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 Takahide Matsui's research lab specializes in cell biology, with a primary focus on intracellular membrane trafficking, particularly the molecular mechanisms governing autophagosome-lysosome fusion, endosome maturation, and the sorting and degradation of membrane proteins such as the transferrin receptor. The lab investigates the roles of Rab GTPases and SNARE proteins in regulating vesicular transport, exosome release, and organelle identity, with a strong emphasis on understanding how specific molecular switches and effectors coordinate subcellular logistics. Their work combines live-cell imaging, RNAi screening, and biochemical approaches to dissect dynamic cellular processes in mammalian cells.
Professor Koji Yamanaka's research lab focuses on the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), with a particular emphasis on non-cell-autonomous neurodegeneration. The lab investigates the roles of glial cells—especially astrocytes and microglia—in disease progression, exploring how neuroinflammation and glial dysfunction contribute to motor neuron death. Using transgenic and chimeric mouse models, the lab examines the impact of mutant proteins such as SOD1 and TDP-43, aiming to uncover key regulators like TGF-β1 that modulate neuroprotective versus neurotoxic inflammatory responses. The research integrates neurobiology, genetics, and neuropathology to identify therapeutic targets for ALS.
Professor Eijiro Jimi's research lab focuses on the molecular mechanisms regulating osteoclast differentiation, survival, and function, with a central emphasis on the role of the NF-κB signaling pathway in bone metabolism and immune crosstalk. The lab investigates key regulators such as Osteoclast Differentiation Factor (ODF/RANKL), interleukin-1 (IL-1), and stromal cell-derived signals in controlling osteoclastogenesis and bone resorption. Using primary cell co-cultures and molecular techniques, the lab explores how transcription factors and signaling pathways integrate inflammatory and bone homeostatic signals, contributing to the emerging field of osteoimmunology. Their work provides critical insights into the pathogenesis of bone diseases such as osteoporosis and inflammatory bone loss.
Professor Yasuhide Inokuma's research lab specializes in the synthesis and functionalization of subporphyrins—ring-contracted porphyrin congeners with unique bowl-shaped architectures and distinct electronic properties. The lab focuses on developing novel synthetic methodologies for meso-substituted subporphyrins, including one-pot condensations and transition-metal-catalyzed reactions, to access structurally diverse and highly tunable macrocycles. Key research directions include tuning optical and electronic properties through axial ligand exchange, meso-substituent engineering, and the design of stimuli-responsive systems such as cation sensors and two-photon absorbing materials. The lab also explores the fundamental aromaticity and excited-state behavior of these systems, particularly in relation to their fluorescence and nonlinear optical properties.
Professor Yuki Hiruta's research lab specializes in the design and development of advanced fluorescent probes and stimuli-responsive materials for biomedical and analytical applications. The lab focuses on creating smart polymers and optical sensors that respond to physiological stimuli such as temperature, pH, and specific metal ions (e.g., Mg²⁺, Ag⁺, Hg²⁺), with an emphasis on ratiometric and near-infrared (NIR) fluorescence for high-contrast, multi-color imaging. Key research directions include the synthesis of selective, stable, and biocompatible probes for real-time monitoring of intracellular dynamics and the engineering of functional materials for applications in drug delivery and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC).
Professor Eiji Yamamoto's research lab specializes in computational biophysics, focusing on the molecular mechanisms of protein-lipid interactions, particularly pleckstrin homology (PH) domains and their dynamics on phosphatidylinositol phosphate (PIP)-containing membranes. The lab employs advanced multiscale molecular dynamics simulations to investigate anomalous diffusion, conformational fluctuations, and binding energetics of peripheral membrane proteins. Key research directions include understanding how lipid nanodomains, membrane properties, and environmental factors such as pressure modulate protein function and signaling. The lab also explores the role of hydration layers and lipid organization in regulating protein diffusivity and membrane association.
