Developing Diagnostic, Preventive, and Therapeutic Technologies for Allergies, Cancer, and Enteritis
Chronic diseases and health disorders in humans and animals, which have been increasing in recent years mainly due to changes in diet, lifestyle, and the environment, are often referred to as “21st-century diseases.” My research focuses on elucidating the mechanisms underlying the onset and progression of food allergies, atopic dermatitis, enteritis, and cancer, all of which fall under this category, with the ultimate goal of developing methods for their prevention and treatment. In particular, I focus on changes in the gut microbiota and alterations in fatty acids abundant in food and their metabolism. Based on these insights, I aim to develop therapies not only using pharmaceuticals but also lipid metabolites and microbial metabolites (such as probiotics) derived from food.
Because these diseases are chronic and progress slowly, it is often difficult to accurately evaluate their conditions and make a correct diagnosis. To address this, I am developing new animal models, evaluation systems utilizing artificial intelligence, and diagnostic technologies using urine and feces, all of which are essential for elucidating the mechanisms of these diseases. Each of these studies is applied research carried out with a constant awareness of social implementation.
Below are examples of the research I have conducted to date:
1.Elucidation of the mechanisms of food allergy and atopic dermatitis with a focus on lipid metabolism, and proposals for therapeutic approaches.
2.Development of methods to suppress cancer growth through immune regulation and approaches to overcome anticancer drug resistance.
3.Development of diagnostic techniques for food allergy, atopic dermatitis, and pollinosis using urine.
4.Development of technologies to achieve “healing through diet,” including the discovery and application of food-derived components that suppress symptoms such as itching, pain, and enteritis.
5.Development and research application of animal behavior analysis systems utilizing artificial intelligence.
Moving forward, I aim to accelerate these lines of research to advance the development of diagnostic, preventive, and therapeutic strategies for 21st-century diseases, thereby contributing to improving the quality of life (QOL) of both humans and animals.
Educational approach
Fostering Researchers Who Aim for Practical Application and Social Implementation
Educational Activities
In addition to delivering lectures and practical training in veterinary pharmacology and veterinary toxicology for the major in Veterinary, and Radiation Animal Science for the major in Animal Life Sciences, I also teach graduate-level courses on the mathematical understanding of agricultural phenomena, as well as allergy science and cancer immunology.
Our laboratory engages extensively in collaborative research with pharmaceutical companies, food-related industries, cosmetics companies, IT firms, hospitals, and veterinary clinics. Students in our lab are encouraged to become involved in these joint projects at an early stage of their research activities, gaining valuable experience in real-world collaborations. We also emphasize providing opportunities for students to present their work at academic conferences early in their careers.
Goals for Human Resource Development
Our goal is to foster researchers who can make full use of their high abilities, take the lead in various projects, see them through to completion, and ultimately contribute to society. We also aim to nurture researchers who are genuinely dedicated to curing allergies and cancer. In our laboratory, we expect students to always keep in mind the questions of how diseases can be treated, how patients and animals can be saved, and how research outcomes can be implemented in society.
Track Record of Human Resource Development
Over the past decade, among 27 graduates, 3 have pursued careers in academia (universities, etc.), 11 have joined pharmaceutical companies, 4 have entered food, cosmetics, or testing-related industries, 2 have joined trading companies, and 2 have become public officials.
Vision for industry-academia collaboration
Applying Bioactive Lipids to Disease Diagnosis and Therapy. Innovating Pharmacological and Toxicological Testing with Artificial Intelligence.
Potential partners for collaborative research and industry–academia cooperation include medical and veterinary-related companies, as well as academic institutions and corporations in the pharmaceutical, diagnostics, food, and cosmetics sectors.
◇ Social Issues We Address and Our Approaches to Solutions
1.Diagnosis and Treatment of Food Allergy and Atopic Dermatitis:
We are developing diagnostic kits that detect urinary biomarkers to evaluate not only the presence or absence of symptoms, but also responsiveness to immunotherapy and pharmacotherapy.
2.Developing Technologies to Prevent and Treat Diseases through Diet Rather than Drugs:
We have discovered bioactive lipids, contained in food and metabolically produced by gut microbiota, that suppress inflammation, pain, and itching. We are now advancing research on the production, extraction, and efficacy evaluation of these lipids toward practical application.
3.Development of Methods to Overcome Anticancer Drug Resistance:
Drug resistance is a major challenge in cancer pharmacotherapy. We are focusing on the drug efflux capacity of tumor vasculature and are developing technologies to suppress the elevated efflux induced by drug administration.
4.Development of Adjuvants for Cancer Immunotherapy:
Cancer immunotherapies targeting PD-1 signaling have had a profound impact on cancer treatment. However, some patients do not respond to this therapy. We are developing methods to enhance sensitivity to cancer immunotherapy by modulating immune polarization within the tumor microenvironment.
5.Development of Diagnostic Technologies for Dogs and Cats:
Diagnosing diseases in animals that cannot speak is extremely challenging. We are developing diagnostic technologies for cancers, allergic diseases, cystitis, epilepsy, and more in dogs and cats, using easily collectable body fluids such as urine without the need for blood sampling.
6.Automation of Pharmacological and Toxicological Testing Using Artificial Intelligence:
Traditionally, some pharmacological and toxicological tests relied on human observation of laboratory animal behavior for quantification and evaluation. This posed issues regarding reproducibility, objectivity, extrapolation to humans, and throughput. By employing imaging technologies and artificial intelligence, we are automating these tests and developing novel evaluation systems.
◇ Patent Information: Below are the patents categorized by research field.
◎ Diagnostics Using Body Fluids
•Monoclonal antibody against tetranor-PGDM and its applications: Japanese Patent Application 2021-26290 (2021)
•Method for evaluating inflammatory status in felines: PCT/JP2020/41434 (2020)
•Method for detecting atopic dermatitis: PCT/JP2020/37645 (2020)
•Urinary inflammatory marker in cats: 62/930714 (2019)
•Method for detecting allergic rhinitis: Japanese Patent Application 2018-43404 (2018)
•Biomarker for food allergy, diagnostic method, urine sample diagnostic kit, and urine sample test strip: PCT/JP2017/002919 (2017)
•Diagnostic method and diagnostic kit for food allergy: PCT/JP2015/072421 (2015)
◎ Animal Behavior Analysis System
•Information processing device, information processing method, and program: Japanese Patent Application 2020-211853 / 2020-211852 (2020)
◎ “Treat by Eating” Technologies and Therapeutic Development
•Agents for the treatment, prevention, or amelioration of inflammatory and allergic diseases: PCT/JP2019/49500 (2019)
•Agents for the treatment, prevention, or amelioration of inflammatory diseases: Japanese Patent Application 2018-235139 (2018)
•Metastasis inhibitors for cancer: PCT/JP2017/20569, Japanese Patent Application 2018-521010 (2017)
•Therapeutics for food allergy: PCT/JP2016/87326, Japanese Patent Application 2017-556113 (2016)
•Allergy suppressants: Application No. 61/772689 (2013)
•Angiogenesis promoters: Japanese Patent Application 2009-247492, Yukihisa Murata et al. (October 28, 2009)
