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SHISHU UNIVERSITY

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  • Department of Biomolecular Innovation

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Department of Biomolecular Innovation

We apply the results of advanced agronomic research derived from food materials and biological resources to the development of functional foods and drug discovery to prevent and treat cancer, lifestyle-related diseases, and dementia. With this biomolecular approach, we aim to disseminate our research results from the extremely long-lived region of Shinshu, Japan.

Researchers List

Researcher Directory
Head of the Department of Biomolecular Innovation
Academic Assembly Professor (Institute of Agriculture), Ph. D. in Agriculture
Research Professor
Full-time Contributor
Takeshi Shimosato
Career
2006 Ph.D. Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Tohoku University
2006 Postdoctoral Fellow, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (CBER), U.S. Food and Drug Administration(FDA)
2007 Postdoctoral Fellow, National Cancer Institute (NCI) at Frederick
2007 Assistant Professor, Fiber-Nanotech Young Researcher Empowerment Center, Shinshu University
2012 Associate Professor, Faculty of Agriculture, Shinshu University
2016 Director, Research Center for Fungal and Microbial Dynamism, Shinshu University
2019 Professor, Faculty of Agriculture, Shinshu University
2019 Department Head, Department of Biomolecular Innovation, Institute for Biomedical Sciences, Shinshu University
Research Field
Molecular Biotechnology
Research Theme
Immunomodulation of oligodeoxynucleotide particles via oral delivery
Message
Research into the action of biomolecules has attracted considerable attention in both the medical research and agricultural sciences. Our department as a keyword “Biomolecles” aims to the development of novel functional foods, innovative drugs and agents that would contribute to the prevention or suppression of intractable diseases.

