探索全球顶尖大学的研究室——研究领域与主要论文一览无余。
Professor Shouji Matsushima's research lab focuses on the molecular mechanisms underlying cardiac remodeling and heart failure, with a central emphasis on redox signaling, oxidative stress, and epigenetic regulation in the heart. The lab investigates the roles of NADPH oxidases (Noxes), sirtuins, and antioxidant enzymes such as glutathione peroxidase in mediating oxidative stress responses, mitochondrial dysfunction, and post-infarction remodeling. Key research directions include the posttranslational regulation of Nox4 by tyrosine kinases like FYN, the interplay between reactive oxygen species and transcription factors in myocardial adaptation, and the therapeutic potential of targeting oxidative stress and epigenetic modifiers in diabetic and ischemic heart disease.
Professor Masatake Matsuoka's research lab focuses on the molecular and genetic mechanisms underlying tissue repair, particularly in articular cartilage and soft tissue sarcomas. The lab investigates glycosylation pathways in cartilage regeneration and develops preclinical models—especially in C57Bl/6 mice—to dissect the biological processes governing tissue repair. Additionally, the lab explores clinical risk factors for metastasis in sarcomas and evaluates the integration of artificial intelligence, such as ChatGPT, in aligning with clinical guidelines for sarcoma treatment.
Professor Kengo Miyazono's research lab specializes in the philosophy of mind and mental disorders, with a primary focus on delusions, imagination, and empathy. The lab investigates the nature, causes, and pathological features of delusions through a hybrid theoretical lens that integrates cognitive science, epistemology, and psychiatry. A central theme is the social and functional dimensions of belief, challenging individualistic models of delusional thinking in favor of socially embedded, function-based accounts. The lab also explores imaginative resistance and empathic motivation, emphasizing group identification and self-other merging in prosocial behavior.
Professor Toshio Tsubota's research lab specializes in reproductive biology and endocrinology of bears, with a focus on seasonal breeding patterns, delayed implantation, and steroidogenesis in Japanese black bears and Hokkaido brown bears. The lab investigates hormonal regulation, including serum levels of progesterone, estradiol, and pituitary hormones, as well as the immunolocalization of steroidogenic enzymes in reproductive tissues. Additional research explores the role of tick-borne pathogens, such as *Borrelia miyamotoi*, in wild rodent populations and their ecological transmission dynamics in Hokkaido, Japan. The lab integrates field studies with immunohistochemical and molecular techniques to understand reproductive physiology and zoonotic disease ecology in wildlife.
Professor Nguyen Minh Khiem's research lab specializes in the application of artificial intelligence and advanced data analytics to address critical challenges in aquaculture and agriculture. The lab focuses on disease prediction in shrimp farming using GIS and machine learning, monitoring of fish populations in natural aquatic environments through computer vision, and early detection of plant diseases using deep learning models like YOLO. These interdisciplinary efforts aim to enhance sustainability, improve productivity, and support food security in Vietnam and beyond.
Professor Koji Kaneoka's research lab specializes in neuromusculoskeletal biomechanics, focusing on injury mechanisms and muscle coordination in sports and physical activities. The lab investigates spinal and lumbar spine health in athletes, particularly swimmers and those engaged in dynamic movements, with an emphasis on muscle synergy, electromyography (EMG) analysis, and injury prevention. Key research directions include the biomechanics of rear-end collisions, degenerative changes in intervertebral discs due to sports activities, and the neuromuscular control during high-performance movements such as badminton smashes and underwater undulatory swimming. The lab also explores preventive strategies for lower back injuries, especially in young female athletes.
Professor Hideaki Obara's research lab specializes in vascular biology and surgical innovation, focusing on acute vascular disorders, aneurysm management, and the molecular mechanisms underlying vascular remodeling and inflammation. The lab investigates critical conditions such as acute limb ischemia and visceral artery aneurysms, aiming to improve diagnostic and therapeutic strategies through advanced imaging, surgical techniques, and molecular interventions. A key research direction involves understanding the role of inflammatory mediators like HMGB1 and cytokines such as TNF-alpha in organ failure and vascular pathology, with translational applications in liver failure and transplant medicine. The lab also pioneers experimental models, including uterus transplantation in non-human primates, to advance reproductive medicine and surgical transplantation techniques.
