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STELLAR INVENTORS

Researchers with unparalleled unique perspectives and imagination, striving for ambitious scientific research. We call them “Stellar Inventors.”

Stellar Inventor

Yoshiho Ikeuchi, PhD

Professor, Institute of Industrial Science, The University of Tokyo
Institute for AI and Beyond, The University of Tokyo
Department of Chemistry & Biotechnology, School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo

RESEARCH THEME

Neural Circuit Engineering of Human Brain Organoids: Understanding the Brain and Disease Through Circuit Construction and Functional Capabilities

PROFILE

Since 2014, Dr. Ikeuchi conducts research at the Institute of Industrial Science, The University of Tokyo. He has been appointed as a Professor since 2025. He is also affiliated with Institute for AI and Beyond and Department of Chemistry & Biotechnology. His has been developing technologies to connect neural tissues (brain organoids) via axon-bundle tracts to recapitulate inter-regional connectivity in the brains. By studying the processes through which neural tissues acquire functional capabilities, his group aims to elucidate the principles of brain functions and contribute to the treatment of neurological diseases.

MAIN RESEARCH ACHIEVEMENTS

Osaki T, Duenki T, Yoshiho Ikeuchi et al. Complex activity and short-term plasticity of human cerebral organoids reciprocally connected with axons. Nature Communications 15, 2945 2024. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-46787-7

Duenki T, Ikeuchi Y. Multi-organoid loop cerebral connectoids exhibit enhanced neuronal network dynamics and sequence-specific entrainment. Commun Biol. 2026 Jan 22;9(1):302. doi: 10.1038/s42003-026-09589-9.

Kirihara T, Luo Z, Chow SYA, Yoshiho Ikeuchi et al. A Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Tissue Model of a Cerebral Tract Connecting Two Cortical Regions. iScience. 2019;14:301-311. doi:10.1016/j.isci.2019.03.012

MOTTO

-

MOST IMPACTFUL PAPER

"I was deeply struck by Eiraku et al. (2008, Cell Stem Cell)"

Which demonstrated that by allowing cells to exercise their intrinsic ability to self-organize into multicellular tissues, it is possible to generate in vitro tissue that mimics the developing brain. At the time, I was studying rat cerebellar granule neurons and believed that the brain is too complex to mimic in vitro. The impact of that paper led me to step into brain organoid research.

DREAM TO ACHIEVE THROUGH RESEARCH

By manipulating brain organoids and wiring them into networks, I would like to construct neural circuits outside the body in a controllable, flexible manner. Furthermore, by developing a systematic understanding of how to control the neural circuits we build, I want to reproducibly implement the principles by which the brain represents information and learns. I also hope to contribute to treatments for psychiatric disorders and to a deeper understanding of the brain’s energy-efficient mechanisms for information processing.

Institute of Industrial Science, The University of Tokyo
Life Sciences
Stellar Inventor

Takahiro Nemoto, PhD

Professor, The University of Osaka Premium Research Institute for Human Metaverse Medicine (PRIMe)

RESEARCH THEME

Research on understanding and solutions for modern diseases related to aging through combining biomedical science and information mathematical science

PROFILE

After serving as an Assistant Professor at the Graduate School of Informatics, Kyoto University, from 2021 to 2023, and as a Specially Appointed Associate Professor at PRIMe, The University of Osaka, from 2023 to 2025, Dr. Nemoto has held his current position since July 2025. After obtaining his Ph.D in physics, he has worked in interdisciplinary fields, including statistical/bio physics, computational science, epidemiology and bioinformatics, with common threads being data analysis and algorithm development. Recently, Dr. Nemoto developed a novel algorithm (ACIDES) to analyze protein screening experiments. Combining a statistical model that describes highly dispersive NGS noise with a mathematical model of protein screening, ACIDES enables the determination of statistical errors in protein screening experiments with high precision, and is expected to have various applications in the future, including the development of viral vectors used in gene therapy methods and personalized medical genome drug discovery. His passion lies in helping others through the power of mathematical models.

