Research Department

Towards the opening
new academic fields

Research

Within the Research Department, the central body of the Institute, there are threeresearch cores: Cancer Research Core, Innovative Integrated Bio-Research Core, andFuture Society Creation Research Core. Also, each core consists of multiple units which
promote interdisciplinary research to open new ﬁelds of scientiﬁc inquiry. New
disciplines and diﬀerentiations are often created from collisions and conﬂuences
between variety of diﬀerent academic ﬁelds and diﬀerent cultures. Researchers, belonging to each research core and each research unit, have graduated from distinctive
universities and faculties. Therefore, they promote inﬂuential research in society throughcollisions and conﬂuences. In addition, prominent researchers insideand outside Japan are taking part in InFiniti as Research professors(Invitation Type) and young Principal Investigators are active in
InFiniti.

Department

INOUE Hiroshi
Director
Research Department

Higher Education Department

Higher
Education

Higher Education Department aims to cultivate spirits of interdiscipline, comprehensiveness andinternationality to young researchers of InFiniti and Ph.D students in Kanazawa University.

Promotion of interdisciplinary research

Department

This department provides seminars on specialized research ﬁelds and interdisciplinary
studies to extend research ﬁeld of young researchers, and also provides opportunities ofinterdisciplinary laboratory to Ph.D students.

Institute for Frontier Science Initiative (lnFiniti)

Research Institute and Nano Life Science

was established in April 2015.

Institute, and promote leading initiatives in both

Our mission is to enable innovative researchsearching for truth and solving social issues.

Establishment of international research network

research that may create new research areas.

In order to continuously develop our research,

In so doing, we aim to enhance the research

it is also essential to produce a large number ofﬁelds in which Kanazawa University has an

next-generation research personnel who areThis department supports travel fee for research and study in foreign
universities or research institute and presentations in international
conferences held abroad to establish international network and toenhance cross-cultural understanding and communication skills in
foreign language.

advantage, develop interdisciplinary research,

interdisciplinary, comprehensive and interna-and promote the international circulation oftional, and who can challenge various issues

talented researchers.

facing humanity. To this end, we will actively

Hereafter, we envisage that the innovative areas

participate not only in graduate school educa-

in our institute, which emerge from the fusion oftion, including the Graduate School of Frontier

various disciplines, will make breakthroughs

Sciences Initiative, but also in the education ofremarkable enough to be called“heterosis”.

the university departments.

achievements and promote interdisciplinary

I would like to ask for your continued underWe believe that the success or failure of ourstanding and support in the future.

TAIMA Tetsuya

Director
Higher Education Department

Research Support Department

Research
SupportResearch Support Department aims at accomplishing the major results in short-term throughsupport of research in InFiniti.
Speciﬁcally, we support researchers through cooperation with Organization of Frontier Scienceand Innovation which is a research support institution at Kanazawa University.

Department

mission depends on our ability to launch aseries of novel and progressive interdisciplinary research projects.
Therefore, we will go beyond the narrow framework of our organization, build close collaborative relationships with other ﬂagship research
institutes in the university, such as the Cancer

Shinichi Nakamura
Director General
Institute for Frontier Science Initiative
Kanazawa University

45%
Lorernipsum

16%
Lorernipsum

31%
Lorernipsum■Support for acquiring competitive research funds by University Research Administrators (URA)■Support for contracting cooperative researches by holding exchange meetings between
researchers in diﬀerent ﬁelds■Support for enhancing research environment of young researchers bysecuring the research space and encouragement to use of research
apparatus inside and outside University■Support for dispatch of research results toward within and outside Japan

TAKAHASHI Chiaki
Director
Research Support Department

02

About InFiniti

Promotion of Interdisciplinary Research
by Taking Advantage of the University’s Comprehensiveness
総合大学の強みを活かした分野融合研究の推進

Institute for Frontier Science Initiative, Kanazawa University

Achievements

Integration of superior research projects at Kanazawa University, and promotion of interdisciplinary research and continued
encouragement of global brain circulation in an organized manner

About the Organization
InFiniti consists of three units: Research Department, Higher Education Department, and Research Support Department.
Research Department promotes interdisciplinary research to open new ﬁelds of scientiﬁc inquiry.
Higher Education Department cultivates young researchers to acquire interdisciplinarity, comprehensiveness, and internationality.In addition, Research Support Department supports the activities of the Research and Higher Education Departments.

Director
機構長
GeneralReform of Governance
Strategic placement of professors
by President’s initiative

Vice Director General

Contributions to the establishments of new research institutes on this univerisity2017 World Premier International Research Center Initiative（WPI) Nano Life Science Institute (NanoLSI)
Transdisciplinary researches by Tummer Microenvironment Research unit of Cancer Research Core, High-speed AFM for BiologicalResearch Unit and Cell-Bionomics Research Unig of Inovative Integrated Bio-Research Core contributed to Kanazawa University's
selection as a WPI by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, and led to the establishment of NanoLSI.

2018

NanoMaterials Research Institute (NanoMaRi)

2019

Advanced Manufacturing Technology Institute (AMTI)

2021

Advanced Mobility Research Institute (ADMORE)

2022

Institute for the Study of Ancient Civilizations and Cultural Resources (ISAC)

Transdisciplinary researches by Functional Supramolecular Materials Research Unit, Renewable Energy Research Unit
and Biomass Reﬁnery Research Unit of Future Society Creation Research Core led to the establishment of NanoMaRi.

AMTI

Bio-innovative Design Research Unit of Future Society Creation Research Core led to the establishment of AMTI.
Autonomous Vehicle Research Unit of Future Society Creation Research Core led to the establishment of ADMORE.

Research Department

Higher Education Department

Research Support Department

Intensive reinforcement of research
performance and promotion of
integrated researchSpecial support for young investigators Support by URAs for interdisciplinaryand graduate students
and international research projects

Strategic placement of research professors
and 16 young PIs

Inter-laboratory training of high quality

International Cooperation Networking for Cultural Heritages Research Unit of Future Society Creation Research Core led to theestablishment of Center for the Study of Ancient Civilizations and Cultural Resources.

