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Prof. Jun Takahashi
We are developing a cell replacement therapy for the neurological disorders by using stem cells, especially embryonic stem cells (ES cells). The main target is Parkinson's disease, and our research focuses on induction of dopaminergic neurons from ES cells and transplantation of the cells into the brain to improve neurological symptoms.
We have revealed the optimal differentiational stage for an efficient survival of the grafted dopaminergic neurons, and also a method to prevent tumor formation. In addition, we have demonstrated that transplantation of monkey ES cell-derived neurons improved the Parkinsonian symptoms of the monkey models. As a next step, we hope to examine the long-term efficacy and safety of human ES cell transplantation in primate models.
Prof. Junya Toguchida
Lect. Tomohisa Kato
The major objects of our department are to disclose the molecular mechanism of growth and differentiation
of mesenchymal tissue, and to develop new therapeutic modalities for clinical application. The
unique point of our department is to utilize cancer cells as materials to understand the mechanism of
tissue regeneration. Followings are currently on-going projects,mainly regarding mesenchymal stem
cells (MSC).
1. Investigation for regulatory mechanisms of growth and differentiation of MSC
2. Investigation of transformation mechanisms and the development of transformation surveillance system
of MSC
3. Development of the new treatment for difficult pathological conditions using MSC
4. Application of agonist for the PGE2 receptors for the articular cartilage repair
Assoc. Prof. Shoichiro Sumi
It is an urgent necessity to develop a universal therapeutic method to cure diabetes mellitus. To this goal, the following studies are underway in our department.
1. Bioartificial pancreas: This enables allo- or xeno-transplantation of islets or in vitro-processed islet-like cells without immuno-suppression and donor shortage. We have developed a novel PVA (poly-vinyl alcohol) macro-encapsulated islets by freezing method and working toward the realization of a new device using human islets, porcine islets and in vitro-processed islet-like cells.
2. Differentiation of islet-like cells: For the cell resource of diabetes therapy, we are working on islet cell differentiation from ES cells, pancreatic duct epithelial cells, cell fusion between islet cells and bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells and insulinoma cells. We are also working on high-throughput cell cluster processing methods for differentiation induction and cell function improvement.
3. Studies on neovascularization: We have developed an effective method to induce neovascularization at subcutaneous site for transplantation of either islets or bioartificial pancreas.
4. Simulator of systemic glucose metabolism: This kind of simulator can predict glucose levels in individual patient and is applicable to mode-predicted control of mechanical artificial pancreas in the future.
Assoc. Prof. Tatsuo Nakamura
The aim of our study is to regenerate damaged tissues and internal organs of a human by giving the appropriate
environment where own cells can proliferate and differentiate in the body. These studies always take clinical application
into consideration, and some of them have already applied clinically in thoracic surgery, ONP surgery, orthopedic surgery.
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Human Embryonic Stem Cell Project