MAIN RESEARCH ACHIEVEMENTS

Nemoto, T., Ocari, T., Planul, A. et al. ACIDES: on-line monitoring of forward genetic screens for protein engineering. Nature Communications 14, 8504 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-43967-9 2015 9th Young Scientist Award of the Physical Society of JapanThe University of Osaka Prize, Young Faculty Category (FY 2025)

MOTTO

"Only a life lived for others is a life worthwhile."

MOST IMPACTFUL PAPER

"Vaswani et al., Attention Is All You Need, NeurIPS, 2017."

This paper proposed a new architecture called the Transformer, which laid the foundation for today’s ChatGPT and Gemini. I was amazed at how noticeably machine translation improved right after its publication, but I never imagined that just a few years later, conversational AI would evolve to this level.

DREAM TO ACHIEVE THROUGH RESEARCH

I want to eliminate the people whose lives are suddenly cut short by preventable, lifestyle-related illnesses. By analyzing daily data, we can predict future risks and guide people toward the right actions before symptoms appear. We can also visualize the degree of aging, maximizing the time everyone can live healthily and true to themselves. This is the future I want to create.

The University of Osaka Premium Research Institute for Human Metaverse Medicine
Life Sciences
Stellar Inventor

Hiroshi Tsugawa, PhD

Professor, the Graduate School of Engineering, Institute of Engineering, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology

RESEARCH THEME

Research for illuminating the diversity of metabolomes and its biological importance in living organisms

PROFILE

After serving as a Special Postdoctoral Researcher at the RIKEN Plant Science Center from 2012, and as a researcher at the RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science and Center for Integrative Medical Sciences from 2017, Dr. Tsugawa became a Tenure-track associate professor at the Graduate School of Engineering, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology from 2021 to 2024. Since 2024, he has held the current position of Professor.Dr. Tsugawa has worked on metabolome analysis that comprehensively examines metabolites using mass spectrometry, and has developed original data science platforms to analyze big data obtained by mass spectrometry, thereby contributing to the improvement of the number of metabolites that can be analyzed at a time, the discovery of new metabolites, and the elucidation of various biological phenomena. Dr. Tsugawa is trying to clarify the diversity and importance of metabolites in life by constructing an analytical infrastructure that contributes to mass spectrometry and metabolic omics, unraveling life's metabolic network.

MAIN RESEARCH ACHIEVEMENTS

Takeda, H., Tsugawa, H et al. MS-DIAL 5 multimodal mass spectrometry data mining unveils lipidome complexities. Nature Communications, 15: 9903, 20242022 selected as a Nice Step Researcher 20222019 RIKEN EIHO Award (RIKEN Significant Achievement Award)

MOTTO

"Walk the talk"
"Only you can prove that your choices are right"
"At your own pace"
"From technological innovation to the pursuit of discoveries and mechanisms"

MOST IMPACTFUL PAPER

"https://www.nature.com/articles/nmeth.3393"

・First publication in a Nature sister journal
・First international co-authorship
・A paper that made me feel my research style wasn’t wrong

DREAM TO ACHIEVE THROUGH RESEARCH

・I want many people with a research philosophy similar to mine to thrive in academia.
・I want to create something like a Mass Spectrometry Omics Measurement Center.
・I want to systematize AI-driven metabolism research.

