Research Activities

Our Medical Research Center has 21 laboratories.

  • Director：Osamu KIMURA
  • Senior Fellow：Setsuya FUJITA
  • Research Director：Seong Wook OH
  • Research Scientist：Jung Hyun IM

  • Interferon ＆ Host-defense Research Laboratory

    Specially-appointed Chief Research Scientist
    Kazuko UNO
    Specially-appointed Senior Research Scientist
    Kazuo SUZUKI
    Project Researchers
    Leeja RUSSELL, Ukan KOU

    This lab researches immune markers that reflect the early stages and pathophysiology of different types of diseases including cancer, rheumatoid arthritis and Castleman's disease. The laboratory has its own independently developed method of quantifying interferon production ability, and provides affiliated clinics and other medical institutions with information on immune markers and immune function. This data helps these institutions to early detect and treat cancer.

    Since the 2011 Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station incident, this lab has been part of a government project that provides Fukushima residents with the support required to help them maintain optimal immune function to overcome the effects of low-dose radiation exposure.

  • Laboratory of Developmental Neuroscience

    Specially-appointed Chief Research Scientist
    Yuko YASUDA
    Research Scientist
    Setsuya FUJITA

    This laboratory's research is centered on the central nervous system, the molecular mechanisms of neuronal glial switches, and the molecular evolution of matrix cell systems in the human brain. In addition to doing research in the above areas, this laboratory is also examining the role of glial cells in brain function and the morphology and function of microglia.

  • Laboratory of Clinical Pathology

    Specially-appointed Chief Research Scientist
    Yasunari TSUCHIHASHI

    We developed a telepathology system by digitizing patients' pathological diagnostic records. Along with providing medical institutions with pathological diagnosis, the laboratory is also developing operational guidelines for remote pathological diagnosis and cytology. Additional activities of this lab includes conducting clinical pathological case studies.

  • Laboratory of Health & Sports

    Specially-appointed Chief Research Scientist
    Toshikazu TAKANAMI
    Specially-appointed Research Scientists
    Yukari KAWAI, Wataru AOI

    The laboratory is focused on establishing effective methods to prevent ageing, metabolic syndrome and lifestyle-related diseases using scientific evidence obtain from the areas of exercise, nutrition and sleep.

  • Sick Building Syndrome Laboratory

    Specially-appointed Chief Research Scientist
    Iwao UCHIYAMA

    This laboratory conducts basic research on the disease pathology of Sick Building Syndrome and chemical hypersensitivity and creates diagnostic guidelines for these conditions. We also conduct research on brain function, immune function, genetic factors, and the psychological effects related to these diseases.

  • Free Radical Chemistry Laboratory

    Specially-appointed Chief Research Scientist
    Hiroshi ICHIKAWA
    Specially-appointed Research Scientists
    Yukiko MINAMIYAMA,
    Liu XiangHong

    We use magnetic resonance (ESR) and chemiluminescence devices to measure free radicals and free radical scavenging capacity in vitro and in vivo. We then study the effects of medicine, foods and other substances on free radical production and scavenging.

    Our research activities will extend to investigating the efficacy of various foods and antioxidants by administering them to rat models with various diseases and senescence (age)-accelerated mice.

  • Laboratory of Advanced Particle Therapy

    Specially-appointed Chief Research Scientist
    Naruhito TAKAHASHI
    Specially-appointed Senior Research Scientist
    Jun HATAZAWA
    Specially-appointed Research Scientist
    Taro KATSUMATA

    This laboratory acts as an umbrella organization for clinical trials and at the same time conducts research for new cancer therapy. Charged particle radiotherapy that uses protons, neutrons, and other charged particles, is being used as a more high-precision cancer treatment. However, this type of treatment is done with large devices that have many restrictions in how they can be used; as such, charged particle radiotherapy is not yet widely available.

