Research Interests

Neuroscience, Chemical biology

Our group studies the molecular and cell biological mechanisms of learning-related neuronal plasticity, a process in which the strength and the number of synaptic connections in our brain are altered by experience. Such structural and functional changes occur in an activity-dependent manner and are mediated by highly orchestrated gene networks. Our goal is to gain fundamental understanding of the regulation of gene expression within the neural circuits during long-term neuronal plasticity, with an emphasis on the spatiotemporal regulation mechanisms. In an essential effort to achieve this goal, we are developing effective RNA live-imaging methods for sensitive and quantitative imaging of RNA dynamics in living neural circuits. Our research has a strong orientation to incorporate novel bioactive materials and chemical approaches to study gene regulation and neuron function, which drives us to do cross-disciplinary collaboration research inside and outside our institute.

Research Interests

Computational chemistry, Molecular modeling, In silico drug discovery

In the pharmaceutical industry, developing new drugs efficiently while keeping development costs down has been one of the important challenges, and there are great expectations for in silico drug discovery using computers. In particular, the world fastest class supercomputer "K computer" can be used, and computational science and information science in the field of drug discovery is about to enter its flowering season. We are working on the research and development of the world's most advanced supercomputer based drug discovery technology with the aim of forming an in silico drug discovery base in the Kobe Biomedical Innovation Cluster (KBIC) by utilizing the location close to the “K computer”.