The Graduate School of Engineering, Institute of Engineering, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology
Life Sciences
Stellar Inventor

Yu Hayashi, PhD

Professor, Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo
Visiting Professor & Principal Investigator, International Institute for Integrative Sleep Medicine (WPI-IIIS), University of Tsukuba

RESEARCH THEME

My goal is to understand why many living organisms, including humans, sleep and why we dream, and furthermore, to lead to innovative medical treatments

PROFILE

In April 2008, joined the RIKEN Brain Science Institute (BSI) Behavioral Genetics Technology Development Team as a Special Postdoctoral Researcher. From April 2011 to March 2013, served as a Researcher on the same team. From April 2013 to December 2015, worked as an Assistant Professor and Principal Investigator at the International Institute for Integrative Sleep Medicine (WPI-IIIS), University of Tsukuba. Concurrently, from October 2013 to March 2017, served as a JST PRESTO Researcher. From January 2016 to March 2020, held the position of Associate Professor and Principal Investigator at WPI-IIIS. Subsequently, from April 2020 to March 2022, served as a Professor at the Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, in the Department of Human Health Sciences, followed by a position as Designated Professor in the same department until March 2023. Since May 2020, has been a Visiting Professor and Principal Investigator at WPI-IIIS, University of Tsukuba (current position). In April 2022, appointed Professor at the Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, University of Tokyo (current position).His research focuses on understanding the physiological significance of sleep and dreaming, as well as developing new treatments for sleep disorders. He studies the neural circuits and molecular pathways that regulate sleep.

MAIN RESEARCH ACHIEVEMENTS

• Mitsuaki Kashiwagi, Goichi Beck, Mika Kanuka, Yoshifumi Arai1,Kaeko Tanaka, Chika Tatsuzawa, Yumiko Koga, Yuki C. Saito, Marina Takagi, Yo Oishi, Masanori Sakaguchi, Kousuke Baba, Masashi Ikuno, Hodaka Yamakado, Ryosuke Takahashi, Masashi Yanagisawa, Shigeo Murayama, Takeshi Sakurai, Kazuya Sakai, Yoshimi Nakagawa, Masahiko Watanabe, Hideki Mochizuki, Yu Hayashi, Cell, 2024, A pontine-medullary loop crucial for REM sleep and its deficit in Parkinson’s disease
• 2024 Project Manager, Moonshot Research and Development Program
• 2019 9th Frontier Salon Nagase Special Award"

MOTTO

Do your best and leave the rest to fate.

MOST IMPACTFUL PAPER

Roffwarg et al., Science 152(3722):604 (1966). doi: 10.1126/science.152.3722.604.
Ontogenetic development of the human sleep-dream cycle

This paper demonstrates that the quality of human sleep changes dynamically with growth and aging. Reading this study sparked a variety of questions that led to my current research themes, such as "Could sleep be crucial for brain development?" and "Might changes in sleep quality be related to aging?"

DREAM TO ACHIEVE THROUGH RESEARCH

I aim to uncover the physiological significance of sleep and dreams and, through these findings, contribute to advances in medicine and the extension of healthy life expectancy."

Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo
Life Sciences
Stellar Inventor

Ayuko Hoshino, PhD

Professor, Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology, The University of Tokyo

RESEARCH THEME

Elucidating the role of exosome-mediated inter-organ communication in the onset and progression of various diseases, such as cancer, preeclampsia, and autism spectrum disorder.

PROFILE

Completed a Ph.D. program at the Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, The University of Tokyo, in 2011. After spending eight and a half years at Weill Cornell University (USA) as a postdoc, Research Associate, and Instructor, she became an Assistant Professor. In April 2019, she returned to Japan as a lecturer at the University of Tokyo’s IRCN. In March 2020, she established a lab as an Associate Professor at the School of Life Science and Technology, Tokyo Institute of Technology. Since March 2023, she has been a Professor at the Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology, The University of Tokyo. She leads a project investigating the characteristics of exosomes that drive organ-specific metastasis of cancer, unraveling the mystery of ""why cancer metastasizes to specific organs,"" which has remained unsolved for over 100 years. She is also engaged in research on exosome biology in neurological diseases and pregnancy.

