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Metabolic Disorder
Research Topic
Department of Metabolic Disorder is investigating pathophysiology of human diabetes mellitus and its related disorders using clinical samples, culture cells and animal models, and is trying to establish novel methods of diagnosis and therapy.
- Genetic analysis of type2 diabetes and related diseases: This has been carried out as part of "Millennium Genome Project" and other multi-center projects. By a genome-wide association study (GWAS), we identified KCNQ1 as an important susceptibility gene for diabetes. We are also targeting metabolic disorders of monogenic type, and are studying functional genomics.
- The molecular pathophysiology of diabetes and related disorders: We are currently working mainly on pancreatic beta cells, and investigating molecular mechanisms of insulin secretion, transcriptional network including non-coding RNAs, and differentiation and maturation from progenitor cells, in both physiological and pathological conditions. We are also searching for new functional molecules using novel technologies such as nanobeads.
- Molecular mechanisms of environmental factors: We are investigating how environmental factors (diet or exercise, for example) can interact with genetic factors and contribute to the pathophysiology of metabolic diseases, with special interest in epigenetics.
- Multi-omics analysis of disorders: We are now performing multi-omics analysis of various disorders using novel technologies including a next-generation sequencer.
Main Staff
| Director | Kazuki Yasuda |
|---|---|
| Chief, Division of Nutrition and Molecular Genetics | Masaki Hiramoto |
| Chief, Division of Cellular and Molecular Function | Wataru Nishimura |
| Chief, Division of Metabolism and Molecular Biology | Takao Nammo |
| Research Fellows | Miho Kawaguchi Haruhide Udagawa |
| Student Researcher | Koki Eto |
