- Medical Genomics
- To identify molecules that affect various diseases containing congenital diseases, we conduct a comprehensive analysis by genomics and transcriptome analyses using the next generation sequencer and will contribute to advanced medical development such as molecular targeted drugs and gene therapy.
- Cancer Genomics and Epigenomics
- Cancer Genome and Epigenome Cancer cells have diverse genomic alterations ranging from single nucleotide mutation to chromosomal structural abnormality.
Epigenomic changes such as DNA methylation have also been observed in cancer cells and it is now clear that genomic and epigenomic alterations influence each other and work cooperatively in cancer initiation or progression. We are pursuing integrated analysis of the cancer genome and epigenome using next generation sequencers to realize Precision Medicine and discovery new drug targets.
- Congenital Metabolic Diseases
- Congenital metabolic diseases are known to be caused by genetic background along with rare diseases, and whole genome sequence analysis is essential in order to clarify the problem. It is required to provide different treatments that can respond to each person because of their various pathophysiology. However, clinical image and general biochemical laboratory findings are less in specificity, which makes it difficult to ensure accurate diagnosis with just a medical check-up. We analyze metabolites or protein from blood, urine and so on by mass spectrometry system to promptly make diagnosis. We are aiming to realize pre-symptomatic diagnosis and preventive therapy.
- Precision Psychiatry
- Psychiatric disorders, such as schizophrenia and Alzheimer’s disease, represent a tremendous public health burden. Drug development for these patients remains challenging, given the highly complex underlying genetic architecture and the absence of a unifying pathophysiology. Precision Psychiatry is an approach that focuses on understanding the underlying neurobiological mechanisms that cause the symptoms of mental health conditions. Using multi-omics analyses of disease mouse models, human iPSC, and patient biological samples, we aim to develop innovative early diagnosis and therapeutic interventions, and therapeutic drugs that can target these mechanisms, which in turn will address previously untreatable aspects of symptoms.
- Morpho‐infomatics and Muliti‐omics
- Congenital morphological abnormality is observed in 3-5% of newborns, many of which still have no preemptive preventive measures. We aim to elucidate the principles of gene expressions and metabolite dynamics involved in phenotypic development through integrated analysis of three-dimensional morphometrics, genomes, transcriptomes, and metabolomes, and to contribute to establish precision medicine that can help prevent congenital abnormalities.
- Food and Healthcare
- We are investigating the mechanisms behind the functions of food resources for potential applications in functional food and cosmetic industries. We have optimized more than 40 types of bioassay systems for the assessment of food functions and food safety. Our bioassays are being performed using human and animal cells. In addition, we perform in vivo studies using different mice models. All these bioassays are devoted to evaluate novel functions and the molecular mechanisms involved.
- Large‐Scale Data Analysis
- Our group develops mathematical and visualization techniques for large-scale data analysis in precision medicine.