MAIN RESEARCH ACHIEVEMENTS

• Hoshino et al., Tumour exosome integrins determine organotropic metastasis, Nature 2015
• Hoshino et al., Extracellular Vesicle and Particle Biomarkers Define Multiple Human Cancers, Cell 2020
• 2023: 6th Japan Medical Research and Development Grand Prize, AMED President's Award

MOTTO

There is nothing good or bad, only thinking makes it so

MOST IMPACTFUL PAPER

"Kaplan et al., VEGFR1-positive haematopoietic bone marrow progenitors initiate the pre-metastatic niche, Nature 2005."

I encountered this seminal work from Lyden's lab in 2010, which led me to choose my postdoctoral position where I spent the next nine years. The study highlights the potential for therapies that can inhibit cancer metastasis, positioning it as a cutting-edge piece of cancer research. Furthermore, this paper laid the foundation for my own work, leading to my first-author publication in Nature in 2015.

DREAM TO ACHIEVE THROUGH RESEARCH

I am working to achieve at least one research project that can lead to societal implementation, constantly asking myself, "What is the purpose of this science?" With this mindset, I aim to open new possibilities for diagnosing and treating diseases that are difficult to address with modern medicine. Additionally, I seek to expand activities that provide high school students with real research experiences, offering them opportunities to interact with researchers and fostering the next generation as a bridge to future scientific advancements.

Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology, The University of Tokyo
Life Sciences
Stellar Inventor

Masato Kanemaki, PhD

Professor, Department of Chromosome Science, National Institute of Genetics
Professor, Graduate Institute for Advanced Studies, SOKENDAI
Professor (Interlocking faculty member), Graduate School of Science, Department of Biological Sciences, The University of Tokyo

RESEARCH THEME

Elucidation of DNA Replication and Genome Maintenance Mechanisms Using Proprietary Deglon Technology

PROFILE

Prof. Kanemaki graduated from the PhD Program at Chiba University in 2001 and studied in the UK as a postdoctoral researcher at the Cancer Research UK Manchester Institute from 2001 to 2006. He served as an assistant professor at Graduate School of Science, Osaka University from 2006 to 2010 and as an associate professor at Center for Frontier Research at National Institute of Genetics from 2010 to 2016. He was promoted to a professor in Department of Chromosome Science at National Institute of Genetics in 2016, and later became a professor in Graduate School of Science at The University of Tokyo in 2022.He developed the auxin-inducible degron (AID) technology, which utilizes the protein degradation mechanism in plants to enable rapid degradation of specific proteins. Furthermore, with the development of the improved AID2, he established a platform that allows for rapid protein degradation from yeast to mice. Alongside the development of genetic technologies, he is working on elucidating the mechanism by which genomic DNA is duplicated and maintained in human cells and in mice using the degron technologies.

MAIN RESEARCH ACHIEVEMENTS

• Yesbolatova, A., Saito, Y., Kitamoto, N., Makino-Itou, H., Ajima, R., Nakano, R., Nakaoka, H., Fukui, K., Gamo, K., Tominari, Y., Takeuchi, H., Saga, Y., Hayashi, KI., Kanemaki, MT. (2020). The auxin-inducible degron 2 technology provides sharp degradation control in yeast, mammalian cells, and mice. Nature Communications 11, 5701.
• Nishimura, K., Fukagawa, T., Takisawa, H., Kakimoto, T., Kanemaki, M. (2009). An auxin-based degron system for the rapid depletion of proteins in nonplant cells. Nature Methods 6, 917–922.
• 2024 Yamazaki Teiichi Prize, awarded by the Foundation for Materials Science and Technology.

MOTTO

"Earn dirty, spend clean."

It reflects the philosophy of some Osaka merchants, meaning to work hard and shrewdly in business, but use the profits ethically and wisely.

MOST IMPACTFUL PAPER

"Weinert, T.A., and Hartwell, L.H. (1988). The RAD9 gene controls the cell cycle response to DNA damage in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Science 241, 317–322."