Distinguished Visiting Professors List

Deputy Director of the Institute for Biomedical Sciences
Academic Assembly Professor (Institute of Agriculture)
Ph. D. in Agriculture
Research Professor
Full-time Contributor
Hidefumi Makabe
Researcher Directory
Research Field
Bioorganic chemistry, Synthetic organic chemistry
Research Theme
The research in our group is focused on the synthesis of biologically active natural products and their biological activities.
Academic Assembly Professor (Institute of Agriculture)
Ph. D. in Fisheries Sciences
Research Professor
Full-time Contributor
Shigeru Katayama
Researcher Directory
Research Field
Improvement of bioactive compounds by chemical, enzymatic and genetic modifications
Research Theme
We investigate the health functionality of food-derived bioactive compounds and their improvement by different kinds of modification techniques
Home Page
http://karamatsu.shinshu-u.ac.jp/lab/fs/english.html
Academic Assembly Associate Professor (Institute of Agriculture)
Ph. D. in Engineering
Research Professor
Full-time Contributor
Takeshi Hosaka
Researcher Directory
Research Field
Applied Microbiology, Antibiotics
Research Theme
The truth about antibiotics and antibiotic producers: their understanding and applications
Academic Assembly Professor (Institute of Textile Science and Technology)
Ph. D. in Engineering
Shimosato Unit
Full-time Contributor
Ryoichi Arai
Researcher Directory
Research Field
Protein engineering, Structural Biology, Synthetic Biology
Research Theme
We conduct protein engineering research to design, develop and apply useful artificial and engineered proteins, and structural biology research to analyze protein structure and function. In particular, we aim for biomolecular innovation by using protein nanobuilding blocks.
Academic Assembly Associate Professor (Institute of Agriculture)
Ph. D. in Engineering
Hosaka Unit
Full-time Contributor
Masaki Ihara
Researcher Directory
Research Field
Protein Engineering, Metabolic Engineering
Research Theme
We are trying to establish the green bio-refinery industry using microalgae re-enegineered by protein engineering and metabolic engineering techniques.
Academic Assembly Assistant Professor (Institute of Agriculture)
Ph. D. in Science
Makabe Unit
Full-time Contributor
Koji Umezawa
Researcher Directory
Research Field
Biophysics and Bioinformatics
Research Theme
Prediction and interpretation for biomolecular interaction and molecular recognition by theoretical approach based on molecular structure and dynamics.
Assistant Professor (fixed-term)
Ph. D. in Agricultural Science
Hosaka Unit
Full-time Contributor
Yu Imai
Research Field
Applied microbiology, Discovery of the bioactive compounds
Research Theme
Discovery of the bioactive compounds from microbes and elucidate their mode of action.
Assistant Professor (fixed-term)
Ph. D. in Chemistry
Makabe Unit
Full-time Contributor
Atsushi Kawamura
Researcher Directory
Research Field
Natural Products Chemistry, Medicinal Chemistry
Research Theme
Isolation and Structure Determination of Bioactive Natural Products.
Natural Product Synthesis and Structure Activity Relationship Study.
Assistant Professor (fixed-term)
Ph. D. in Agriculture
Katayama Unit
Full-time Contributor
Yifeng Zheng
Research Field
Food science
Research Theme
Identification of active compounds in functional foods for prevention of life style-related diseases (obesity, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease), cognitive decline and food allergies, as well as elucidation of their mechanisms.
Academic Assembly Professor (Institute of Agriculture)
Ph. D. in Engineering
Makabe Unit
Part-time Contributor
Junko Ohkanda
Researcher Directory
Research Field
Bioorganic Chemistry, Chemical Biology, Medicinal Chemistry
Research Theme
Rational approach for design of PPI inhibitors for K-Ras prenylation
Bivalent agents that disrupt PPIs of phosphatases
Exploration of synthetic agents that regulate intrinsically disordered proteins
Synthesis and functional elucidation of fusicoccin-based bioactive agents
Specially Appointed Professor
Ph. D. in Medicine
Shimosato Unit
Part-time Contributor
Takashi Sato
Researcher Directory
Research Field
Respiratory medicine, DDS
Research Theme
Development of inhalational therapy using functional particles/biologics for the treatment of lung disease
Academic Assembly Professor (Institute of Agriculture)
Ph. D. in Agriculture
Katayama Unit
Part-time Contributor
Shinichi Yonekura
Researcher Directory
Research Field
Animal Physiology
Research Theme
We are exploring the hidden mechanism of stress response at cellular and molecular levels. We are particularly interested in the relationship between the stress response and a functional disorder in neuronal cell or mammary development.
Home Page
http://karamatsu.shinshu-u.ac.jp/lab/roh/top/top.html
Academic Assembly Professor (Institute of Education)
Ph. D. in Science
Makabe Unit
Part-time Contributor
Fuyuki Ito
Researcher Directory
Research Field
Photochemistry of molecular-assembly system and crystal formation process of organic molecules
Research Theme
Studies on photochemistry of molecular assemblies and complexes. Dynamics of the molecular assembling process of organic molecules probed by the fluorescence changes. Fabrication of photofunctional molecules, and the dynamics of excited states.
Academic Assembly Professor
(Institute of Agriculture)
Ph. D. in Science
Makabe Unit
Part-time Contributor
Isao Kii
Researcher Directory
Research Field
Protein Science, Molecular and Cellular Biology, Chemical Biology
Research Theme