Awards of faculty members' academic awards, etc.
1. nationally prestigious awards or ministerial commendations
Aﬃliation

Research Department

High-speed
AFM
Research Unit

for

Position

Name

Biological Associate
SHIBATA, Mikihiro
Professor*Position at time of award

Award dateAward name

17-Apr-2018

2018fy The Commendation for Science and Technology by the Minister of Education,
Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, Young Scientist Award

2. Academic society Awards (merit awards, essay awards, scholarship awards, etc.)

Cancer Research Core

Research on elucidation of malignant
progression mechanism and development of innovative cancer treatment

Innovative Integrated
Bio-Research Core
Research and development on next
generation biotechnology contributing tosociety with health and longevity as well assustainability

Innovative Cancer Model
Research Unit

Cancer Stem Cell
Research Unit

Tumor Microenvironment
Research Unit

Molecular Therapeutic Target
Research Unit

High-speed AFM for BiologicalResearch Unit

Cell-Bionomics Research Unit

Discovering Molecular Probes
Research Unit

Advanced Health Care Science
Research Unit

Metabolism and Nutrition
Research Unit

Mathematical Neuroscience
Research Unit

Metabolism and Nutrition Research
Unit
Metabolism and Nutrition Research
Unit
Metabolism and Nutrition Research
Unit

Professor

INOUE, Hiroshi

25-Apr-2015 Japan Endocrine Society research award

Professor

INOUE, Hiroshi

3-Oct-2015

Japan Society for the Study of Obesity research award

Assistant
23-Apr-2016 The 89th Young Investigator Award of the Japan Endocrine Society (YIA)
INABA, Yuka
Professor
Assistant
YONEDA, Keisuke 26-Jun-2018 The 29th IEEE Inteligent Vehicles Symposium (IV) 2018 Best Paper Award
Autonomous Vehicle Research Unit
Professor
Discovering
Molecular
Probes Associate
OGAWA, Kazuma 15-Nov-2018 The Pharmaceutical Society of Japan Award for Divisional Scientiﬁc Promotion 2019
Research Unit
Professor
2019 57th Japan Radiation Oncology Society Biological Subcommittee EncourageAssistant
HAZAWA, Masaharu 7-Jun-2019
Cell-Bionomics Research Unit
Professor
ment Award
High-speed AFM for Biological Assistant
JSPS Nanoprobe Technology Committee 167
SUMINO, Ayumi 8-Nov-2019
Research Unit2019 Nanoprobe Technology Incentive Award
Professor

3. Awards from local governments, national independent administrative agencies, local organizations, etc.
Tumor Microenvironment Research
Professor MATSUMOTO, Kunio 30-Sep-2016 JSPS 2016 28th Annual Research Expense Review Committee Award
Unit
Metabolism and Nutrition ResearchCommendation of the expert committee members (in charge of documents) of theProfessor INOUE, Hiroshi 31-Jul-2018
Unit
JSPS
2019fy, Ministry of Internal Aﬀairs and Communications Hokuriku General Communication Bureau Hokuriku
Autonomous Vehicle Research Unit Professor SUGANUMA, Naoki 3-Jun-2019
General Communication Bureau Director's Commendation Information and Communication Month Achievement

Graduate education
Future Society Creation
Research Core
Research and development ontechnologies for future society withmechanisms of sustainability

International Cooperation Networking
for Cultural Heritages Research Unit

Functional Supramolecular Materials
Research Unit

Autonomous Vehicle Research Unit

Renewable Energy Research Unit

Biomass Reﬁnery Research Unit

Carbon Recycling and Energy
Processes Research Unit

This 28 students have completed the Division of Transdiciplinary Sciences in Graduate School of Frontier Science Initiative
2015

2016

Creating Innovative Research Results and Opening New Fields of Scientiﬁc Inquiry

New research units added.
- High-speed AFM for Biological Research Unit and Advanced Health Care Science Research Unit were added to the Innovative Integrated Bio-Research Core.
- Functional Supramolecular Materials Research Unit and Bio-innovative Design Research Unit were added in the Future Society Creation Research Core.

History20182021

As of April 1, 2022

Founding of Institute for Frontier Science Initiative

Funding of Division of Transdiciplinary Sciences in Graduate School of Frontier Science Initiative
Developmental dissolution of the Bio-innovative Design Research Unit of Future Society Creation ResearchCore , and added Carbon Recycling and Energy Processes Research Unit

Number of Staﬀ

Professors／17

Associate Professors／7

Assistant Professors／5

Grand Total／31
Unit: Person

03

As of April 1, 2022

04

Research Department

Contents
Cancer Research Core
07

Innovative Cancer Model Research Unit

08

Cancer Stem Cell Research Unit

09

Tumor Microenvironment Research Unit

10

Molecular Therapeutic Target Research Unit

Innovative Integrated Bio-Research Core12

High-speed AFM for Biological Research Unit

13

Cell-Bionomics Research Unit

14

Discovering Molecular Probes Research Unit

15

Advanced Health Care Science Research Unit

16

Metabolism and Nutrition Research Unit

17

Mathematical Neuroscience Research Unit

Future Society Creation Research Core
19

International Cooperation Networking for
Cultural Heritages Research Unit

Innovative basic cancer researchand practical applications
Most of people die from cancer due to cancer metastasis or recurrence of cancer due
to the development of anticancer drug resistance. The process of metastasis anddevelopment of anticancer drug resistance are called malignant progression. Our

20

Functional Supramolecular Materials Research Unit

research core promotes research on cancer stem cells which are the origins of cancer,

21

Autonomous Vehicle Research Unit

molecular research which cause malignant progression and become target of cancer

22

Renewable Energy Research Unit

23

Biomass Reﬁnery Research Unit

24

Carbon Recycling and Energy Processes

innovative basic research and practical application to understand cancer biology andResearch Unitmechanisms of cancer malignant progression and contribute to cancer treatment.

Selected research topics in InFiniti
25

HGF-inhibitory macrocyclic peptide ‒ mechanisms
and potential cancer theranostics

26

Challenging to achieve automated driving on snowy
roads

05

Cancer Research Core

treatment, and cancer model research which is the same nature with cancer thatpatients develop. Our research core brings together researchers from various ﬁelds,
including medicine, science, agriculture, and pharmaceutical science. We promote

Innovative Cancer Model Research Unit

Unit Leader

Professor
GOTOH, Noriko

Research and development of patient-derived xenograft mouse models and novel genetically-engineered mouse models in cancer

Professor
TAKAHASHI, Chiaki

Unit Leader

Elucidation of the mechanism of cancer stem cells, clinical application and drug development

Unit Leader

Principal Investigator

Unit Leader

Young Principal Investigator

Professor

Associate Professor

Professor

Assistant Professor

GOTOH, Noriko

VOON, Dominic Chih-Cheng

TAKAHASHI, Chiaki

KASAHARA, Atsuko

Specialty：cancer, cancer medical science
Keyword：cancer, cancer stem cell, oncogene, drugs targeting cancer molecules

Specialty：cancer, cancer medical science
Keyword：cancer, cancer stem cell, tumor metabolism, molecular targeting drugs, mitochondrial dynamics

Research Content

Research Content

Recent growing evidence indicates that xenografted patient-derived cancer tissues resected by surgery develop tumors which
recapitulate human cancer tissues in immunocompromised mice.
These‘Patient-derived xenograft (PDX)’mouse models have beencollected all over the world for the purpose of basic and translational research such as drug development. To obtain proof-of-conceptof the gene of interest as a novel target for cancer therapy, it isimperative to mutate the gene in a background of geneticallyengineered mouse cancer models in which tumors arise spontaneously due to oncogenic mutations. This Research Unit aims, bygenerating those advanced cancer mouse models, to revolutionize

basic cancer research and cancer treatment and to open up a new
era where“drugs eﬀective in model mice turn out to be very eﬀective
in cancer patients.”
Innovative Cancer Model Research Unit develops patient-derived
xenograft (PDX) mouse models and new genetically-engineered mousemodels in an integrated manner. By using such mouse models, thisResearch Unit promotes research aiming at elucidation of mechanismsof malignant progression of cancers.