This paper by 2001 Nobel Prize laureate Lee Hartwell introduced the concept of cell cycle checkpoints. It’s amazing how he inferred what happens during the cell cycle simply by observing yeast mutants under a microscope! I was also deeply moved by his earlier work in the 1970s on identifying CDC cell cycle mutants for similar reasons. I believe my research foundation lies in yeast genetics.

DREAM TO ACHIEVE THROUGH RESEARCH

Everything has trends, but I prefer to take a step back and combine cutting-edge technology with the wisdom of the past to make new discoveries that many may have overlooked. I would be delighted if those I mentor continue to carry forward these ideas and aspirations.

Department of Chromosome Science, National Institute of Genetics
Life Sciences
Stellar Inventor

Hideaki Kato, PhD

Professor, Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology, The University of Tokyo

RESEARCH THEME

Hideaki is exploring how living organisms sense and respond to physicochemical stimuli at the atomic level, using these insights to drive innovations in biotechnology. By studying the structure and function of proteins activated by light or magnetic fields, he is developing groundbreaking techniques to control biological processes. His work not only pushes the boundaries of basic science but also aims to create transformative applications in industry and healthcare.

PROFILE

From 2014 to 2019, Hideaki was a postdoctoral fellow at Stanford University School of Medicine. In 2019, he became an Associate Professor at the University of Tokyo, where he started his own lab, and since February 2024, he has held his current position.His research has primarily focused on microbial rhodopsins, exploring how these proteins convert light energy into molecular functions like ion transport. Rhodopsins, known for their ability to be activated by light and perform a variety of functions, are also key tools in optogenetics, where they are used to control neuronal activity with light. Driven by a passion for advancing this technology, he is working to apply optogenetics in both basic science and clinical research. Recently, he has expanded his studies to include proteins that respond to other physicochemical stimuli, such as magnetic fields, opening new avenues for innovation.

MAIN RESEARCH ACHIEVEMENTS

• 2024年 IUPAB Young Investigator Prize
• 2023 - 2028: CREST Program, Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST)
• Tajima S, Kim YS, Fukuda M, Jo Y, Wang PY, Paggi JM, Inoue M, Byrne EFX, Kishi KE, Nakamura S, Ramakrishnan C, Takaramoto S, Nagata T, Konno M, Sugiura M, Katayama K, Matsui TE, Yamashita K, Kim S, Ikeda H, Kim J, Kandori H, Dror RO, Inoue K, Deisseroth K, Kato HE. Structural basis for ion selectivity in potassium-selective channelrhodopsins. Cell, 186, 4325-4344 (2023)

MOTTO

Chance favors the prepared mind

MOST IMPACTFUL PAPER

"Neural substrates of awakening probed with optogenetic control of hypocretin neurons, Nature, 2007."

This was the paper that first sparked my interest in optogenetics during my senior year of undergrad.

DREAM TO ACHIEVE THROUGH RESEARCH

Uncover completely new ways that organisms detect physicochemical stimuli and build, from the ground up, a breakthrough biotechnology that could surpass optogenetics.

Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology, The University of Tokyo
Life Sciences
Stellar Inventor

Naoji Matsuhisa, PhD

Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology, The University of Tokyo

RESEARCH THEME

Development of soft and stretchable electronic materials and their application to next-generation wearable devices, robotic artificial skin, and human-computer interfaces.

PROFILE

Naoji Matsuhisa is an Associate Professor at Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology (RCAST) in the University of Tokyo. His research interest is in stretchable electronic materials and devices for the application in next-generation wearable devices, and human-computer interfaces. He received his PhD degree from the University of Tokyo in 2017. Then he worked as a postdoctoral researcher at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore, and Stanford University in the U.S. In 2020, he joined Keio University as an Assistant Professor. In 2022, he became an Associate Professor at Institute of Industrial Science (IIS) in the University of Tokyo. He has published more than 60 peer-reviewed papers (>10,000 citations). He is the recipient of >10 awards including MIT Technology Review Innovators Under 35 in 2022.