    This laboratory is working to create a new generation of particle radiotherapy that is more compact. Using state-of-the-art technology, we are developing a miniaturized boron neutron complementary therapy (BNCT) device. Our goal is to create a very compact design that requires little space, has emits low levels of radiation and has excellent safety features.

    At the same time, comprehensive research is underway to develop new boron agents that accurately target and accumulate in cancer cells and will lead to safer and more effective therapies for BNCT.

  • Cell Therapy Laboratory

    Director and
    Specially-appointed Chief Research Scientist
    Osamu KIMURA
    Specially-appointed Senior Research Scientist
    Taizo FURUKAWA,
    Shigeyoshi AOI,
    Tomoki TSUDA
    Specially-appointed Research Scientists
    Kaori TAKADA,Yuki MASUDA,
    Taichiro OGAWA,
    Kiminori SEKIMOTO

    In recent years, there has been a worldwide increase in basic and clinical research targeting cell-based therapies such as regenerative medicine using stem cells and cancer immunotherapy using immune cells.

    In light of this, the main objective of this laboratory is to conduct clinical research on cell based therapies while doing translational research on the mechanism involved so as to improve the therapeutic efficacy of these treatments.

  • Laboratory of Cancer Pharmacology

    Specially-appointed Chief Research Scientist
    Yoshiko YASUDA
    Specially-appointed Senior Research Scientist
    Yasushi KONDO
    Specially-appointed Research Scientists
    Megumi YASUDA,TANG Miao,
    ZHUANG Xiaotong

    Since 1993, we have made important discoveries about the role of a red blood cell growth factor, erythropoietin, in the growth and differentiation of early mouse embryos. It also is apparent that this signaling system is expressed in nearly all cancer cells.

    Subsequently, we discovered EMP9, a peptide that disrupts this erythropoietin signaling system and established the company EpoMed Ltd. to use EMP9 to develop an anti-cancer drug. Since then, we have become independent of that company and have created this drug discovery laboratory as a separate entity; in this laboratory we are now focusing on creating treatments for keloid tumours.

  • Laboratory of Environmental Infection Control

    Specially-appointed Chief Research Scientist
    Kenji KIKUCHI
    Senior Research Scientist
    Seong Wook OH
    Research Scientist
    Jung Hyun IM
    Specially-appointed Research Scientists
    Hirotaki TAKAGI,
    Kazuhiko INOUE,
    Kotaro FUJIMAKI,
    Koichi FUJIWARA,
    Kunimoto HOTTA,
    Masahiro KONO,
    Morimasa YAGISAWA,
    Tadashi HATTORI,
    Tomofumi KAWAKAMI,
    Tsutomu SATO,
    Yasuhiro SAIHARA, Yoko AOKI

    This laboratory has been further advancing its research on very pure electrolysed hypochlorite water with low coexistent ion concentrations. This work was first initiated by our predecessor, the Functional Water Laboratory, and we are currently deepening our understanding by delving into the mechanisms and effects of this solution inactivates various pathogens.

    The laboratory is equipped to perform large-scale testing in a simulated space environment, and has BSL3 functionality to explore more effective disinfection methods in space using hypochlorite water. the laboratory recognizes the importance of proper storage and management of pathogen resources such as bacteria and viruses in future infectious disease control, and is therefore poised to launch a Pathogen Resource Bank. By collaborating with various companies, universities and research institutions, this laboratory aims to lead research on functional water and infection control.

  • Interdisciplinary Laboratory for Advanced Medical Science

    Specially-appointed Chief Research Scientist
    Mao TAKAGAKI
    Specially-appointed Senior Research Scientists
    Noriko KAGAWA,
    Tomoko SAOTOME
    Specially-appointed Research Scientists
    Haruko INOIE,Takuji OKADA, Kazuhito NAKAMURA,
    Masako BANDO,
    Satoshi MIYAMOTO,
    Keiko YONEZAWA

    The laboratory conducts interdisciplinary fieldwork based on knowledge from medical science, anthropology, philosophy, history and politics. We discuss and analyze various aspects of the ever-evolving field of advanced medical science and its relationship with humans. Our goal is to explore and analyze the state of medical science in the near future and its prescription for humanity, and to publish our results in an easy-to-understand manner.