Schematic Assays
illustration
innovative
research
cancercancer
cell properties
forofthestem model
Tumor tissues that are surgically resectedfrom patients are transplanted
to immunocompromised mice

A gene of interest is mutated incancer mousethe genome of mousecancer models

surgery

Patient-derived xenograft (PDX) cancer model

07

Cancer Stem Cell Research Unit

Cancer cells eventually kill the host as they try to survive forever.
On the other hand, for example, blood cells can continue to be
produced as long as we are alive. "Stem cells" represents the cells
that have the ability to produce progeny forever. The idea that
explains such ability shared by cancer cells is the "cancer stem
cell hypothesis". Cancer stem cells are thought to evade treatment
with anticancer drugs or radiation therapy using various abilities.
We are strongly focusing on genes and organelles’dynamics that
contribute to the expression of stem cell-like properties in cancer
cells, and are conducting basic research aiming to radically control
cancer. Furthermore, we aim to expand cooperation with academia
and pharmaceutical companies, and to produce young humanresources who can meet diverse R & D needs.

The followings are speciﬁc strategies:
Team subject 1. We strongly focus on the RB1 tumor suppressor,
which is one of the genes that control the stem cell-like ability ofcancer. We will explore new ways to treat cancers that have lostRB1 function and those hold intact RB1 as well.
Team subject 2. We aim at exploring the role of mitochondrial
dynamics in stem and diﬀerentiated cells, identifying proteins thatcan be targeted to eradicate cancer cells, as well as investigating
the molecular mechanism of factors that regulate organelle’sdynamics

Stem cell medical science and cancer treatment based on stem cell biology

Research on functions ofnormal stem cell

Towards development of
new treatments

Research on cancer
stem cell

Genetically engineered mouse cancer model08

Tumor Microenvironment Research Unit

Unit Leader

Professor
MATSUMOTO, Kunio

Function, mechanisms, and drug discovery focusing on tumor microenvironment leading to cancer
metastasis and pyroptosis/apoptosis

Molecular Therapeutic Target Research Unit

Unit Leader

Establishment of novel molecular targeted therapeutics based on functional characterization ofcritical factors involved in malignant progression of cancer

Unit Leader

Principal Investigator

Unit Leader

Young Principal Investigator

Professor

Associate Professor

Professor

Assistant Professor

MATSUMOTO, Kunio

TSUCHIYA, Kohsuke

SUZUKI, Takeshi

TAKEUCHI,Yasuto

Specialty：cancer, cancer medical science
Keyword：cancer, oncogene, molecular target drugs, metastatic niche, cell death, pyroptosis

Specialty：tumor biology, molecular biology
Keyword：cancer metastasis, drug resistance, signal transduction, epigenetics, molecular targeted therapeutics

Research Content

Research Content

Cancer cells are interacting with diﬀerent types of host cells.
Host cells and cancer cells secrete various bioactive molecules
and interact with each other to create speciﬁc environment inwhich cancer cells grow or metastasize, the "cancer microenvironment." In addition, it has become clear that new cell deathmechanisms such as pyrotosis are involved in host defense
against cancer (cancer immunity) via the cancer microenvironment. To elucidate the mechanisms of malignant progression ofcancer, we investigate 1) the mechanism of metastatic nicheformation regulated by growth factor receptor activation, and 2)
the mechanism of cancer cell death (pyroptosis, apoptosis,

necroptosis) and anti-cancer immunity regulated by dying
cell-derived molecules.
This research unit will elucidate the mechanism of growth
factor-induced cancer metastasis niche formation throughinterdisciplinary research with cyclic peptides, AFM molecular
dynamics, molecular imaging, etc. In addition, we will elucidate1) new molecular mechanisms of cell death control such as
pyrotosis and 2) mechanisms of anti-cancer immunity regulated
by dying cell-derived molecules.

Microenvironment
tumor
progression:
premetastatic
niche andcell death regulation
Premetastaticpromoting
niche andcell
death regulationin tumor
microenvironment

Drug resistanceAnti-cancer immunity

Metastasis, recurrence and drug resistance are the most important
problems of basic cancer research in order to overcome cancers.
This Research Unit aims to elucidate, at a molecular level, thecharacteristics of cancer cells (stem cell-like characteristics,
impaired signaling pathways, metabolic characteristics, tumor
microenvironment, epigenetics, etc.) that induce malignant progression. We aim to develop new molecular targeted therapeuticstrategies, which should be applied to clinical studies, by identifying

molecular targets that could be the key for preventing malignant
progression. In addition, through interdisciplinary collaborations withbioinformatics, drug discovery, structural biology, etc., which should
open up new avenues of research, we aim to promote world-leading
cancer research. Moreover, young and talented researchers will be
trained so that they become pioneers of new research ﬁelds with theaid of the diverse disciplines of this Research Unit and unique ideas
based on its rich international experience.