Development of selective inhibitor for protein kinase related with diseases
Selective inhibition targeting protein folding process
Cellular quality control mechanism on protein folding process
Next-generation antibody-drug conjugates
Academic Assembly Associate Professor (Institute of Agriculture)
Ph. D. in Science
Katayama Unit
Part-time Contributor
Shunsuke Suzuki
Researcher Directory
Research Field
Molecular Biology, Genome Biology
Research Theme
Clarify the relevance of transposable elements to the evolution of mammalian genomic imprinting and of human gene regulatory mechanisms and diseases.
Academic Assembly Associate Professor (Institute of Agriculture)
Ph. D. in Medicine
Shimosato Unit
Part-time Contributor
Tomohide Takaya
Researcher Directory
Research Field
Stem cell biology, in vitro screening
Research Theme
Research and development of preventive and therapeutic molecules for motor disorders and metabolic syndrome
Home Page
http://t-takaya.net/
Academic Assembly Associate Professor (Institute of Agriculture)
Ph. D. in Agriculture
Katayama Unit
Part-time Contributor
Sachi Tanaka
Researcher Directory
Research Field
Food Immunology
Research Theme
We are planning to examine the effects of environmental factors including food intake on immune functions and elucidate molecular mechanisms of immune regulation.
Academic Assembly Associate Professor (Institute of Agriculture)
Ph.D. in Science
Hosaka Unit
Part-time Contributor
Hiroki Irieda
Researcher Directory
Research Field
Plant Pathology
Research Theme
Our research is focused on the molecular mechanisms underlying interactions between Colletotrichum fungi and plants.
Academic Assembly Associate Professor (Institute of Agriculture)
Ph. D. in Applied Life Science
Katayama Unit
Part-time Contributor
Takakazu Mitani
Researcher Directory
Research Field
Chemical biology, food science
Research Theme
Search of bioactive compound to prevent lifestyle-related diseases, such as obesity, steatosis, and cancer. Identification of molecular target to the bioactive compound.
Academic Assembly Assistant Professor ((Institute of Agriculture)
Ph. D. in Agriculture
Katayama Unit
Part-time Contributor
Kanako Morohaku
Researcher Directory
Research Field
Animal reproduction
Research Theme
To identify the molecular mechanisms of oocyte development and selection in mammalian ovary using live cell imaging.
Specially Appointed Professor
Ph. D. in Science
Shimosato Unit
Takumi Tochio
Research Field
Prebiotics, Probiotics, Gastroenterology, Food Science, Cosmetic Science
Research Theme
In recent years, the relationship between abnormalities in the indigenous bacterial flora (dysbiosis) and various diseases has been reported, but it has not been fully elucidated what effect improving dysbiosis has on the diseases. We are conducting research to establish complementary therapies for various diseases using prebiotics and probiotics, which are materials that improve dysbiosis.
Seoul National University, Korea
Jae Yong Han
Research Field
Animal molecular genetics, Biomodulation and agriculural biotechnology
Research Theme
Production of genetically modified animals (poultry etc.) using agricultural biotechnolgy and its agriculturally practical and scientific applications (model animals etc.).
Home Page
http://age.snu.ac.kr
http://biomodulation.snu.ac.kr
Seoul National University, Korea
Heebal Kim
Research Field
Computational Evolution, Bioinformatics
Research Theme
Computational molecular evolution, genome-wide association study in complex trait and genome-wide expression profiling
Home Page
http://biopop.snu.ac.kr
The University of Melbourne, Australia
Andrew John Pask
Research Field
Reproduction and Development
Research Theme
Marsupial sex determination, sexual differentiation, reproduction, genetics, development, endocrinology, physiology and disorder
The University of Tennessee, USA
Dhiraj A. Vattem
Research Field
Therapeutic modulation of neuronal inflammation and proteotoxicity in neurodegenerative diseases by natural product derived metabolites.
Gut microbiome effects on molecular mechanisms governing adiposity and cardiometabolic health and neuronal disease.
Research Theme
Neuroinflammation and Proteotoxicity: Understanding the biological functionality of natural bioactive compounds for therapeutic modulation of stress response signaling pathways important in several inflammatory pathologies specifically neurodegeneration and cognitive decline. This research stream focuses on the molecular mechanisms that underline abrogation of neuronal inflammation and proteotoxicity implicated in the development of neurodegenerative diseases in pre-clinical models.
Microbiome and Health: Microbial transformation of natural product derived metabolites and its effect on bioavailability, and therapeutic efficacy. Understanding and modulation of human gut microbiome as it relates to molecular mechanisms governing cardiometabolic health and neuronal disease (gut-brain axis).
Seoul National University, Korea
Jeong-Yong Suh
Research Field
Structural biology, Molecular biophysics
Research Theme
Structural mechanism of transcriptional regulation, Protein folding and interaction probed by NMR spectroscopy
Home Page
http://bionmr.snu.ac.kr
Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell University, USA
Iliyan D. Iliev
Research Field
Mucosal Immunology, Mycobiota, Inflammation
Research Theme
The Iliev laboratory studies immunity and mycobiota early and later in life, and during conditions, such as inflammatory bowel disease, allergy, and immunodeficiencies, where fungi contribute to pathologies.
Home Page
https://ilievlab.weill.cornell.edu/about-us