  • International Medical Cooperation

    Specially-appointed Chief Research Scientist
    Masahiro TAKASHIMA
    Specially-appointed Research Scientist
    Katsuhiro NISHINO

    With the internationalization of medical care, there is an urgent need to accept patients from overseas, dispatch medical personnel overseas, and provide technical support for medical devices and operations. However, before this can be achieved, there are language, financial, institutional and other problems that need to be addressed.

    In order to help solve these problems, we create textbooks and do practical exchanges to promote research on international collaboration in medical care.

  • Antimicrobial Resistance Laboratory

    Specially-appointed Chief Research Scientist
    Hisakazu YANO

    This laboratory is currently active in three main areas. First, our main research focuses on drug-resistant bacteria, including (1) uncovering their mechanism (2) developing methods to detect drug-resistant bacteria, and (3) monitoring the emergence of new resistant bacteria.

    Second, the laboratory analyses microorganisms in general, including (4) how pathogenic microorganisms cause infectious diseases, (5) the relationship between humans and bacteria in the environment, and (6) the relationship between intestinal flora and various diseases.

  • Laboratory of Anti-Aging Science

    Specially-appointed Chief Research Scientist
    Hidekazu YAMADA
    Specially-appointed Research Scientists
    Kazuko ICHINOMIYA,
    Masahiro TAKASHIMA,
    Sawako HIBINO,
    Sho WATANABE

    The laboratory supports the XPRIZE HEALTHSPAN project which is an international competition with a total prize purse of US $100 million. In this project, researchers, clinicians, pharmaceutical industry experts, investors, government agencies and various stakeholders are collaborating to explore new approaches to ageing. The ultimate goal of the competition is to develop treatments to extend human life expectancy by 10+ years and healthy lifespan by 20+years by 2030. The basic premise of this project is the Information Theory of Ageing which argues that aging is a result of the ambiguity present in information surrounding epigenetics.

    Exercise, nutrition, psychological health and environmental interventions have been shown to be effective in preventing ageing, and taking appropriate measures can delay the ageing process and extend healthy life expectancy. However, the core of this seems to be predicated on controlling aging through epigenetics. The Ageing Clock, particularly, the epigenetic clock, is used to assess biological age, as opposed to calendar age and it is an important tool for advancing anti-ageing medicine. Biological age will also be an important theme at the 2025 World Exposition in Osaka and the laboratory plans to share useful information with attendees that can potentially assist them in reducing the effects of aging.

  • Agro-Medical & Food Environment Laboratory

    Specially-appointed Chief Research Scientist
    Izumi SAWADA
    Specially-appointed Senior Research Scientists
    Shigeki ODA,Tomokiyo TANAKA
    Specially-appointed Research Scientists
    Yoko SAWADA,
    Susumu FUJIKAGE,
    Masaki ODA,Toshiyuki YAMADA

    In recent years, it has become clear that the diverse functional nucleic acids contained in many foods have positive and negative impacts on human health. Based on the idea that we consume not only nutrients but also functional information from the foods we eat, we are actively promoting the exchange of information between the medical and agricultural scientific communities.

    We are conducting research to find scientific evidence on measures that will enable Japan, the world's largest food importer, to secure a stable supply of safer and more health-enhancing agricultural products.

  • AI ＆ e-Sports Medicine Laboratory

    Specially-appointed Chief Research Scientist
    Hiroaki SUGINO
    Specially-appointed Research Scientists
    Hiroaki SUGINO,
    Masaki TERUOKA,
    Michiyoshi BUNYU,
    Yugo MAEKAWA

    This laboratory is/* collaborating closely with the International Society of eSports Medicine, to achieve its major goal of using eSports to support health and longevity. As such, we are now exploring the use of foot treadmill controllers specifically for the elderly, as well as collecting evidence on the effects of playing e-sports on brain function and its ability to reduce the effects of -ageing.

