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 Kenichi Matsuda's research lab specializes in natural product biosynthesis, with a focus on the enzymatic formation of rare nitrogen-nitrogen bonds and the discovery of novel bioactive compounds. The lab employs genome mining, biochemical characterization, and chemoenzymatic synthesis to uncover unique biosynthetic pathways, particularly those involving amino group carrier proteins and thioesterase-catalyzed cyclizations. Their work reveals widespread genetic machinery for synthesizing unusual functional groups such as hydrazines and dihydropyridazinones in bacteria and actinomycetes.
Professor Eiji Iwase's research lab specializes in micro- and nanofabrication technologies, with a focus on developing advanced functional microstructures and flexible electronic systems. The lab explores innovative approaches in 4D printing, origami/kirigami-inspired mechanical designs, and magnetic assembly techniques to create reconfigurable, stretchable, and highly adaptable devices. Key research directions include stress-engineered microstructures, liquid metal interconnects, and thermoelectric generators with mechanical robustness for wearable and soft electronics.
Professor Ryosuke Tateishi's research lab specializes in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) management, with a focus on improving prognosis prediction, treatment efficacy, and risk stratification. The lab investigates the impact of body composition—such as sarcopenia, visceral adiposity, and fat deposition—on patient outcomes, emphasizing that body composition is a stronger prognostic indicator than BMI. They also explore the role of tumor markers (AFP, DCP, AFP-L3) in predicting recurrence after curative ablation and evaluate clinical scoring systems like the Tokyo score for Japanese HCC patients. Additionally, the lab examines non-viral etiologies of HCC, particularly those linked to lifestyle factors like obesity, diabetes, and alcohol consumption.
Professor Masahiro Kawasaki's research lab specializes in theoretical cosmology, focusing on early Universe physics, including big-bang nucleosynthesis (BBN), thermalization of cosmic particles, and the cosmological implications of late-time entropy production. The lab investigates the effects of exotic particles—such as long-lived particles, gravitinos, and axions—on primordial element abundances and the thermal history of the early Universe. They also explore model-building in supergravity for chaotic inflation and the formation of dark matter via cosmic domain walls.
Professor Raghab Ray's research lab specializes in mangrove ecosystem biogeochemistry, with a primary focus on carbon dynamics—particularly blue carbon fluxes—within tropical estuarine and coastal systems. The lab investigates lateral exports of dissolved (DOC), particulate (POC), and inorganic (DIC) carbon from mangroves to the ocean, emphasizing the role of tidal transport, seasonal variability, and hydrological connectivity. Using field-based measurements, isotopic tracers, and optical properties like CDOM, the lab examines how climate variability, extreme weather events, and human-induced changes affect carbon cycling in vulnerable coastal zones.
Professor Naohiko Sugita's research lab specializes in biomechanical and thermal modeling in orthopedic surgery, focusing on the thermal effects of bone cutting and drilling during orthopedic procedures. The lab develops predictive thermal models to understand and minimize heat-induced bone damage, particularly osteocyte necrosis, by analyzing temperature distributions in cortical bone during surgical interventions. Their work combines theoretical modeling, finite-difference simulations, and experimental validation using thermography and controlled drilling tests. The primary goal is to enhance surgical safety and outcomes in procedures such as total knee arthroplasty by optimizing surgical parameters to prevent thermal injury.
Professor Anh Cao's research lab focuses on environmental governance, climate resilience, and the socio-ecological impacts of environmental crime and policy failure. The lab investigates flood risk management, particularly early warning systems and public adaptation strategies in vulnerable coastal and deltaic regions, with a strong emphasis on local governance and community-level responses. It also explores the human dimensions of environmental crime, such as illegal logging and timber trafficking, through the lens of human security and green victimization. The lab integrates interdisciplinary approaches, combining policy analysis, field research, and conceptual frameworks to advance sustainable and equitable environmental solutions.