Professor Hironari Hanaoka's research lab focuses on the immunological and cellular mechanisms underlying systemic autoimmune diseases, particularly systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The lab investigates the role of immune cell subsets—such as regulatory T cells and B cells—dysregulated chemokine receptors (e.g., CXCR4), and the impact of therapeutic agents like hydroxychloroquine on disease activity and progression. A key research direction involves understanding how cellular death and survival at the chondrocyte-marrow interface contribute to joint pathology, linking musculoskeletal and autoimmune immunology. The lab also explores biomarkers and treatment outcomes, including disease activity indices and organ damage in SLE and CKD progression in RA.
Professor Hirohiko Houjou's research lab specializes in computational and physical organic chemistry, focusing on the electronic structures and photophysical properties of bioinorganic and coordination systems. Key research directions include quantum mechanical modeling of photoreceptor proteins—particularly bacteriorhodopsin—using advanced QM/MM-CI methods to understand electronic transitions and solvatochromic shifts. The lab also investigates the synthesis and photophysical behavior of π-conjugated ligands and their metal complexes, emphasizing intramolecular interactions, resonance-assisted hydrogen bonding, and structural control in macrocyclic and dinuclear complexes. Their work bridges molecular design, spectroscopy, and theoretical calculations to explore structure-function relationships in functional materials and biological chromophores.
Professor Daiju Kitagawa's research lab focuses on the molecular mechanisms underlying centriole biogenesis, centrosome function, and their roles in cell division and development. The lab investigates key regulatory proteins such as Plk4, STIL, and CPAP, exploring how their dynamic interactions control centriole duplication, length regulation, and structural symmetry. Using advanced imaging techniques, structural biology, and cell biological approaches, the lab aims to decipher the self-organization principles of centriolar components and their implications in human diseases like microcephaly and cancer.
Professor Yuko Nakamura's research lab focuses on the physiological and biochemical mechanisms underlying metabolic and neurological disorders, with a particular emphasis on the role of bioactive compounds in cardiovascular and metabolic health. The lab investigates functional foods—such as black currant concentrate and fructooligosaccharides—in modulating vascular function and obesity-related pathways. Additionally, the lab explores viral infections, including Borna disease virus in animals and humans, and examines brain network alterations in psychiatric disorders, especially those involving the ventral tegmental area. The integration of molecular biology, clinical nutrition, and neuroimaging techniques defines the lab’s interdisciplinary approach.
Professor Kenji Kawamura's research lab specializes in paleoclimatology and atmospheric science, focusing on reconstructing past climate and atmospheric conditions using deep ice cores from Antarctica. The lab investigates long-term climatic variability, greenhouse gas cycles, and the mechanisms behind abrupt climate changes over glacial-interglacial cycles. Key research directions include the development of advanced analytical techniques for precise gas measurements in ice cores and modeling the preservation of atmospheric signals in firn and ice. The lab also contributes to the search for ultra-oldest ice in East Antarctica to extend our understanding of Earth's climate history over the past 1.5 million years.
Professor Akira Oka's research lab specializes in Earth system science, with a focus on paleoclimatology, ocean biogeochemistry, and climate modeling. The lab investigates the mechanisms of glacial-interglacial climate change, particularly the role of the biological carbon pump, iron fertilization, and ocean circulation dynamics in regulating atmospheric CO2 and deep-ocean oxygenation. Using coupled climate and biogeochemical models, the lab explores past climate states such as the Last Glacial Maximum to understand feedbacks involving the ocean, atmosphere, and carbon cycle. Their work bridges observational paleoclimate data with numerical simulations to improve understanding of long-term climate variability and carbon cycle dynamics.