MAIN RESEARCH ACHIEVEMENTS

• 2024: Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Award for Young Scientists, Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, Japan
• 2023: Project Management Institute (PMI) "Future 50"
• 2022: MIT Technology Review Innovators Under 35 Global

MOTTO

“Effort cannot surpass passion."
I believe that the kind of immersion where you find yourself thinking about research around the clock is what leads to truly fascinating discoveries.

MOST IMPACTFUL PAPER

"N. Matsuhisa, et al. Nature Materials 16, 834-840 (2017)."

I discovered that an entirely unexpected phenomenon caused the material to exhibit extremely high properties. This experience taught me the importance of observing phenomena without preconceived notions.

DREAM TO ACHIEVE THROUGH RESEARCH

I want what I develop to become an everyday part of people’s lives.

Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology, The University of Tokyo
Material Sciences
Stellar Inventor

Kyoko Miura, PhD

Professor, Faculty of Life Sciences, Kumamoto University

RESEARCH THEME

Elucidating mechanisms of cancer resistance, anti-aging, and longevity using the longest-lived rodent, the naked mole-rat, and its close relative, the Damaraland mole-rat.

PROFILE

Started her research career as a Research Assistant Professor, JSPS fellow SPD, JST Sakigake researcher at the Department of Physiology, Keio University School of Medicine. After serving as a Lecturer and Associate Professor at the Research Institute for Genetic Medicine, Hokkaido University, she became an Associate Professor at Kumamoto University Graduate School of Medical Sciences in 2017 and was promoted to Professor in 2023.Her research focuses on understanding the molecular mechanisms of the resistance to aging-related diseases, such as cancer and Alzheimer's disease, using the naked mole-rat, the longest-lived rodent in the world. Her goal is to develop preventive drugs for humans in the future.

MAIN RESEARCH ACHIEVEMENTS

• 2018 Young Scientists’ Award from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT)
• 2020 Frontier Salon Nagase Award - Grand Prize
• 2022 Kumamoto University Women Researchers Award

MOTTO

"Where there’s a will, there’s a way. Without effort, nothing can be achieved. If something doesn’t succeed, it’s because one didn’t try hard enough."

Since we only live once, I want to fully experience both the bitter and the sweet of life. I cherish each day, embracing nature, humanity, and society, while continuously striving to reach the next stage.

MOST IMPACTFUL PAPER

"The virophage as a unique parasite of the giant mimivirus. Bernard La Scola et al., Nature 2008"

This is a paper that deeply moved me when I was searching for a research theme after graduation. It describes the discovery of Mamavirus, the largest virus in the world, and the even more fascinating finding of a virus (Virophage Sputnik) that parasitizes and harms it. What impressed me the most was that these discoveries were made in a rather ordinary place—a cooling tower in France.

DREAM TO ACHIEVE THROUGH RESEARCH

Through research on the naked mole-rat, a long-lived mammal with characteristics of anti-aging and disease resistance, I aim to deepen the evolutionary medical understanding of aging and diseases, and to develop methods for their prevention. I hope that my research will contribute to the realization of a society where people can live long, healthy lives both physically and mentally.

Faculty of Life Sciences, Kumamoto University
Life Sciences
Stellar Inventor

Kaoru Ota, PhD

Director of the Center for Computer Science/Professor, Department of Sciences and Informatics, Muroran Institute of Technology

RESEARCH THEME

Fundamental research on beyond 5G and 6G systems and its applications.

PROFILE

After earning a master’s degree from Oklahoma State University and a doctorate from Aizu University, she was a Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) Research Fellow at Tohoku University Graduate School of Information Sciences from April 2012 to April 2013. Since 2022, she has been a professor at the Graduate School of Engineering, Muroran Institute of Technology, and she has held her current position since 2023.She is engaged in research on foundational technologies for Beyond 5G and 6G systems. She explores methods to enhance communication efficiency and maximize coverage by applying Reconfigurable Intelligent Surface (RIS) technology to address issues of path loss and signal degradation in high-frequency bands such as millimeter waves. Additionally, she aims to create application technologies utilizing AI for network applications and improving energy efficiency.

