Faculty

Division of Brain Sciences, Institute for Advanced Medical Research

Brain sciences, Neurochemistry, Biological psychiatry

The aim of the Division of Brain Sciences is a multi-layered (gene, cell, circuit) understanding of brain functions. We regard the brain as the sum of its parts—neuron, glia, and vasculature—and explores the unseen interaction between the brain and peripheral organs that engages in higher brain functions such as emotion and motivation. These efforts will lead to the development of novel treatments for mental illness.

Division of Tumor Immunology, Institute for Advanced Medical Research

Development of immunotherapy for cancer and chronic inflammation

We aim to develop a novel immunotherapeutic approach for cancer and chronic inflammation through elucidating the role of immune system in these diseases. We are especially interested in adoptive immunotherapy, in which immune cells are used as a “living drug” to attack cancer cells.

Pulmonary Medicine

Respiratory medicineInflammatory lung disease (asthma, COPD), Sleep apnea syndrome

Research on the pathophysiology and development of novel treatments of inflammatory lung diseases, especially severe asthma and also screening methods for patients with sleep apnea syndrome and methods for evaluating therapeutic effects.

Pulmonary Medicine

Pulmonary Medicine, Cancer Biology

My research goals are to understand the causes of lung diseases including lung cancer and to obtain novel findings which can contribute to the development of effective treatments.

Cardiology

Cardiology, Regenerative medicine

Elucidation of the pathogenesis of heart disease and development of new therapies with regenerative approach.

Cardiology

Cardiology, Cardiovascular Disease, Quality and Outcomes Research

Dr Kohsaka is engaged in outcome research in the field of cardiology through multicenter registry studies, accumulation of clinical administrative data, and international clinical trials. The foundation of his work is to "respond to the practical clinical questions", focusing on optimizing clinical pathways, updating recommendations in clinical practice guidelines, and improving various biases through research findings.

Gastroenterology and Hepatology

Basic and clinical research of gastrointestinal immunity disorders

Clinical development of new drugs and treatments for IBD as well as liver and pancreatic immunity disorders. Developing preventive medicine that seeks to unify immunology, genetics, and nutritional science.

Gastroenterology and Hepatology

Gastroenterology and Hepatology

We are trying to elucidate the pathogenesis and underlying mechanism of various liver diseases including acute liver injury, chronic liver injury, liver cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma from the multiple view on immunology, metabolism, and microorganism, leading to a development of new diagnosis and medical treatment.

Gastroenterology and Hepatology

Gastroenterology, inflammatory bowel disease, and systems medicine.

Our research goal is to elucidate the diverse molecular and cellular networks involved in inflammation, tissue repair and fibrosis processes in digestive organs at the cellular, tissue and organ level. Utilizing biological methods and multi-omics techniques, we aim to decipher these complex networks and develop novel therapeutic strategies for inflammatory diseases of digestive organs.

Neurology

Neurological therapeutics

We aim to develop actual therapeutics by every conceivable means – from advancement of translational research to home care medicine – to improve the quality of life of patients suffering from various neurological diseases.

Neurology

Muscle and autoimmunity

Pathogenesis and clinical features of autoimmune disorders of muscle including myasthenia gravis, inflammatory myopathies, and immune-related adverse events induced by immune checkpoint inhibitors.

Neurology

Parkinson's disease and related disorders

Clinical research based on a database that contains clinical information on a large number of Parkinson's disease patients.Establishment of novel neuroimaging biomarkers for Parkinson's disease and related disorders using advanced MRI technology.

Hematology

Hematology, Molecular oncology, Cancer genetics

Genetic dissection of molecular pathogenesis in human malignancies, particularly in hematologic neoplasms; Establishing clinical relevance of genetic alterations (as therapeutic targets and/or biomarkers); Implementation of precision medicine through clinical sequencing.

Rheumatology

Rheumatoid arthritis, Connective tissue diseases

Clinical application of inhibiting inflammatory cytokines to treat patients with rheumatoid arthritis and connective tissue diseases and clarification of the mechanism　of their efficacy in relation to the pathogenesis of the diseases.

Nephrology, Endocrinology and Metabolism

Nephrology, Hypertension

Our research aims to obtain a deep understanding of the pathophysiology of age-related diseases, including chronic kidney disease, hypertension, and metabolic disorders such as diabetes, which have been on the rise in recent aging society, and to contribute to establish new therapeutic strategies.