Identification of molecular targets which inhibit malignant
progression of cancer
Invasion/metastasis

Drug resistance

Epigenetics

Maintenance of cancer stemness
Anti-cancer drugs

Molecular target drug

apoptosis
pyroptosis
necroptosis

Me Me

Mechanism to determine
the mode of decoding
genetic information
DNA methylation

Me

Drug
resistance

Cell Death

Chemical modificationof Histone protein

Genomic DNA

Cell death and dying cellderived factors regulate
anti-cancer immunity

Epigenetic regulation

Growth Factors
Metastasis

09

Professor
SUZUKI, Takeshi

Growth factors
regulate metastatic
niche formation

Epigenetic regulation plays an important role in various
steps of cancer progression

Establishment of novel molecular targeted therapeutics against
several epigenetic regulatory factors based on the plasticity of
epigenetic control

Histone

Chromosome

10

High-speed AFM for Biological Research Unit

Unit Leader

Professor
SHIBATA, Mikihiro

Advanced research of bio-nano-imaging using high-speed atomic force microscopy

Innovative Integrated
Bio-Research Core
Research and development for creating societyof health and longevity
Biotechnology is expected to develop innovations for the creation of a society of healthand longevity in an aged society. Six research units, which specialize in biology, medical
science, mathematical science, and pharmaceutical science, engage in research on cancer
and life style diseases that hinder society of health and longevity and lead to the prevention,

Unit Leader

Young Principal Investigator

Professor

Assistant Professor

SHIBATA, Mikihiro

SUMINO, Ayumi

Specialty：biophysics, nano-bioscience
Keyword：protein, cell, bio-imaging, atomic force microscopy, high-speed AFM

Research Content
We humans see matter with our eyes, but there are many
invisible, yet very important things in the world, just like“what isessential is invisible to the eye.”In particular, cells of our bodyand proteins, important components of the cell, are too small for
us to see directly. When certain proteins, invisible to the eye,become abnormal and do not function as they should, we suﬀer
from various diseases. This is why understanding the mechanisms underlying the normal functions of proteins is essential inrealizing a healthy aging society.

diagnosis, and treatment of these diseases. By utilizing experimental data in biology andThis Research Unit takes advantage of the world-leading
high-speed AFM that Kanazawa University has developed andaims to elucidate the functions of proteins and cells by taking
live images. In addition, by closely collaborating with otherResearch Units of InFiniti, we aim to reveal the images ofproteins responsible for cancer and life style-related diseases
and to develop therapeutic agents.

Concept of this Research Unit

medical science for mathematical science and applying the research results to pharmaceuticalscience, we advance research for creation of society for health and longevity.
Biotechnology

Proteins involved
in memory

Application to brain scienceand neuroscience

High speed AFM combinedwith optical microscopy
Proteins concerning
genome-editing technology

High speed AFM

Drug discovery targets

Morphology of neurons

Integrated/collaborative
research

Membrane proteinsProteins involved in cancer

12Cell-Bionomics Research Unit

Professor
WONG, Richard W.

Unit Leader

Cell-bionomics, an integrated researchDiscovering Molecular Probes Research Unit

Development of molecular probes for diagnosis and therapy of various diseases

Unit Leader

Principal Investigator

Unit Leader

Principal Investigator

Professor

Associate Professor

Professor

Associate Professor

WONG, Richard W.

HAZAWA, Masaharu

OGAWA, Kazuma

MISHIRO, Kenji

Specialty：molecular cell biology
Keyword：nuclear pore complex, cell cycle, material transport

Specialty：nuclear medicine, molecular imaging, organic chemistry, analytical chemistry
Keyword：molecular imaging, molecular probes, PET

Research Content

Research Content

DNA is the blueprint of life, stored in the cell nucleus, which isseparated from the cell matrix by the nuclear membrane. The
nuclear pore complex, a trans-nuclear membrane apparatus,
consists of about 30 diﬀerent proteins collectively called nucleoporin, and functions as a transportation passage for the DNA
information network between the nucleus and the cell matrix. In
recent years, the nuclear pore complex has been recognized as
an essential factor regulating life phenomena, being revealed toparticipate in gene expression and mitotic processes for DNA

preservation. However, it is still unclear how all the nucleoporin
proteins coordinate to perform such functions.
This Research Unit aims to elucidate the dynamics and functionsof the nuclear pore complex in regulating cell physiology bymeans of structural and molecular biology. This Unit also investigates mechanisms of onset and progression of diseases caused
by impairment of the above-mentioned regulation and hence
aims to develop nano-medical techniques based on research into
the nuclear pore complex.

Approach toward nano-medicine based on research into the nuclear pore complex
Nuclear pore complex

Structure/dynamics

Cell matrix

Pathology

NuclearmembraneThis Research Unit searches for target molecules related to various
diseases, notably cancers. By designing and synthesizing molecular
probes that are selective for target molecules, we also aim tocreate/identify compounds such as agents directly applicable to life
science research, drug discovery and medical research, high‒accuracy diagnostic agents and therapeutic agents of high eﬀectivenesswith little adverse eﬀect. In addition, we aim to generate a“molecular probe library”by characterizing such compounds and by evaluating them for their applicability to diagnosis and treatment. This willallow us to promote interdisciplinary research with other Research
Units of InFiniti and various research institutes of Kanazawa University and other research organizations.
One of the characteristics of this Research Unit is that it searches fortarget molecules, designs and synthesizes molecular probes, andanalyzes to evaluate their usefulness in an integrated manner withthe leadership of Unit Leader and Young PI, with an emphasis on thenecessity of comprehensive information for drug discovery, and withthe participation of researchers with diverse disciplines. This

Research Unit consists of search group, synthesis group and evaluation group from diﬀerent disciplines, but all the groups play essential
roles in every process of drug discovery. Although all the Unit
members have their individual specialties, they share the common
research goal of establishing a “molecular probe library” throughtheir collaboration. In this manner, this Research Unit aims to promote
drug discovery research of high applicability without prejudgment.
More speciﬁcally, this Research Unit aims to create a variety of
revolutionary molecular probes with broad applicability, by improving
their aﬃnity to target molecules and their ability of targeting diseases
and by integrating knowledge of pharmacodynamics, chemistry of
drug metabolism, molecular biology, immunology, pharmacology,
organic chemistry, analytical chemistry, and radiopharmaceuticalsciences. By using this“molecular probe library,”this Research Unit
promotes new interdisciplinary research with other Research Units of
InFiniti and various research institutes of Kanazawa University andother research organizations.
Feedback for creation of molecular probes

Nucleus

FunctionsO<Transportation ofmolecules between cellmatrix and nucleus><Mitosis>

Synthesis group

Search group

Organic chemistry
Physical analysis

Biology
Pharmacology

NO2

O

O
N

N
H

N
X

NH2

N
H

N

X

+

Cl
N

X

N
O
N
N

Cl

N

N
H
N

【Molecular function probe】 OH

X

NO2

O

N

O
N
H

F
O

O
N

N

O

NH

A

N

O

Unit Leader（Ogawa）

N

N

A
N

Molecular probelibraryO

N
Cl

Research outcome【Bio-active compounds】

NH2

N

N

<Gene expression>
mRNA

N

OH

O
N
H

F 3C

HO

CI

N

N

N
N
N

Target enzyme
reactionDNA【Imaging】

13

Professor
OGAWA, Kazuma

Unit Leader

TargetmoleculeN
O

Evaluation group

NH
O
N
H

N

Pharmacokinetics
Biology

O

N

O

N

I
O

H2N

O

O

N
N
H

N
O
OH

I

N
H

N
H
O

14

Advanced Health Care Science Research Unit

Unit Leader

Professor
OKAMOTO,Shigefumi

Interdisciplinary research to develop theories and methods for the recovery, maintenance and promotionof human tissue viability