MAIN RESEARCH ACHIEVEMENTS

• 2024 Hokkaido Science and Technology Encouragement Award, Hokkaido Governor
• 2023 Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Young Scientists Award
• 2023 Fifth Shining Women Researchers Award (Chairman’s Award from the Japan Science and Technology Agency), Japan Science and Technology Agency

MOTTO

Like clouds drifting and water flowing. When drinking water, think of its source.

MOST IMPACTFUL PAPER

Professor Ivan Stojmenovic's "Editor's Note: How to Write Research Articles in Computing and Engineering Disciplines"
succinctly and accurately summarizes important points, making it an excellent guide for beginners. It is also a significant paper that reminds us of the late Professor Ivan.

DREAM TO ACHIEVE THROUGH RESEARCH

"To Advance Knowledge for Humanity" is the founding principle of Aizu University. Computer science has limitless potential to enhance and enrich people's lives. I aspire to create a society that not only prioritizes convenience but also coexists harmoniously with nature.

The Center for Computer Science, Department of Sciences and Informatics, Muroran Institute of Technology
Computer Sciences
Stellar Inventor

Nozomu Yachie, PhD

Professor, School of Biomedical Engineering, The University of British Columbia
Visiting Professor, Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology, The University of Tokyo
Specially Appointed Professor, Premium Research Institute for Human Metaverse Medicine (PRIMe), Osaka University

RESEARCH THEME

Development of technologies to measure cellular dynamics by combining cell engineering, genome editing, and computer science.

PROFILE

Nozomu Yachie is a Professor at the University of British Columbia (UBC) and a Specially Appointed Professor at Osaka University. He is also a Visiting Professor at the University of Tokyo.He received his PhD degree in Systems Biology from Keio University in 2009. He then completed postdoctoral training at Dr. Fritz Roth’s lab at Harvard Medical School and the University of Toronto.Combining genome engineering, cell engineering, and computational biology, he is developing new technologies to measure the dynamics of molecules and cells in complex biological systems, including mammalian development and cell differentiation.

MAIN RESEARCH ACHIEVEMENTS

• 2024 JSPS Prize, JSPS
• 2023 CIFAR Fellow, Canadian Institute for Advanced Research
• 2022 Allen Distinguished Investigator Award, Allen Institute

MOTTO

Science never sleeps.

MOST IMPACTFUL PAPER

I repeatedly read the paper by Edward Marcotte's team during my student years, which used phylogenetic profiling to predict gene interactions from numerous genome sequences. Later, the same concept was applied by Marcotte and his team to profile protein-protein interactions using mass spectrometry. This approach became one of the foundational ideas adopted by AlphaFold, Google's AI for protein structure prediction.

DREAM TO ACHIEVE THROUGH RESEARCH

I want to continue doing work that inspires the next generation of children and young people to pursue science.

School of Biomedical Engineering, The University of British Columbia
Life Sciences
Stellar Inventor

Seiya Yamayoshi, PhD, DVM

National Center for Global Health and Medicine Institute of Medical Science, University of Tokyo UTOPIA center, University of Tokyo

RESEARCH THEME

Improvements to existing vaccines and the development of new ones. Exploring new insights through fundamental research on viral pathogenicity, antibody function analysis, and resistant viruses.

PROFILE

From 2012 to 2016, served as Project Assistant Professor at the Institute of Medical Science, the University of Tokyo, and from 2016 to 2021 as Project Associate Professor at the same institute. Since 2021, holds the current position.Viruses that continue to spread among humans often harbor sophisticated mechanisms that enable their persistence. By uncovering part of these mechanisms, we aim to understand viral replication at the molecular, cellular, individual, and community levels, ultimately making viral infections more controllable.

