Laboratory of Molecular Design and Molecular Evolution

Molecular Design for Understanding Life Phenomena and Advancing Disease Treatment

We aim to design biomolecules with enhanced functions through the power of chemistry, thereby enabling the understanding and control of previously uncharacterized biological phenomena at the molecular level. Our research centers on two main themes: disease metabolic imaging and the design of functional medium-sized molecules. We are taking on the challenge of developing game-changing biomolecules that can be applied to molecular diagnostics and next-generation biopharmaceuticals. By integrating organic chemistry, molecular biology, medical science, automation, and data science, we are pioneering new frontiers in research.

1. Chemical Biology of Disease

We aim to identify disease biomarkers and realize metabolic imaging of biological systems to elucidate disease mechanisms and facilitate early diagnosis.

・In Vivo Metabolic Imaging

We develop molecular probes for disease metabolic imaging based on original designs grounded in organic chemistry.

2. Design of functional middle-sized molecules

We are pioneering synthetic methodologies for medium-sized molecules, building high-throughput screening platforms, and leveraging data science to design molecules with novel functions.

・Artificial Peptide Drug Discovery

We are advancing research on peptides and peptidomimetics based on our original molecular design technologies, aiming to develop tools for biomolecular manipulation and innovative peptide-based therapeutics. We also aim to realize functional peptides through our original DNA-encoded peptide libraries and data science approaches.

・Chemical biology of fatty acids and lipids

English ver. coming soon.