Professor Takeshi Izawa's research lab focuses on the molecular mechanisms underlying flowering time regulation and plant domestication in monocot crops, particularly rice. The lab investigates key genes and regulatory networks involved in photoperiodic flowering, circadian clock function, and the genetic basis of domestication traits such as seed shattering. Using a combination of forward and reverse genetics, molecular breeding, and systems biology approaches, the lab aims to decode the genetic architecture of agronomically important traits in cereals. Their work bridges fundamental plant biology with applications in crop improvement and sustainable agriculture.
Professor Yuya Domoto's research lab specializes in the design and synthesis of complex supramolecular architectures through precise coordination-driven self-assembly. The lab focuses on exploiting weak yet directional metal-ligand interactions—particularly metal-acetylene π-coordination in conjunction with traditional metal-ligand bonds—to construct discrete, highly ordered nanostructures such as polyhedral cages, truncated polyhedra, and interlocked frameworks. A key theme is the control of hierarchical organization, chirality amplification, and dynamic structural transformations via stimuli-responsive processes, including counteranion exchange and light-induced radical reactions. The lab also investigates the mesoscopic organization and functional properties of these materials in bulk and thin-film states using advanced characterization techniques.
Professor Norimitsu Tohnai's research lab specializes in supramolecular chemistry and solid-state photophysics, focusing on the design and control of molecular assemblies that exhibit tunable fluorescence properties. The lab explores how precise molecular arrangements—particularly π-stacked anthracene derivatives and hydrogen-bonded networks—govern excited-state behavior and luminescence in the solid state. By leveraging molecular recognition, crystal engineering, and stimuli-responsive frameworks, the lab develops functional materials with applications in optical sensing, smart materials, and luminescent devices. Key innovations include solvent-dependent fluorescence color tuning, water-responsive structural transformations, and rigid supramolecular architectures for fluorescence enhancement.
Professor Anawat Suppasri's research lab specializes in tsunami hazard assessment, focusing on post-disaster field surveys, tsunami fragility curve development, and the performance evaluation of coastal defense structures. The lab conducts detailed damage assessments using high-resolution satellite imagery and field-collected data to improve structural vulnerability modeling and tsunami risk mitigation strategies. Their work emphasizes empirical analysis of tsunami impacts on buildings and infrastructure, particularly in the context of major events such as the 2004 Indian Ocean and 2011 Great East Japan tsunamis.
Professor Yasuhiko Takegami's research lab specializes in orthopedic surgery with a focus on hip preservation, lower limb deformity correction, and surgical outcomes in complex orthopedic conditions. The lab investigates innovative surgical techniques such as periacetabular osteotomy (PAO) and curved intertrochanteric varus osteotomy (CVO) for treating hip dysplasia and avascular necrosis of the femoral head. It also examines the impact of patient-related factors—such as frailty and pelvic alignment—on surgical outcomes, particularly in elderly or high-risk populations. Additionally, the lab evaluates the quality of online health information, emphasizing patient education and the reliability of medical content on orthopedic procedures.
Professor Seiji Watanabe's research lab focuses on the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and related neurodegenerative diseases. The lab investigates key pathological proteins such as TDP-43, SOD1, sigma-1 receptor, and cystatin C, with a particular emphasis on subcellular organelle dynamics—especially the mitochondria-associated membrane (MAM)—and protein homeostasis. Using genetic mouse models, cell culture systems, and biochemical approaches, the lab explores how protein misfolding, aggregation, and dysfunction in stress response pathways contribute to motor neuron degeneration. The ultimate goal is to identify novel therapeutic targets and pathways, such as SIRT1/HSF1 chaperone systems and neuroglobin-mediated neuroprotection, for ALS intervention.
