In Japan, average lifespan has grown significantly, but healthy lifespan has not. This indicates a substantial population of elderly individuals requiring long-term care. Musculoskeletal disorders (e.g. osteoporosis and sarcopenia) are prominent causes of needing care. In these conditions, decreased mobility leads to an increased risk of falls and fractures. Prolonged immobility during treatment exacerbates the decline in mobility. Extended periods of immobility often result in a high incidence of bedridden, which can trigger the onset of dementia. Therefore, addressing musculoskeletal disorders is crucial not only for reducing daily burdens but also for preventing the cascade progression to falls, fractures, bedridden status, and dementia.
While exercise is effective in maintaining musculoskeletal health, there are concerns about traumatic injury by engaging in training, potentially leading to further decline in mobility. Drug therapy holds promise as a treatment option, and tremendous efforts have been made for developing novel drugs; however, the creation of effective therapeutic drugs has yet to be achieved.
This study aims to explore compounds that activate cells composing bones and muscles, with the ultimate goal of creating innovative therapeutic drugs for musculoskeletal disorders.

I am interested in finding ways to make the acquisition of English and other foreign languages easier for Japanese learners. Therefore, my research focuses on acquisition of vocabulary and grammatical structures, and effective methods of education, including extensive reading and content-based instruction.

The cardiac synchronicity attracted attention because in human medicine prolongation of QRS duration is an independent prognostic factor of heart failure patients. It is believed that this is due to delayed electrical excitement of the ventricle, resulting in inefficient myocardial movement, which is supported by the benefical effect of cardiac resynchronization therapy. However, as a problem of cardiac resynchronization therapy, it is mentioned that there are many cases called non-responders. One of the methods for detecting this non-responder is mechanical dyssynchrony assessed by echocardiography. Dogs have electrical conduction systems similar to humans, and are often used as dyssynchronous model animals. I suspect that mechanical dyssynchrony assessed by echocardiography in dogs may be a factor that worsens the prognosis of heart disease? We are conducting research using clinical cases and model animals.

Reproductive success is an important factor directly related to management of domestic animal farms, and its improvement needs multi-approach from various directions, such as reproductive technique, hygiene management, feed,etc. From now, I would like to make studies aimed to solve the reproductive problems in the field, not only with cow ,but with small ruminants（goat, sheep, deer）and Japanese local horse.

Liife expectancy is getting longer in developed countries, which result in progressive increase in the number of elderly individuals. In parallel, the number of patients with neurodegenerative diseases that cannot yet be cured or significantly slowed, such as frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), is increasing. The cytoplasmic aggregation and accumulation of the nuclear protein TAR DNA-binding protein 43 kDa (TDP-43) is a hallmark of FTD and ALS. TDP-43 action in the nucleus is essential for cellular homeostasis, and TDP-43 aggregation in the cytoplasm is toxic to cells. These findings indicate that TDP-43 accumulation in the cytoplasm mediates development of FTD and ALS. Notably, TDP-43 pathology in the affected region spread over brain and spinal cord simlar to prion diseases. However, the mechanism for cell-to-cell spreading of TDP-43 pathology has been unknown. We previously showed that macroautophagy, a cellular degradation system, suppress aggregate-prone TDP-43 accumulation. Thus, we examine whether dysregulation of macroautophagy develops TDP-43 pathology. For cure of neurodegenerative diseases such as FTD and ALS through suppression of TDP-43 pathology, we are working on fundamental reserach.

In general, tooth morphology has been used to identify mammalian fossils. Some groups of primates have very similar tooth morphology, and other external morphologies are also hard to use for identification. To overcome this issue, we are attempting to use the morphology of the calcaneus and astragalus, which have been used to classify higher taxa traditionally, to identify primates and their fossils.
We are also conducting the comparative anatomy of various animals, such as whether the unique blood vessels of specialized mammals, e.g.) cetaceans, are homologous which arteries of other mammals.

I am studying the effects of radiation therapy in veterinary medicine. We are also investigating the possibility of using sensors to detect animal behavior and applying this to clinical practice.