Professor Taikan Oki's research lab specializes in global hydrology, water resources assessment, and the integration of land surface processes within Earth system modeling. The lab focuses on understanding the dynamics of freshwater circulation, river flow, and water availability under climate change, using advanced modeling frameworks such as the TRIP (Total Runoff Integrating Pathways) river network. A key research direction involves quantifying virtual water trade and water scarcity to support sustainable water management and policy planning on a global scale. The lab also investigates the diurnal and seasonal variability of precipitation and atmospheric water fluxes to improve the accuracy of hydrological and climatological models.
Professor Miho Yanagisawa's research lab specializes in soft matter physics and biomimetic materials, focusing on the self-assembly, mechanical properties, and functional patterning of lipid-based vesicles and microgels. The lab investigates the interplay between membrane elasticity, phase separation, and shape dynamics in model cell systems, as well as the reconstitution of membrane proteins like KcsA channels. A key direction involves using microfluidic and interfacial techniques to create confined environments for studying gelation, wetting, and mechanical response in polymer microgels.
Professor Gowhar Meraj's research lab specializes in environmental remote sensing, geospatial analysis, and ecosystem sustainability, focusing on mountainous and coastal regions in the Himalayas and Northeast India. The lab investigates watershed sedimentation, glacial lake hazards, land use and land cover change, and ecosystem service valuation using advanced geospatial techniques such as GIS, remote sensing, and modeling (e.g., CA-Markov, CASA, and dam-break models). Key research directions include climate change impacts, natural resource management, and disaster risk assessment in vulnerable ecosystems.
Professor Sho Tsuji's research lab specializes in developmental psychology, with a primary focus on early language acquisition, perceptual narrowing in infancy, and the cognitive foundations of sound-symbolic associations such as the bouba-kiki effect. The lab employs meta-analytic and systematic review methodologies to synthesize evidence across behavioral, electrophysiological, and neuroimaging studies, emphasizing transparency, reproducibility, and open science practices. A key innovation from the lab is the development of community-augmented meta-analyses (CAMA), which integrate open data sharing and collaborative research to enhance the cumulative science of developmental psychology. The lab also investigates the role of gray literature and unpublished data in reducing bias in meta-analytic findings within developmental science.
Professor Takanori Hasegawa's research lab at the Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development (AMED) focuses on advancing regenerative medicine and stem cell biology with an emphasis on translational applications. The lab investigates the molecular mechanisms underlying cell fate determination and tissue regeneration, particularly in the context of cardiovascular and neurological diseases. A key direction involves developing stem cell-based therapies using induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) for disease modeling and drug screening. The lab also explores innovative strategies for enhancing cell survival and integration in regenerative therapies.
Professor Toshio Kitamura's research lab focuses on the molecular mechanisms underlying hematopoiesis and myeloid malignancies, with a particular emphasis on cytokine signaling, transcription factors such as STAT5, and epigenetic regulators like ASXL1. The lab investigates how cytokine receptors, including those for GM-CSF and IL-3, mediate hematopoietic cell growth and differentiation, and how mutations in key regulators such as ASXL1 contribute to clonal hematopoiesis and leukemia pathogenesis. Using advanced genetic and molecular tools, including retroviral expression systems and conditional knock-in models, the lab uncovers the functional consequences of oncogenic signaling and epigenetic alterations in hematopoietic stem cells. Their work bridges basic signaling mechanisms with translational insights into blood disorders and cancer.
Professor K. Nomoto's research lab specializes in theoretical astrophysics, focusing on the life cycles and explosive deaths of massive stars, particularly the formation and evolution of white dwarfs, supernovae, and the nucleosynthesis of heavy elements in the early universe. The lab investigates supernova mechanisms such as carbon deflagration, electron capture in O+Ne+Mg cores, and accretion-induced collapse (AIC) of white dwarfs, linking these processes to observed elemental abundances in metal-poor stars. A central theme is understanding the origins of Type Ia and electron-capture supernovae, as well as the role of first-generation stars in enriching the cosmos with heavy elements.
