Laboratory of Medical Frontiers

In our laboratory, we are developing future medical technologies through exchanges with researchers in different fields (agriculture and engineering) and through joint research with companies. One example is the development of a cancer diagnosis method using a small amount of blood. In addition, we found that the biosensor technology developed in joint research with Kyoto University and the RIKEN Institute is extremely useful not only for cancer diagnosis, but also for the diagnosis and treatment of infectious diseases.

[Characteristics of the research content (originality, advanced nature, etc.)]
●Development of a biosensor using microwaves: Electromagnetic waves in the gigahertz (GHz) to terahertz (THz) range are sensitive to water molecules. We have developed a technology that uses microwave semiconductor sensors to measure minute changes in water molecules in cells and microorganisms (such as bacteria).
● Accelerating testing of hard-to-culture bacteria (tuberculosis bacteria, nontuberculous mycobacteria, etc.) and drug-resistant bacteria: It takes time to culture hard-to-culture bacteria, and it can take as long as 6 to 8 weeks to select an effective drug. We are working with companies to develop diagnostic equipment that uses microwave sensors to select effective drugs within 24 hours.
● Diagnosing early cancer from minute amounts of blood (multi-center collaborative study)

In order to deliver research results to clinical practice, it is important to develop products together with companies from an early stage, rather than simply handing over the results developed at universities to companies. In practice, collaborative research with researchers and companies in different fields is stimulating and leads to a series of unexpected discoveries. Furthermore, the technologies and medical devices we develop can help patients. We are looking for people who want to discover new things and conduct research with us.