General and Gastroenterological Surgery

Gasteroenterology; surgical oncology; endoscopic surgery; multidisciplinary solid tumor therapy; surgical infections; bodily reactions to invasive surgery; sentinel node navigation surgery

Research utilizing an approach based on the sentinel node theory. Analyzing the mechanisms of metastasis of lymph node cancers and their regulation. Applying microscopic metastasis and capillary blood cancer cell detection methods to realize individualized, multidisciplinary treatment mehthods for digestive organ cancers. Research into reactions to invasive surgery, and surgery-related infections.

General and Gastroenterological Surgery

Vascular Surgery, Liver transplant surgery

Evaluation of vascular morphological changes of bioresorbable vascular scaffolds in clinical study and assessment of morphological findings. Development of a new treatment strategy for acute limb ischemia using hydrogen gas. Visualization of peripheral vessels by photoacoustic imaging.

General and Gastroenterological Surgery

Gastroenterological surgery (esophagus and stomach); surgical oncology; endoscopic treatment, endoscopic surgery; solid tumor multidisciplinary therapies; surgical infections, bodily reactions to invasive surgery; individually minimized minor surgery using sentinel lymph node theory

Research utilizing an approach based on the sentinel node theory. Analyzing the mechanisms of metastasis of lymph node cancers and their regulation. Minimally invasive treatment for early upper GI cancer. Multidisciplinary treatment method for advanced upper GI cancer Research into reactions to invasive surgery, and surgery-related infections.

General and Gastroenterological Surgery

Gastroenterological Surgery, Hepatobiliary and pancreatic surgery, Transplant Surgery, Surgical Oncology, Endoscopic surgery, Solid tumor multidisciplinary therapy, Endoscopic diagnosis & Treatment

Developing surgical methods with a basis of major surgery and minimally invasive treatments for Hepatobiliary and pancreatic disease. The clinical research to improve the treatment outcomes for pancreatic cancer. Translational research to aim the clinical application such as biomarkers from molecular abnormality analysis related to the pathogenesis of pancreatic cancer.

Pediatric Surgery

general pediatric surgery, neonatal surgery, lymphatic anomalies

The purpose of the study is to understand and overcome cystic lymphatic malformation (lymphangioma), an intractable rare disease. Epidemiological studies, cell biological studies using surgical specimens, and development of new drugs and therapies.

Cardiovascular Surgery

Cardiovascular surgery; Endovascular stent-graft; minimally invasive cardiac surgery; organ protection methods; artificial heart and blood vessels

Developing surgical methods with a basis in implementing major surgery and minimally invasive treatments for cardiac and aortic diseases; and research on perioperative organ protection methods. Development of new treatments and diagnostic methods for aortic aneurysm and aortic dissection.

General Thoracic Surgery

General thoracic surgery, thoracic oncology, minimally invasive surgery, percutaneous cryoablation, thoracic imaging

Investigating liquid biopsy for lung cancer (serum miRNA), thoracic imaging, thoracic surgery (minimally invasive surgery and sublobar resection), multidisciplinary treatment for advanced lung cancer (salvage surgery) and percutaneous cryoablation.

General Thoracic Surgery

General thoracic surgery, Thoracic oncology, Multimodality treatment, Minimally invasive thoracic surgery

Surgical treatment for lung cancer, thymic epithelial tumor, malignant pleural mesothelioma, and other thoracic malignancies; clinical trials including surgery for thoracic malignancies; development of multimodality treatment and minimally invasive surgery for thoracic malignancies.

Neurosurgery

Brain tumors; pituitary tumors; endoscopic skull base surgery; immunotherapy

Development of minimally invasive treatments for brain tumors, pituitary tumors, and skull base tumors (endonasal endoscope surgery, 3D surgical simulation). Development of new treatments for malignant brain tumors (immunotherapy, gene therapy, and cell therapy).

Orthopedic Surgery

Spine Surgery, Minimally Invasive Spine Therapies, Scoliosis

Developing prosthetics necessary for spinal surgery. Identifying scoliosis susceptible genes and developing new assesment and surgical methods. Multicenter collaborative research on spine disorders. Researching spine aging through MRI machines. Researching the invasiveness of spine surgery.