    Additionally, we are also continuing with research from our previous laboratory that focuses on devices that use AI to monitor brain and cardiopulmonary functions of the elderly in-time. As part of the research on information infrastructure, we are also studying the tokenization of individual biometric data as Non-Fungible Tokens (NFT) to enable effective data utilization while protecting individual privacy. In particular, since it protects individual data, we consider the NFT technology to be essential for advancing research and improving clinical applications within the healthcare system.

  • Laboratory of Regenerative Medicine

    Specially-appointed Chief Research Scientist
    Ping DAI
    Specially-appointed Senior Research Scientist
    Yoshinori HARADA
    Specially-appointed Research Scientists
    Masatoshi EGOSHI,
    Toshihiro KURAHASHI,
    Yukimasa TAKEDA,
    Junichi MATSUMOTO

    This laboratory is currently developing a technology that can directly induct and differentiate different types of somatic cells using only small molecule compounds and without using gene transfer technology. The aim is to further elucidate the mechanism of somatic cells so as to establish novel regenerative medicine technology and provide a source for the cells needed for regenerative treatment.

  • Antioxidant Research Laboratory

    Specially-appointed Chief Research Scientist
    Haruhiko INUFUSA
    Specially-appointed Senior Research Scientist
    Fukka YOU

    Our laboratory conducts basic and clinical research into the efficacy of Twendee X and Twendee Mtcontrol antioxidants. These antioxidants are being considered for the prevention and treatment of various oxidative stress diseases.

  • Applied Biodefense Laboratory

    Specially-appointed Chief Research Scientist
    Hiromasa OE
    Specially-appointed Research Scientists
    Moriaki KUSAKABE,
    Yujiro KAWADE, Kenji GOTO

    In order to extend healthy human life expectancy, this laboratory conducts basic and clinical research focused on the environment, diet, intestinal bacteria, sleep, and life rhythms. In addition to allergies and lifestyle-related diseases, we are also focusing on how to prevent other common everyday diseases.

  • Laboratory for Human Diseases Models

    Specially-appointed Chief Research Scientist
    Yoichiro IWAKURA

    Many genes have been implicated in the pathogenesis of autoimmune and allergic diseases. Clarifying the role of these individual genes will enable us to better understand the pathogenic mechanisms, leading to the development of new therapeutics. This laboratory has produced more than 100 strains of gene modified mice in which specific external genes have been introduced into their DNA (transgenic mice) or in which gene functions have been silenced (knockout mice). Through these activities, we have identified a plethora of genes involved in disease development and have clarified their pathogenic roles, mainly of genes implicated in autoimmune diseases and allergies. These areas are specifically important as there are many patients worldwide who are depending on the development of effective treatments. We are committed to helping to find meaningful cures for autoimmune and allergic diseases, and as such, we offer our mouse models to scientists who want to use them in their research. If you are such a scientist, please do not hesitate to contact us.

  • Next-generation Adjuvant ＆ Vaccine Development Laboratory

    Specially-appointed Chief Research Scientist
    Sumiko IHO

    Our laboratory has developed G9.1, a safe and highly effective TLR9 agonist that activates plasmacytoid dendritic cells, which play a crucial role in bridging innate and adaptive immunity. In collaboration with the National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Niigata University School of Medicine, industry partners, Vietnam National Lung Hospital, and the Interferon and Host Defense Laboratory within our research center, we are currently developing an adult tuberculosis prevention vaccine that incorporates G9.1 as an adjuvant. Looking ahead, we plan to leverage G9.1's immunostimulatory properties for drug discovery research, exploring its potential applications in various therapeutic contexts.