Metabolism and Nutrition Research Unit

Unit Leader

Research of mechanism of glucose and lipid homeostasis and pathogenesis of its disorder

Unit Leader

Young Principal Investigator

Unit Leader

Principal Investigator

Professor

Assistant Professor

Professor

Associate Professor

OKAMOTO,Shigefumi

OGURA,Kohei

INOUE, Hiroshi

INABA, Yuka

Specialty：health science, nursing science, infectious diseases
Keyword：tissue viability, opportunistic infectious diseases, microbes, host response, epidemiology, microbiome

Specialty：endocrinology, metabolism and nutrition
Keyword：life style-related diseases, liver, inter-organ interaction

Research Content

Research Content

Medical sciences have developed the treatment and preventionof diseases. Nursing science has been responsible for early
diagnosis of the vulnerability to diseases (risk factors) anddelayed recovery (prognosis factors) as well as prevention ofthem. We must develop this science as long as any diseaseprevails.
Our bodies have the power to heal themselves, and it is important for us to keep our lifestyles that can improve and sustain the
body functions appropriately. However, in this era of increasing
longevity, there are a lot of serious problems associated with thedeterioration of body functions, which occurs even in theabsence of a typical disease and brings about inconveniences indaily life. Science needs to be developed further to support
healthy lives and adaptation processes that change daily as weage.

This research unit aims to establish the knowledge of health carefor recovery, preservation and improvement of human life andsurvival and also promote the integration of research areas ofhealth sciences and related sciences. More speciﬁcally, we
focus on infectious diseases caused by microbes (mainly on ourskins, oral and nasal cavities, and mucous membranes) and on
their mechanisms of etiology and severity progression. In
addition, by investigating health conditions of human subjects
and their lifestyles, we aim to elucidate important factors related
to etiology and severity progression and also assess disorders
caused by various symptoms of infectious diseases (itchiness,
edema, pain, odor, etc.) as well as to conduct studies on alleviation and improvement of such disorders. We are developing
evaluation technologies, not only non-invasive but also readilyclinically applicable, for those having vulnerable tissues.

Life style-related diseases, represented by diabetes, are involvedin 60% of deaths, thus being a main cause of hampering a healthy
life. The liver is a central and essential organ in the regulation of
metabolic homeostasis, interacting with other organs of the bodysuch as the brain, the gut and the pancreas, and thus working for
maintenance of health. Since failure of liver functions directly
leads to pathogenesis of life style-related diseases and diseaseprogression, the elucidation of mechanisms of hepatic metabolism,

including the interaction between the liver and other organs, ishighly desirable.
This Research Unit aims to develop new prophylaxis andtreatment for life style-related diseases by the elucidation ofregulation of hepatic metabolism, especially of the organ-interaction centered around the liver, and by investigating the pathogenesis of life style-related diseases (diabetes, dyslipidemia, hypertension, cancer, etc.).

Impaired regulation of nutrient metabolism ⇔ Impaired functions of the liver

Pancreas
Digestive tract

New sampling methods
for skin microbes
It is possible to obtain accurate
information since new methods,
diﬀerent from conventional swab
method, do not depend on skills of
specimen samplers.

Professor
INOUE, Hiroshi

Liver
Impaired glucose and lipid metabolism

CancerHypertension/arteriosclerosis

Elucidation of impaired regulation of nutrient metabolism in the liverand need for the medical application of the underlying mechanisms
Ampliﬁcation of bacterial DNA (PCR)

young, healthy human

K hospital

Next generation sequencing

S hospital

Drug discovery
researchResearch by this Research Unit
Solution of problems by interdisciplinary research
Liver disease study + Nutrient metabolism study

Brain

Cancer research

Summary of skin microbes from young, healthy human subject

Summary of microbes
Irrespective of nursing institutions or
degree of aged subjects’ independence, the skin of aged subjects wasfound to have Staphylococcus species
occurring more frequently than inyoung healthy subjects. Similarly, theskin of aged subjects has more
gut-derived microbes than that ofyoung healthy subjects.

Bioinformatics research
Newly developed
methods make itpossible to analyze
composition of skinmicrobes in moredetail.
B:The back15

H:The buttocks+:Positive---:Negative（+-- :Slightly PCR positive）

Impaired hepatic metabolism plays a central role in the pathogenesis of life style-related diseases such as diabetes, dyslipidemia, andcancer. Kanazawa University has been promoting research into the elucidation of mechanisms of regulation of hepatic metabolism,
especially liver-related organ crosstalk, and is a world leader in this research ﬁeld. By taking advantage of this experience, thisResearch Unit will perform comprehensive research for development of prophylaxis and treatment for life style-related diseases
through elucidation of mechanisms underlying the impairment of hepatic metabolism.

16Mathematical Neuroscience Research Unit

Unit Leader

Professor
SATO, Makoto

Interdisciplinary research in mathematics and neuroscience

Unit Leader

Principal Investigator

Professor

Associate Professor

SATO, Makoto

YASUGI, Tetsuo

Future Society Creation
Research Core

Specialty：neuroscience, mathematics, informatics
Keyword：neurogenesis, neural circuit functions, mathematical model, image analysis

Research Content
Mathematical research is to understand phenomena in a quantitative manner and to elucidate central mechanisms of a complex
system. Although mathematical research in the ﬁeld of life
science is undeveloped in comparison with physics and chemistry, integration of life science and mathematics is a world trend
in recent years. This Research Unit promotes integration ofmathematics and neuroscience with a focus on the brain.

Through cooperation of researchers from medical, mathematicaland engineering sciences of the Research Unit, we aim to makebreakthroughs in neuroscience and mathematics throughintegrated studies of neuroscience, imaging, and mathematicalmodeling of developmental and functional mechanisms of thebrain.

Challenge to creation of future society
through interdisciplinary research
As the economy grows, we face diﬃculties of compatibility between global environmental conservation and the consumption of food, resources, and energy. Also, weface issues on a global scale such as limited natural resources and issues on a local
scale such as low birth rate and aging population. This research core consists of six
units whose researchers have diverse academic backgrounds including humanities

Propagation mechanism of“the wave of diﬀerentiation”

and social sciences and natural sciences. Looking at complex issues in modern
society not only from single academic discipline, but also from comprehensive

proneural wave

perspective across disciplines, we promote research and development for technology
NB

and creation of self-contained social system in future society.

