Reproducing Mammalian Embryonic Development In Vitro and In Vivo to Unravel Fetal Development
How do we come into existence from a single fertilized egg? Mammalian embryonic development occurs within the uterus, thus making direct observations extremely challenging. Furthermore, many aspects of human implantation and subsequent embryogenesis remain poorly understood. Our research integrates developmental biology using animal embryos, stem cell biology employing pluripotent stem cells that can differentiate into any cell type, and stem cell-based embryo models that reconstructs developmental processes in vitro. By recapitulating mammalian implantation and embryonic development both in vitro and in vivo, we aim to visualize and elucidate the mechanisms of early development and and ultimately translate this knowledge toward therapeutic applications.
Educational approach
Becoming Individuals Who Can Challenge, Discover, and Communicate
Acquiring new knowledge and skills, identifying problems independently, thinking logically, taking initiative and communicating your ideas, collaborating effectively with with colleagues and research partners, and developing self-awareness—these are essential skills not only for researchers but also for anyone striving to accomplish something in the future. Through lectures, practical training, and research activities, we aim to foster curious and proactive individuals who can master these skills and boldly shape the future.
Vision for industry-academia collaboration
Elucidating the Mechanisms of Embryonic Development in Primates, Including Humans, to Improve Implantation and Pregnancy Rates
In both infertility treatments and animal reproduction, advances in technologies such as artificial insemination and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) have helped overcome barriers to fertilization and preimplantation development. However, implantation rates in humans remain as low as 10–35%, and improving implantation and birth rates continues to be a major unresolved challenge. One of the primary reasons is our limited understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying implantation and embryonic development, which occur within the specialized microenvironment of the maternal body.
Due to the restricted availability of human embryos for research and the technical difficulty of performing genetic manipulations on them, current knowledge largely stems from limited observations of primate embryos—including humans—or from experiments using rodents such as mice. Yet, substantial interspecies differences exist in the mechanisms regulating embryonic development and differentiation. Therefore, elucidating primate-specific mechanisms requires “embryonic development models” that enable longitudinal observation and experimental validation of primate embryogenesis without relying on new embryo sources.
Our group is working to recreate and analyze primate embryonic development in vitro and in vivo using stem cells. By advancing our understanding of implantation and embryogenesis in primates, including humans, this research aims to uncover the causes of infertility, facilitate the development of implantation-promoting or contraceptive therapeutics, and ultimately establish the scientific foundation for innovations such as artificial wombs and breeding strategies for endangered species.
