Regenerating injured tissues within the central nervous system is difficult. Nerve tissues lost by traumatic brain or spinal cord injuries do not regenerate themselves. We are trying to nerve regeneration by generating and transplanting various types of neural cells derived from human iPS cells.
In addition, we prepare human iPS cells from blood cells and skin tissues collected from patients with various neurodegenerative diseases to induce neurons, astrocytes, microglia, and even cerebral organoids (miniature brain models) for drug development. Furthermore, we investigate neurogenesis and aging to introduce innovative discoveries to the world. We will improve the correlation between basic and clinical research to benefit patients.

Hideyuki Okano Visiting professor

Mainly at Keio University, my primary focus has been on regenerative therapies for spinal cord injuries and drug and treatment development for neurodegenerative diseases, ALS, and Alzheimer's disease. In these fields, we have started clinical trials. At Fujita Health University, we will further advance nerve regeneration research and drug discovery.

Yoshitaka Kase Senior Assistant Professor

Under the themes of regenerative medicine, aging, and drug discovery, I have investigated regeneration after traumatic brain injury, axon regeneration, aging control, and drug discovery for various diseases. We have actively published relevant patents and papers. At Fujita Health University, I will further investigate the regenerative therapy of the central nervous system to achieve its clinical application.

Mitsuru Ishikawa Senior Assistant Professor

Presenting the pathology of mental illnesses and neurodevelopmental disorders using cellular models is challenging. I am addressing this issue by generating various differentiated cell models from ES/iPS cells with bioengineering technology and developing gene transfer techniques applicable to regenerative medicine and drug development.

Yo Mabuchi Collaborative researcher (Associate Professor, Fujita Medical Innovation Center Tokyo)

With an interest in tissue regeneration, I carry out the functional analysis of in vivo tissue stem cells. Particularly, I characterize mesenchymal stem cells in the bone marrow and fat and reveal the regeneration mechanisms through cell transplantation for application to regenerative medicine.

Sopak Supakul Assistant professor

I’m from Thailand. After graduating from medical school in Japan, I received a Doctor of Medicine degree from graduate school (Okano’s Laboratory, Keio University) and got a position at Fujita Health University. I have been engaged in innovative research on neurological diseases using iPS cells. Through breakthrough R&D for clinical application, I will provide new treatments.

Yuji Okano Visiting researcher

I have explored a novel medical theory system to integrate data-driven research with our domain knowledge about medicine. At Fujita Health University, I will analyze omics data in various projects while continuing my research on glioblastoma.

Maraku Goto Visiting researcher

I have investigated the central nervous system damage caused by COVID-19 and the control of neural aging using the techniques of differentiating and culturing neurons, astrocytes, and brain organoids. At Fujita Health University, I will elucidate the onset mechanisms of intractable neurological diseases, such as xeroderma pigmentosum, and advance drug development research.