Professor Jingwen Shou's research lab specializes in advanced optical microscopy and spectroscopy techniques for high-resolution, multiplexed, and dynamic imaging of biological systems. The lab focuses on developing innovative methods in stimulated Raman scattering (SRS) microscopy, including super-multiplexing, super-resolution, photoswitchable probes, and dual-polarization imaging to enable fast, sensitive, and specific detection of molecular species in living cells. Key innovations include high-speed multimodal imaging, video-rate polarization-resolved microscopy, and broadband, low-loss optical components for enhanced imaging performance.
Professor Takehiro Hiraoka's research lab focuses on the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying uterine function, particularly in endometrial receptivity, embryo implantation, and uterine regeneration. The lab investigates key signaling pathways—especially STAT3—involved in endometrial homeostasis, adenomyosis, and infertility, using innovative mouse models and human tissue analyses. They also develop advanced ex vivo culture systems to model embryo implantation with high fidelity, enabling breakthroughs in understanding early pregnancy establishment. Their work bridges basic reproductive biology with clinical applications in infertility and assisted reproductive technologies.
Professor Xiaolu Jia's research lab specializes in pedestrian dynamics and crowd behavior, focusing on human movement patterns in confined and complex environments. The lab investigates fundamental aspects such as evading and surpassing behaviors, pedestrian comfort and perceived congestion, and the impact of individual differences like gender and culture on single-file movement. Using a combination of experimental studies, controlled simulations, and data-driven analysis, the lab aims to improve evacuation efficiency, walking environment design, and the accuracy of congestion evaluation metrics.
Professor Soichiro Murata's research lab focuses on liver regeneration, fibrosis, and cancer biology, with a particular emphasis on the role of platelets, growth factors, and metabolic enzymes in liver repair and disease progression. The lab investigates molecular mechanisms underlying liver regeneration after injury or resection, exploring how platelets, thrombopoietin, and growth factors such as HGF and IGF-1 modulate hepatic repair. It also examines the therapeutic potential of natural compounds like 1,8-cineole and FAS inhibitors (e.g., cerulenin) in colorectal and liver cancer. A key innovation in the lab is the development and application of liver organoid transplantation for treating chronic liver damage, demonstrating functional integration and improved bile duct reconstruction.
Professor Nono Takeuchi-Tomita's research lab specializes in the molecular mechanisms of eukaryotic translation, with a focus on ribosome dynamics, translation regulation, and the roles of specific factors in initiation, elongation, and termination. The lab develops and utilizes highly reconstituted in vitro translation systems using purified components from yeast and mammalian mitochondria to dissect the biochemical and structural basis of protein synthesis. Key research directions include the function of initiation factors, the rescue of ribosome stalling (particularly at polyproline motifs), and the regulatory roles of stress-related proteins such as Stm1 and eIF5A. The lab also investigates internal ribosome entry site (IRES)-mediated translation, especially through the CrPV IGR IRES, to understand cap-independent translation initiation.
Professor K. Komori's research lab specializes in precision measurement science and nanomechanical systems, focusing on fundamental limits to sensitivity in gravitational-wave detection and quantum optomechanics. The lab investigates thermal and quantum noise in ultra-sensitive mechanical oscillators, particularly in cryogenic and nonequilibrium conditions, to enable tabletop tests of gravity and macroscopic quantum phenomena. It also explores advanced surface engineering, such as diamond-like carbon and DLC-based coatings, to control friction and wear in mechanical systems for improved performance in precision instruments and automotive applications.
Professor Toshiyuki Kawai's research lab specializes in orthopedic biomaterials and regenerative medicine, focusing on the development of advanced implant materials and scaffolds for bone repair and reconstruction. The lab investigates functionally graded scaffolds, surface-modified titanium alloys, and bioactive coatings to enhance osseointegration, vascularization, and long-term implant performance in challenging conditions such as osteonecrosis and severe hip dysplasia. Their work integrates materials science, tissue engineering, and clinical orthopedic applications to improve outcomes in total hip arthroplasty and bone regeneration.