NE

Rho

L’
sc

de △E

A

Ao

AS-C
（A）
Ase

E

L’
sc

Sc

ae

Notch signal
（N）
DI
（D）

17

ea
ea

EGF signal（E）

diﬀusion

EGF signal （E）

AS-C （A）

ad

Undiﬀerentiatedneuroepitherial

cells (NEs) diﬀerentiate row by
row into neuroblasts (NBs) behind“the wave of diﬀerentiation.”need

N signal （N）

Rho

N,D

sSpi

dc
DI
（D）

dt

Diﬀerentiation of NBs is induced
by AS-C, which is upregulated by
EGF and suppressed by Notch.

International Cooperation Networking for
Cultural Heritages Research Unit

Unit Leader

Professor
KAWAI, Nozomu

Establishment of bases and a network for international cooperation for cultural heritage management

Functional Supramolecular Materials Research Unit

Professor
MIZUNO, Motohiro

Unit Leader

Development of functional solid materials based on supramolecules

Unit Leader

Principal Investigator

Unit Leader

Young Principal Investigator

Professor

Associate Professor

Professor

Assistant Professor

KAWAI, Nozomu

TANIGAWA, Ryuichi

MIZUNO, Motohiro

AMEMORI, Shogo

Specialty：archaeology, cultural anthropology, history of art, history of architecture, study of cultural heritage
Keyword：cultural heritage, study of cultural resource, international cooperation

Specialty：chemistry of functional physical property, nano-structural chemistry, polymer chemistry
Keyword：supramolecules, composite physical property, self-organization, nano-structure analysis

Research Content

Research Content

This Research Unit aims to establish an international cooperation
network for research, preservation and utilization of cultural heritages
around the globe. The Research Unit members specializes Egyptology
and Architectural history of Asia, having already collaborated with anumber of faculty members at Kanazawa University who have
performed research on various tangible and intangible cultural heritages in several places in the world for a number of years. Based oncollaborations undertaken with global research partners, this Research
Unit will promote the solid establishment of a research and educationbase at each research partner site. Furthermore, by connecting thesebases through information and personnel exchanges with Kanazawa
University as the hub, a global network for international cooperation
will be established in the research ﬁeld of cultural heritages. In
addition, the Research Unit is to deepen “research into cultural
resources,” which proposes new values of cultural heritages by
information exchange and sharing through the network, and to develop
new methods for research, preservation and utilization of cultural
heritages, which contributes to realization of a sustainable society.

For establishing a sustainable society and its development, improved
performance and diversiﬁcation of functional materials are desired, andspeciﬁc functions of supramolecules, which are molecular assemblies
formed by weak interactions of molecules (non-covalent bonds), haverecently attracted much attention. In this Research Unit, researcherswith disciplines such as supramolecular chemistry, polymer chemistry,organic chemistry, complex chemistry and physical chemistry collaborate across the borders of research ﬁelds and research domains (basic
Dynamic structural conversion group

Establishment of an international cooperation network for cultural heritages
TurkeyIndia

Synthesis of molecules that show
condition-dependent structural dynamics

Complex chemistry

China

Short

Long

Guatemala［Counterclockwise］
Exchange ofcounterclockwise
and clockwise

research and applied research). Through such endeavors, thisResearch Unit aims to develop functional materials with groundbreaking properties by taking advantage of characteristics of supramolecules. By fully utilizing sophisticated techniques for the creation andanalysis of supramolecules developed at Kanazawa University, thisResearch Unit promotes integrated research for development of novel
functional solid materials at both small molecule and macromolecule
levels, which should contribute to a sustainable society.

Chiral superspace creation group
Supramolecular chemistry

Chiral polymer creation group

Cyclic molecules controlledwith angstrom precision

0.47nm0.59nm0.71nm0.82nm0.93nm

［5］

［6］

［7］

［8］

［9］

1.05nm

1.16nm1.27nm1.38nm1.49nm

［10］

［11］

［12］

［13］

［14］

Fossil resources［Clockwise］

Software development for X-ray
structural analysis of complex systems

Biomass
Connection/
arrangement

Nano-structure analysis group

Kanazawa University

Polymer chemistry Creation of spiral
Creation ofpolymers/
groundbreaking
supramolecules chiral materials

Physical chemistry

Superspace controlled with angstrom precision

Special conformation anddynamics of molecules in superspace

Chiral superspace

Pillar[n]arene

Catalytic/separation
agentsInformation transfer
Actuators
Light/electron
devicesEﬃcient molecular design and synthesis group

Organic
chemistryEﬃcient synthesis
Development offunctional gel

Egypt

JordanSaudi Arabia

ThailandIndonesia

International Cooperation
Networking for Cultural
Heritages Research Unit
Establishment of research andcooperation bases for tangible
and intangible cultural heritages
around the globe and promotionof information and personnel
exchange among the bases.

19

NMR analysis

Toward groundbreaking material
creation based on supramolecular chemistry

Creation of new researchconcept through integration ofthese research groups

This Research Unit consists of 5 research groups, working through integration acrossconventional research borders for creation, analysis and function development with abroad range of scales from small molecules to macromolecules.

20

Autonomous Vehicle Research Unit

Unit Leader

Professor
SUGANUMA, Naoki

Development of autonomous vehicles to be deployed on urban streets and the relevant applications
to public transportation systems

Renewable Energy Research Unit
Development of renewable energy for IoT society

Unit Leader

Principal Investigator

Unit Leader

Principal Investigator

Professor

Associate Professor

Professor

Professor

SUGANUMA, Naoki

YONEDA, Keisuke

TAIMA, Tetsuya

KARAKAWA, Makoto

Specialty：mobile robots, information processing engineering, control engineering, civil engineering, traﬃc engineering
Keyword：autonomous vehicles, intelligent robot, recognition of behavioral environment, information processing in real world, motion

Specialty：renewable energy, energy harvesting, storage of electricity
Keyword：vibration power generation, solar cell, energy harvesting, wireless sensor, hydraulic power generation,planning,public transportation

wave activated power generation, biomass combustion power generation, formic acid battery, artiﬁcial photosynthesis

Research Content

Research Content

The Research Unit develops autonomous vehicles to be compatible
with the driving conditions on urban roads. Among the Japanese
Universities, this Unit experimentally conducted the ﬁrst autonomous
driving on public roads in February 24, 2015. Accordingly, many
research streams are going-on simultaneously to investigate thecapabilities, explore the problems and propose the optimal solutions.

The corresponding achievements have allowed us to extensively
discuss and cooperate with the local authorities for using autonomous
driving technologies in transportation systems. The expected outcome
is to increase the quality of human life by reducing traﬃc jams,
allowing the sharing of mobility regardless to age and decreasing
traﬃc accidents.

