, electronic, and catalytic properties.
Professor Ken Terao's research lab specializes in the physical chemistry of macromolecules, with a primary focus on the structural and solution behavior of synthetic and biopolymers. The lab investigates the conformational properties of semiflexible and wormlike chains using advanced scattering techniques (light and small-angle X-ray scattering), viscometry, and sedimentation equilibrium to understand chain stiffness, persistence length, and thermodynamic interactions. Key research directions include the synthesis and characterization of well-defined polymacromonomers, collagen model peptides, and functional polymers such as PH3MPS and amylose derivatives, with applications in materials science and biomedicine. The lab also explores radiation-induced crosslinking of gelatin for developing bio-hydrogels with tunable thermal and enzymatic stability.
Professor Masashi Yagi's research lab specializes in advanced radiation oncology and particle therapy, focusing on improving the accuracy and biological effectiveness of proton and carbon-ion radiotherapy. The lab develops innovative imaging and dosimetry techniques—such as monochromatic CT imaging and dedicated dose monitors—for enhanced treatment planning and quality assurance. Key research directions include relative biological effectiveness (RBE) modeling across various cell lines, FLASH radiotherapy using compact synchrotrons, and functional imaging of bone marrow response using FDG-PET/CT. The lab integrates physics, biology, and clinical applications to advance precision radiation therapy.
Professor Tomoya Hirose's research lab focuses on critical care medicine and emergency medicine, with a particular emphasis on improving outcomes in cardiac arrest and severe trauma. The lab investigates novel physiological monitoring techniques—such as regional cerebral oxygen saturation (rSO₂) monitoring during extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR)—to predict neurological outcomes and guide resuscitation strategies. It also explores immune mechanisms in critical illness, including neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) and citrullinated histone H3, and evaluates the impact of timing on trauma patient outcomes. Additionally, the lab develops and evaluates practical, low-cost training programs to enhance CPR and AED use among non-medical personnel.
Professor M. Murakami's research lab specializes in high-energy-density physics, with a focus on inertial confinement fusion (ICF), laser-plasma interactions, and radiation hydrodynamics. The lab investigates indirect drive ICF using hohlraum targets, exploring radiation transport, X-ray absorption and re-emission, and hydrodynamic efficiency in fusion capsule implosions. It also develops advanced theoretical models for plasma expansion, including self-similar solutions and relativistic laser propagation in plasmas, with applications to fast ignition and ion acceleration. The lab's work spans from fundamental plasma physics to innovative fusion ignition schemes, such as collision-driven ignition using high-velocity fuel shells.
Professor Shinsuke Takasao's research lab specializes in computational astrophysics, focusing on magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) simulations to understand magnetic energy release and plasma dynamics in solar and stellar systems. The lab investigates chromospheric jets, solar flares, post-flare loop structures, and accretion processes in young stellar objects, with particular emphasis on the roles of magnetic reconnection, shocks, and angular momentum transport. Their work spans from the solar atmosphere to protostellar environments, using high-resolution 3D MHD simulations to explore the formation and evolution of coronal structures and accretion flows.
Professor Masakazu Sekijima's research lab specializes in computational drug discovery and structural biology, focusing on understanding protein-ligand interactions at the atomic level. The lab employs advanced computational methods such as molecular dynamics simulations, free energy calculations, and machine learning to elucidate binding mechanisms, enhance virtual screening accuracy, and design selective inhibitors for challenging targets like Bcl-2 family proteins and TcDHODH. A key focus is developing innovative scoring functions—such as SIEVE-Score—and multiobjective generative models to navigate complex chemical spaces and optimize drug-like properties. The lab also investigates the structural basis of molecular recognition in protein-RNA complexes and pharmacophore modeling to guide rational drug design.
Professor Yuichi Manaka's research lab specializes in sustainable catalysis and environmental remediation, focusing on the development of advanced catalysts for hydrogen production, ammonia synthesis, and the conversion of waste nitrogen compounds into valuable chemicals. Key research directions include the design of iridium and ruthenium-based catalysts for formic acid dehydrogenation and low-temperature ammonia synthesis, as well as the immobilization of homogeneous catalysts to enhance practicality and reusability. The lab also investigates surface interactions in aqueous environments using advanced analytical techniques such as QCM and anomalous reflection to understand protein-surface and catalyst-support interactions at the molecular level.
Professor Zhenjin Wang's research lab specializes in advanced functional materials for energy harvesting and flexible sensing applications, with a strong focus on piezoelectric and magnetostrictive composites. The lab develops novel polymer-based composites—such as BTO/P(VDF-TrFE), KNN/epoxy, and Fe-Co/epoxy systems—engineered for high-performance, flexible, and self-powered sensors. Key research directions include optimizing poling conditions to enhance piezoelectric response, improving mechanical robustness through functionally graded and fiber-reinforced structures, and enabling sustainable power solutions for the Internet of Things (IoT) and wearable electronics. The lab also explores multi-functional materials that combine sensing, energy harvesting, and mechanical flexibility for next-generation smart devices.
Professor Daisuke Takagi's research lab specializes in nanomaterials synthesis and bio-inspired systems, with a focus on carbon nanotube (CNT) growth mechanisms using unconventional catalysts such as noble metals, semiconductors, and diamond nanoparticles. The lab explores the fundamental principles of self-assembly in nanoscale catalysis and develops novel CVD strategies for high-density, high-quality CNT growth. Additionally, the lab investigates photosynthetic systems, particularly the mechanisms of photoinhibition and reactive oxygen species regulation in photosystem I, linking nanoscale phenomena to biological energy conversion.