Professor Yusuke Moriguchi's research lab specializes in developmental cognitive neuroscience, focusing on the neural underpinnings of executive function (EF) in early childhood. The lab investigates how prefrontal brain development supports key cognitive processes such as cognitive control, cognitive shifting, and working memory, particularly during the critical preschool years. Using non-invasive neuroimaging techniques like near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS), the lab explores individual differences in brain function related to factors such as socioeconomic status and social interaction. A central theme is understanding the interplay between brain development, cognition, and environmental influences in typically developing and at-risk populations.
Professor Kouichi Ohe's research lab specializes in transition metal-catalyzed organic transformations, with a strong focus on the development of novel cycloisomerization and valence isomerization reactions. The lab explores the reactivity of metal complexes—particularly those of rhodium, palladium, chromium, tungsten, and molybdenum—in enabling unique rearrangements and cyclizations of unsaturated substrates such as enynes, alkynes, and cyclopropanes. Key achievements include the formation of Fischer-type oxacarbene complexes, the generation of vinylidene-metal intermediates, and the selective synthesis of complex heterocycles and aromatic systems. The work often combines mechanistic insight with synthetic utility, leading to efficient routes to functionalized heterocycles and aromatic compounds.
Professor Akira Matsumoto's research lab specializes in physical organic chemistry and photochemistry, focusing on the development of novel photoreactive molecules and catalysts for selective C–H functionalization. The lab investigates the mechanisms of photoinduced reactions, including hydrogen atom transfer (HAT) catalysis and radical-mediated polymerization, with applications in synthetic organic chemistry and materials science. Key areas include the design of tunable catalysts based on DABCO derivatives and the study of DNA-protein cross-linking by photoactivated antibiotics such as Gilvocarcin V. The lab also explores the structural and electronic properties of molecular systems using theoretical and spectroscopic methods.
Professor Eiichi Morii's research lab focuses on transcriptional regulation in hematopoietic cells and cancer biology, with a central emphasis on the basic-helix-loop-helix-leucine zipper (bHLH-Zip) transcription factor MITF and its role in mast cell development and function. The lab investigates transcriptional control mechanisms of mast cell-specific genes such as MMCP-5 and MMCP-6, as well as the role of cancer-related membrane proteins like CDCP1 in tumor progression and therapy resistance. Additionally, the lab explores cancer stem cell properties in uterine endometrioid adenocarcinoma, particularly the functional significance of ALDH1 as a marker of tumor-initiating cells. These studies integrate molecular biology, immunohistochemistry, and functional cell assays to uncover key regulators of cell fate and malignancy.
Professor Fuminori Sakurai's research lab focuses on viral vector development for gene therapy and oncolytic virotherapy, with a particular emphasis on adenovirus and reovirus systems. The lab investigates viral entry mechanisms, host-virus interactions, and immune modulation to enhance therapeutic efficacy. A key direction involves utilizing human induced-pluripotent stem cell-derived hepatocyte-like cells as physiologically relevant models for studying hepatitis B virus infection and antiviral drug development. The lab also explores how oncolytic viruses can overcome immunosuppressive tumor microenvironments by targeting myeloid-derived suppressor cells.
Professor Huihui Li's research lab specializes in the design and engineering of advanced electrocatalysts for sustainable energy conversion, with a primary focus on electrochemical CO2 reduction to produce valuable multicarbon (C2+) fuels and chemicals. The lab emphasizes understanding and manipulating the dynamic surface microenvironment, active site stabilization, and confinement effects at the nanoscale to enhance catalytic activity, selectivity, and durability. Key research directions include the development of oxide-derived copper catalysts, phosphorus-doped Cu2O with oxygen vacancies, and structured nanomaterials with tailored porosity and morphology for efficient carbon intermediate stabilization.
Professor Kazutaka Shirai's research lab specializes in structural dynamics and seismic protection, focusing on innovative passive vibration control devices for civil infrastructure. The lab investigates friction dampers, negative stiffness systems, and smart materials such as fiber-reinforced geopolymer composites to enhance structural resilience under dynamic loading. Key research directions include energy dissipation mechanisms, coupled vibration control of adjacent buildings, and the development of compact, high-performance seismic isolation devices using geometric nonlinearity and advanced materials.