This Research Unit of“the university integrated with the region and thesociety”aims to establish an energy research base for integration of
power generation and information technology by taking advantage of thecharacteristics of the Hokuriku region. Through this endeavor, thisResearch Unit aims to accomplish a battery-free wireless monitoring
system by realizing “anywhere power generation” through energy
harvesting ‒ vibration power generation and ﬂexible solar cell ‒ and byintegrating sensor and wireless communication technology. The system
to be established will be applicable to the monitoring of social
infrastructure, production machines, agriculture, ocean and forests andto monitoring children. In addition, we are developing small-scale
hydraulic power generation using irrigation water channels, wave
activated power generation along the Noto region coast, and biomass
combustion power generation using waste wood from forests. In order tocope with the ﬂuctuation of electricity supply and demand, we aredeveloping technologies for formic acid batteries and artiﬁcial photosynthesis. These developments will allow us to propose the best mix of

power generation and storage, by combining these various power
generation methods from small to large scale.
A special characteristic of this Research Unit is to construct a basic
technology for contributing to the next generation society of security andsafety by creating innovation through integration of energy harvesting aswell as sensor and wireless communication technology. Researchers of
power generation and communication technology collaborate, bycomplementing and reinforcing each other’s disciplines, to realize
self-sensing systems and information transmission for surrounding
structures or natural objects. Furthermore, individual natural power
generation systems will be much more useful when combined withelectricity storage technology, providing electricity and information toregional agriculture and ﬁsheries for better productivity and to a regional
disaster prevention facility. Film-like solar cells and vibration power
generation have high designability to ﬁt in the townscape of Kanazawa
city and its buildings and houses. Our research will propose a modelcase in using renewable energy for both urban and rural areas.

Solar
power
generation

Autonomous driving in Tokyo waterfront area
The white car waiting for a right turn is our autonomous vehicle

Wind
power
generation

An example of recognition of the driving environment※※An example of recognition of the driving environment through a computer eye. Based on integrating
the intelligence capabilities, the autonomous driving system generates a trajectory which allows asafe passage without colliding with any obstacle (colored dots). In addition, the intelligencecapabilities make autonomous vehicles able to localize the vehicle position and orientation bychecking both an aerial photograph (already loaded) and sensor information.

Vibration
power
generation

Photo: courtesyof Kanazawa city

Innovation of power generation and information
Self-sustaining power generation
allows self-sensing and transmission.

Vibration
power
generation

Infrastructure monitoring

21

Professor
TAIMA, Tetsuya

Unit Leader

Smallhydroelectric
power
generation

Wave
activated
power
generation

Acquisition of
ocean
information
Electricity storage by formation of
formic acid and hydrogen

Photo: courtesy ofKanazawa city

Vibration
power
generation

Children monitoring

Power generation technology by taking
advantage of the natural feature of the region
Hokuriku
Local sources of energyproduction
and consumption

Biomass
combustion
power
generation
Solar
power
generation

IT introduction to agriculture

22

Biomass Reﬁnery Research Unit

Unit Leader

Professor
NINOMIYA, Kazuaki

Ionic liquid-assisted biomass reﬁnery for production of fuel and chemicals

Carbon Recycling and Energy Processes
Research Unit

Unit Leader

Professor
KODAMA, Akio

Development of a highly eﬃcient Temperature Swing Adsorption Process for contributing to carbon
neutrality.

Unit Leader

Principal Investigator

Unit Leader

Professor

Associate Professor

Professor

NINOMIYA, Kazuaki

TSUGE, Yota

KODAMA, Akio

Specialty：wood science, agricultural chemistry, bioengineering, polymer chemistry
Keyword：woody biomass, biomass reﬁnery, ionic liquid

Specialty：Separation Engineering, Process Engineering, Energy Engineering
Keyword：Adsorptive separation, Carbon capture, Carbon neutrality, Low-grade heat energy, Air Separation

Research Content

Research Content

Modern society heavily depends on the petrochemical industry “petro(leum reﬁnery”) to produce fuels like gasoline and chemicals like plastics
from the petroleum oil, a fossil resource. Those products are ﬁnally burnt
and carbon dioxide is released into the air, causing global warming. As
an alternative, this Research Unit aims to establish technology for
producing fuels and chemicals from natural resources, biomass, i.e.,
non-edible plant-derived resources, such as waste wood and agricultural waste, which are originally produced by photosynthesis. We call thisproduction process “biomass reﬁnery,” and when our research is
successfully implemented on an industrial scale, it is expected to copewith the depletion of petroleum and result in a reduction of carbon
dioxide in the environment.
The major component of the cell wall of plant biomass is cellulose, astraight-chain polymer of glucose, but cellulose forms a ﬁrm crystal

structure because of an enormous number of hydrogen bonds. Woody
biomass contains, in addition to cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin;these three natural polymers entangle one another to make the structure
sturdier (called lignocellulose). It is this lignocellulose that is a robust
barrier that hampers chemical and biochemical transformation reactionsof plant biomass. The Biomass Reﬁnery Research Unit takes anapproach diﬀerent from conventional ones, using molten salts called an“ionic liquid,”available at ordinary temperatures, both as a reaction
medium and as a catalyst. Biomass reﬁnery with the use of ionic liquid
will make the crystal structure of cellulose much less ﬁrm under ordinarypressure and temperature without using acids or bases, thus reducing
waste liquid and energy consumption and transforming plant biomass
into its products with high eﬃciency by chemical and biochemical
reactions.

This research unit challenges to develop a low-temperature driven
Temperature Swing Adsorption TSA process for carbon capture
from air or ﬂue gas. Considering the fact that most sources ofcarbon dioxide are also waste heat sources, CO2 recovery by TSA
process should be ideal. Also, combustion equipment is a waste
heat source and at the same time there is a demand for oxygen-enriched air. Therefore, the realization of oxygen-enriched combustion

system equipped with a self-wasted heat driven O2-enriching TSA
can directly contribute to promote the use of "waste heat", which ismostly discarded at present. For contributing to “Green Growth
Strategy Through Achieving Carbon Neutrality in 2050”, thisresearch unit tries to achieve an innovative TSA process in collaboration with R＆D on sorption materials, carbon conversion or
combustion technology, inside and outside Kanazawa University.