Professor Yasunari Sakai's research lab specializes in computational quantum chemistry and molecular biophysics, focusing on the development and application of advanced model potential methods for accurate electronic structure calculations in atoms and molecules. The lab investigates the molecular mechanisms underlying complex diseases such as autism spectrum disorders and Kawasaki disease, integrating bioinformatics and systems biology to uncover shared pathogenic pathways. A key focus is also on the role of oxidative stress in genomic instability and neurodegeneration, particularly through enzymes like MTH1 that prevent mutagenic DNA damage. The lab combines theoretical chemistry with biomedical research to bridge fundamental molecular insights with clinical implications.
Professor Hirofumi Tachibana's research lab focuses on the molecular mechanisms underlying the health-promoting effects of green tea polyphenols, particularly (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG). The lab investigates EGCG's role in cancer chemoprevention and anti-inflammatory responses, with a central emphasis on identifying and characterizing cell surface receptors—especially the 67-kDa laminin receptor (67LR)—that mediate EGCG's biological activities at physiological concentrations. The lab also explores EGCG's interactions with lipid rafts and signaling pathways in immune cells, contributing to its immunomodulatory and anti-allergic effects. Their work integrates molecular biology, cell signaling, and metabolomics to develop novel nutraceutical and therapeutic strategies based on EGCG-receptor interactions.
Professor Yuko Okamatsu-Ogura's research lab focuses on brown and beige adipose tissue biology, with a central emphasis on understanding the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying adaptive thermogenesis and energy expenditure. The lab investigates the development, function, and regulation of thermogenic adipocytes—particularly the emergence and activity of beige adipocytes in white adipose tissue—and their roles in metabolic adaptation, aging, and disease. Key research directions include the role of UCP1 in leptin signaling, the contribution of adipose tissue hyperplasia to cold adaptation, and the interplay between immune signals and thermogenesis. The lab integrates in vivo physiology, histology, and molecular biology to explore translational applications in obesity and metabolic disorders.
Professor Ichiro Daigo's research lab specializes in material flow analysis, circular economy, and sustainable materials management with a focus on steel recycling, impurity accumulation in secondary materials, and the environmental impacts of material cycles. The lab develops dynamic models to assess recyclability limits, material stock dynamics—including hibernating and obsolete stocks—and evaluates the life cycle impacts of recycling systems. Their work bridges industrial ecology, environmental systems engineering, and policy-relevant analysis to support low-carbon and resource-efficient societies.
Professor Hitoshi Tabata's research lab specializes in the epitaxial growth and fundamental characterization of complex oxide heterostructures, with a focus on dielectric and ferroelectric superlattices. The lab develops advanced pulsed laser deposition techniques to engineer artificial oxide superlattices with atomic precision, enabling the control of lattice strain and dielectric properties at interfaces. Key research directions include enhancing dielectric response through strain engineering, achieving high dielectric constants at elevated temperatures, and developing novel oxide films for next-generation electronic and energy applications. The lab also explores the integration of functional oxides with substrates and electrodes to create heterostructures with tailored functionalities.
Professor Takuya Katashima's research lab specializes in the molecular-scale understanding of soft materials, particularly polymer gels and silk-based biomaterials. The lab focuses on the interplay between network architecture, swelling behavior, and mechanical properties in stimuli-responsive hydrogels—especially Tetra-PEG gels—using precise synthetic control and advanced characterization techniques. Key research directions include the role of chain topology, transient cross-links, and structural heterogeneity in determining viscoelasticity and elasticity, as well as the design of functional biomaterials inspired by natural silk. The lab integrates experimental methods such as surface plasmon resonance, rheology, and scattering techniques to probe structure-property relationships at the nanoscale.
Professor Tomoya Kawasaki's research lab specializes in transportation and logistics systems, with a focus on port and maritime logistics, supply chain sustainability, and mobility behavior modeling. The lab investigates strategic port development, including consolidation, privatization, and infrastructure investment, using advanced simulation and econometric models. It also explores emerging technologies such as blockchain and machine learning for enhancing supply chain transparency and efficiency. Additionally, the lab conducts behavioral research on tourist and consumer mobility using GPS and stated preference data.