MAIN RESEARCH ACHIEVEMENTS

• 2017 Sugiura Incentive Award, Japanese Society for Virology
• 2017 Young Scientist Award, Commendation for Science and Technology by the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of Japan

MOTTO

One fool dances, another fool watches. If both are fools, the one who doesn't dance is the one who loses out.

MOST IMPACTFUL PAPER

"Alexandra Zobel, Gabriele Neumann, Gerd Hobom, RNA polymerase I catalysed transcription of insert viral cDNA, Nucleic Acids Research, Volume 21, Issue 16, 11 August 1993, Pages 3607–3614"

While the artificial synthesis of several RNA viruses had become possible, it was thought that creating the influenza virus artificially was impossible due to its segmented genome, which is divided into eight segments, and the absence of cap and poly(A) structures at both ends. This paper was the starting point for establishing a synthetic system for the influenza virus.

DREAM TO ACHIEVE THROUGH RESEARCH

Through my research, I aim not only to expand human knowledge but also to reduce the number of people suffering from infectious diseases.

National Center for Global Health and Medicine
Life Sciences
EXECTIVE ADVISORS

These are experts who share the SS-F philosophy and advise us. They consist not only of scientists, but also of entrepreneurs and creators.

Executive Advisor

Shinya Yamanaka

Former Director and Professor, iPS Cell Research Institute, Kyoto University
President, Kyoto University iPS Cell Research Foundation
Senior Investigator, Gladstone Institutes (USA)

I believe that any research is valuable if it is something that no one has really done before. That is why I want young researchers to be keenly aware of whether they are copying someone else or repeating themselves.Real innovation can only be found in unknown areas, and I hope and support that the activities of SS-F will encourage young people with a solid vision to freely conduct research, test new ideas, and make innovative discoveries one after another.

Former Director and Professor, iPS Cell Research Institute, Kyoto University
President, Kyoto University iPS Cell Research Foundation
Senior Investigator, Gladstone Institutes (USA)
Executive Advisor

Kuno Sachiko

Co-founder, Phoenixi, Inc.
President and CEO, S&R Foundation (USA)
Founder, Halcyon (USA)
Serial Entrepreneur (Biotech)

The world is shifting to a creator economy. In the coming era, it is extremely important to focus on the "individual" power of people called "creators" to create a series of one-of-a-kind inventions (discoveries and inventions) through the collision of "individuals" with "individuals.If we can support the realization of the free and flighty ideas of scientists, which is the highest form of creators, and build new communities as well as expand the points of contact with society, disruptive innovation to solve social issues on a global scale will easily occur. In this sense, I am deeply sympathetic to the SS-F concept and have great expectations for SS-F to create a new scientific economic sphere (ecosystem) for invention that transcends existing organizations. I believe that it is my responsibility as a member of the previous generation to support this new momentum to the best of my ability.

Co-founder, Phoenixi, Inc.
President and CEO, S&R Foundation (USA)
Founder, Halcyon (USA)
Serial Entrepreneur (Biotech)
Executive Advisor

Tachikawa Eisuke

Representative of NOSIGNER
Advocate of Evolutionary Thinking
President of JIDA

Throughout the entire history of science, the majority of innovative research has come from young researchers of the era. Of course, there are excellent researchers in Japan as well, but with the intensifying global competition in research, there is a possibility that our country's science will soon be left behind. This is why we need a mechanism to convert the wisdom of individuals into capital for scientific research, and SS-F's ability to select the best researchers, and its solution-oriented system, which is based on a thorough understanding of the issues, is genuine. I hope that this experiment will become a new hope for science in Japan as one of the ecosystems that will keep the fire of innovation burning.

Representative of NOSIGNER
Advocate of Evolutionary Thinking
President of JIDA
PARTNERS / SUPPORTERS

Companies and organizations that agree with the SS-F philosophy and are willing to participate in a people-centric community of Inventors and Innovators.

Otsuka Holdings Co., Ltd.