Production of fuels, chemicals, resins and composite materials from natural polymers that constitute the cell wall of plant biomass such as waste wood.
Woody biomass

Cellulose(alcohol, organicacid, etc.) derived
from biomass

Treatment technology
using ionic liquid

Hemicellulose

Lignin“Solid wood”

23

Fuel andchemicals“Liquidized wood”

Resins derived
from biomass
Compositematerials
derived frombiomass24Selected research topics in InFiniti

HGF-inhibitory macrocyclic peptide ‒ mechanisms and potential cancer theranostics

Challenging to achieve automated driving on snowy roads

Tumor Microenvironment Research Unit, Cancer Research Core
High-speed AFM for Biological Research Unit, Innovative Integrated Bio-Research Core

Autonomous Vehicle Research Unit, Future Society Creation Research Core

Research Content

Research Content

Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) is involved in cancer progression
through MET receptor signaling. Here, HiP-8, a 12 amino-acid macrocyclic peptide, was identiﬁed to selectively recognize active HGF.
Biochemical analysis and high-speed AFM demonstrated HiP-8 restricted dynamic domains of HGF, resulting in allosteric inhibition. Positronemission tomography using radiotracer HiP-8 enabled noninvasive
visualization and inhibition of HGF‒MET activation status in tumors inmouse models. HiP-8 is expected to be useful for cancer diagnosis andtreatment. The research result was published in the international
scientiﬁc journal“Nature Chemical Biology”on May 17, 2019 (U.S.
Eastern Standard Time).
HGF is a protein that acts as a cell growth factor. By binding to its
receptor protein MET on the cell membrane, it exerts its physiological
functions such as proliferation and migration of cells, as well as tissue
repair and regeneration. For a cancer tissue, since it promotes invasion
and survival of cancer cells, it can play roles in cancer metastasis andacquisition of resistance against anti-cancer drugs. HGF exists in a
precursor form, inactive HGF, in various tissues, but the precursor isconverted into active HGF only in the vicinity of cancer cells. Becauseof this reason, molecules that selectively detect/inhibit active HGF arehighly desirable but have not been described so far.
Molecular-targeted drugs that selectively inhibit speciﬁc molecules havebeen developed and used for cancer treatment and for other diseases.
Among others, antibodies show high speciﬁcity to their target molecules,
but one of their drawbacks is their very high cost. On the other hand,synthetic drugs are much less expensive since they can be chemicallysynthesized but their speciﬁcity against their target molecules is nothigh. Recently, much attention has been paid to macrocyclic peptides,

HiP-8

HGF

HGF

receptorਭઍ৬‫ق‬MET‫ك‬಍ཝჍ
cellmembrane

which may show target speciﬁcity as high as antibodies and yet may beavailable by chemical synthesis.
The present collaborative research team successfully discovered amacrocyclic peptide, HiP-8, which binds to the active form of HGF toinhibit its activity, using the PaPID method. HiP-8 is a macrocyclic
peptide consisting of 12 amino acid residues in a ring-like geometry,binding to active HGF with a very high aﬃnity and inhibiting HGF
binding to its receptor MET Upper ﬁgure.
In addition, in order to elucidate the functional interaction between
HiP-8 and HGF, this study employed high-speed atomic force microscopy (HS-AFM), which allows visualization of the dynamics and morphology of biological molecules (Bottom ﬁgure). This investigation successfully showed that, while an active HGF molecule exhibited dynamic
behavior, upon binding of HiP-8, the molecular dynamics of HGF wasstrongly inhibited. This novel discovery shows that the highly dynamic
nature of a protein molecule was inhibited by a small molecule.
Further, image analysis using positron emission tomography (PET) andradio-labeled HiP-8, administered to mice xenografted with human lungcancer tissue, suggest a possible application of HiP-8 to cancer diagnosis. HiP-8 selectively accumulated in cancer tissue with active HGF,
suggesting that HiP-8 should be useful as a probe for PET imaging
diagnosis. Since HiP-8 inhibits HGF activity, it could also be used as ananti-cancer molecular targeted drug selective for active HGF.
The results of the present study are expected to lead to the development of new PET diagnostic methods with radiotracer HiP-8, amacrocyclic peptide. HiP-8 is a candidate molecule of a new molecular-targeted drug that selectively inhibits only active HGF.

0s

0.2 s

1.4 s

2.0 s

4.6 s

6.2 s

0s

0.2 s

0.8 s

1.0 s

3.2 s

5.6 s

snow-covered roads, which is unprecedented in Japan. In a snowy roadenvironment, the entire road is covered with snow, and the shape of thesurrounding objects changes, which leads to a decrease in recognition
accuracy due to sensor noise. To solve this issue, we have developed amethod that can stably estimate the vehicle location under adverse
weather conditions by using various sensors and artiﬁcial intelligence
technologies. We have also demonstrated that the vehicle canrecognize the vehicle location with suﬃcient accuracy through actualautonomous driving. By tackling these challenging issues, we hope to
expand the range of situations where autonomous driving is possible.
In addition to this, our research unit covers a wide range of technologies,
such as digital map generation, surrounding environmental recognition,
decision-making, and control technology. We aim to contribute safe
autonomous driving technologies by conducting research and development that takes advantage of the characteristics of various sensors andelemental technologies through demonstration experiments in various
traﬃc environments.

研究内容

10 nm

10 nm

HiP-8

seconds

HiP-8‫ق‬HGF-inhibitory
HiP-8 (HGF-inhibitory Peptide-8‫ك‬भ੿৷ਃ੿‫؛‬HiP-8मHGFप
Peptide-8) mechanism of action. HiP-8
binds ੥়ख‫ؚ‬HGFऋਭઍ৬प੥়घॊऒध॑༛૩घॊ‫؛‬to HGF and inhibits HGF binding to its receptor (MET).

HGF + HiP-8

HGF

In the research and development of Autonomous Vehicle Research Unit,
we are developing technologies through public road experiments in
Ishikawa, Tokyo, Hokkaido, to achieve autonomous driving in urban
roads. An autonomous vehicle must be able to operate processing
modules in real time for analyzing and processing the onboard sensors
data and enable smooth maneuver with respect to the other traﬃcparticipants by making appropriate controlling decisions. However, in
the actual traﬃc environment, the vehicle is required to make complex
decision-making based on understanding of road features such as roadstructures, signs, and stop lines, as well as traﬃc rules. Therefore, inorder to reliably understand the traﬃc environment in urban areas, themost common approach is to manage static road features as digitalmaps to make complex decisions. One of the important fundamental
technologies is the self-localization technology that precisely estimates
the vehicle location on a digital map.
As one of the challenging research topics in the Autonomous Vehicle
Unit, we are developing an autonomous driving technology forseconds

HGF dynamics observed by high-speed atomic force microscopy. The yellow lines
indicate the movement of HGF molecules. Without HiP-8, the molecular shape of HGF
actively changes (left). In contrast, when HiP-8 was bound to HGF, the dynamic
molecular change of HGF was suppressed.

Eﬀorts related to autonomous driving on snowy roads have received the Best Paper Award at the IEEE Intelligent Vehicles Symposium (2018),
which is an international conference in the ﬁeld of autonomous driving.

25

26