Professor Takuji Adachi's research lab focuses on improving cardiovascular outcomes through the integration of behavioral science and clinical cardiology. The lab investigates how personality traits—particularly the Big Five—impact health behaviors such as medication adherence and participation in cardiac rehabilitation (CR) among patients with cardiovascular disease. Using large-scale cohort studies and propensity score analyses, the lab examines the prognostic effects of CR across diverse patient populations, including older adults and those with heart failure. A key focus is enhancing the implementation of preventive and rehabilitative interventions by understanding individual psychological and behavioral determinants.
Professor Norio Yoshida's research lab specializes in computational biophysics and theoretical chemistry, focusing on the molecular mechanisms of biomolecular recognition and solvation in aqueous environments. The lab develops and applies advanced statistical mechanical theories—particularly the 3D-RISM (three-dimensional reference interaction site model) and its hybrid approaches with quantum mechanical methods (e.g., 3D-RISM-SCF)—to predict the 3D distribution of water and ions around proteins and ligands with high accuracy. A key research direction involves understanding selective ion binding (e.g., Ca²⁺, Na⁺, K⁺) to proteins such as human lysozyme and its mutants, providing atomic-level insights into biological specificity and function. The lab also investigates enzyme-substrate interactions, particularly in proteases, using computational models to elucidate substrate specificity and catalytic mechanisms.
Professor Hiroki Taniguchi's research lab specializes in the fundamental investigation of ferroelectricity and lattice dynamics in complex oxide materials, with a focus on perovskite and silicate-based systems. The lab employs advanced spectroscopic techniques—particularly Raman scattering—combined with first-principles calculations to explore quantum phase transitions, chemical ordering effects, and the role of local structural distortions in determining ferroelectric behavior. Key research directions include the design and characterization of lead-free ferroelectrics, the suppression of ferroelectricity via cation substitution, and the development of high-polarization liquid crystals for advanced electronic applications. The lab also investigates the interplay between electronic covalency, lattice dynamics, and emergent quantum phenomena in transition metal oxides.
Professor Sotaro Chiba's research lab specializes in the molecular virology and mycology of plant and fungal pathogens, with a focus on endogenous and endogenous-like viruses in eukaryotic hosts. The lab investigates the diversity, molecular mechanisms, and biological impacts of non-retroviral RNA viruses (NRVSs) integrated into fungal and plant genomes, particularly partitiviruses and victoriviruses. A central theme is understanding how these viruses interact with their hosts and with each other, especially through RNA silencing pathways, which can lead to interference or cross-protection in coinfections. The lab combines molecular virology, fungal transformation, and high-throughput sequencing to explore viral evolution, host-virus interactions, and the ecological roles of endogenous viral elements in fungi and plants.
Professor Akemi Ashida's research lab specializes in higher education policy, educational development, and the socio-economic determinants of educational access and outcomes in developing countries. The lab focuses on longitudinal studies of student enrollment, retention, and graduation patterns, particularly in contexts such as Honduras and Cambodia, with an emphasis on understanding barriers to educational attainment and the impact of international education initiatives. Research directions include the role of higher education in achieving Sustainable Development Goals, the effects of study-abroad experiences on academic and professional trajectories, and the evaluation of educational development strategies and policies.
Professor Masahiro Horita's research lab specializes in the epitaxial growth and defect engineering of wide-bandgap semiconductors, particularly gallium nitride (GaN) and aluminum nitride (AlN). The lab focuses on optimizing the electronic and structural properties of these materials through advanced epitaxial techniques such as metalorganic vapor-phase epitaxy (MOVPE) and molecular-beam epitaxy (MBE), with particular emphasis on reducing defects and controlling dopants. Key research directions include the identification and control of point defects and impurities—such as Fe, Mg, and nitrogen vacancies—using deep-level transient spectroscopy (DLTS) and other characterization methods to enhance device performance in nitride-based optoelectronic and power electronic applications.
Professor Seiichi Sakamoto's research lab specializes in the development of novel immunoassays and monoclonal antibodies for the detection of biologically and clinically significant small molecules, including natural alkaloids and drug metabolites. The lab focuses on overcoming challenges in antibody generation against haptens through innovative chemical conjugation strategies—particularly using sodium periodate for oxidation—enabling the production of highly specific monoclonal antibodies. Key research directions include the development of lateral flow immunoassays for rapid detection of performance-enhancing drugs like higenamine and antileukemic agents such as harringtonine, as well as the immunohistochemical analysis of blood group antigens in gastric cancer. The lab also pioneers the engineering of single-chain antibody fragments (scFv) for improved binding affinity and stability in diagnostic applications.
Professor Nobuyuki Sudo's research lab focuses on the intricate interactions between the host and the gut microbiota, particularly in regulating immune responses, neuroendocrine functions, and gastrointestinal physiology. The lab investigates how indigenous microbes influence brain plasticity, stress reactivity via the HPA axis, and immune tolerance, with a special emphasis on the roles of microbial metabolites such as catecholamines and serotonin. Using germ-free, gnotobiotic, and specific pathogen-free mouse models, the lab explores microbial contributions to immune deviation, dysbiosis in eating disorders like anorexia nervosa, and the mechanisms underlying microbial modulation of host signaling molecules. Their work bridges microbiology, immunology, and neuroscience to uncover host-microbe communication pathways critical for health and disease.