Vision is an essential sensory function for both humans and animals, playing a crucial role in daily life and closely related to quality of life. Uveitis is a disease characterized by inflammation of the uveal tract within the eye. Progression of this condition can result in visual impairment or blindness. In canines, uveitis is recognized as a significant cause of vision loss, emphasizing the importance of early detection and appropriate treatment.
My research primarily focuses on elucidating the molecular mechanisms underlying the onset of uveitis, with the aim of identifying and evaluating novel therapeutic candidates. The anti-inflammatory properties of diverse chemical compounds are evaluated using research models meticulously designed with future clinical applications in mind.
The objective these studies are threefold: to establish new therapeutic strategies for uveitis; to protect visual function; and to contribute to the improvement of patients’ wuqlity of life.

To protect from viruses, animals including humans have acquired various innate immunity. However, viruses have also gotten the abilities to evade the host immune responses in order to efficiently propagate.
In the relation between viruses and host immune responses, I focus on the “programmed cell death”, which is the cell suicide to inhibit the infection to other cells, and “stress granule”, which is recently identified as the new host immune response. In the future, I’d like to investigate emerging infectious disease viruses to elucidate the viral survival-strategy against the host.

Breast tumor cells have various differentiation states, and it has been reported that clinical malignancy and prognosis vary depending on the differentiation stage. Therefore, it is very important to know the differentiation status of mammary tumors, but the mechanisms of tumor differentiation are still largely unknown. This research focuses on the function of type Ⅵ collagen in mammary tumor cell differentiation, mainly using canine mammary tumors. Many canine mammary gland tumors have luminal epithelial progenitor cell characteristics, and it is considered important to understand the differentiation mechanism of this characteristic. I am currently conducting histological and molecular biological research on the differentiation mechanism of breast tumors and related tissue morphology, focusing on various differentiation factors.

My research goal is to identify the impact of antimicrobial use in animals (farm animals & small animals) to the human population using various epidemiological methods, ranging from quantitative to molecular techniques. With the development of the sequencing technology, we will look into the whole-genome of the bacteria and microbiome derived from diverse animals and the environment. My other research interests are in developing epidemiologic data visualization and bacterial evolution analysis.
Image: Showing the prevalence of　antibiotic resistant Salmonella in cattle after the treatment with ceftiofur and chlortetracycline

The α₂-adrenoceptor agonist and opioid analgesic are useful adjunctive drugs for surgical anesthesia due to their potent analgesic properties through acting on neurons intrinsic to the spinal cord, as well as on axon terminals arising from dorsal root ganglia or from descending modulatory pathways. Their combination is known to be potentially beneficial in enhancing analgesic utility via synergistic interaction mainly at the spinal cord mediated by either intercellular or intracellular mechanisms. I am focusing on dexmedetomidine, an α₂-adrenoceptor agonist that its perioperative application is increasingly expanding in human and veterinary medicine in recent years. I am currently conducting research on interactions between dexmedetomidine and opioid on analgesic effects, as well as hemodynamics and fluid homeostasis including renal function and endocrine system, in companion animals.

Typical gallbladder diseases in dogs include biliary sludge, gallbladder mucocele, and cholelithiasis, but the pathophysiology remains unclear. I am investigating safer treatment methods by clarifying the detailed pathophysiology of canine gallbladder disease.
In addition, the progress of diagnostic imaging technology in veterinary medicine is remarkable, and I am also working on the application of these data to surgical anatomy (vascular anatomy, etc.), and using these, considering a more safer surgical methods.

Veterinary pathology is the study and elucidation of the causes of animal disease and the study of their mechanisms. There are varies of animal diseases that are recognized dependinng on the animal species, the porpose of keeping animals and anatomical and physiological charaters of animal specises.
The researchs currently focusing on:
1) Pathological study of cardiac dilation in meerkat aims to elucidate the cause of cardiac dilation with suspecting a relationship with nutrients deficiency such as vitamin E and selenium.
2) Patholocical study of dermal fungus disease in Shiro-hebi (albino of Japanese rat snake) aims to elucidate the cause of the disease.

The bone is essential for structural support of the body and protection of internal organs, and also provides mineral storage for metabolic homeostasis. Bone mass is regulated in a fine-tuned balance between bone formation and resorption, and breakdown of this balance leads to bone disorders characterized by alterd bone mass, such as osteoporosis and osteopetrosis. It has been established that osteoblasts and osteoclasts play critical roles in bone formation and resorption, respectively, and indeed dysfunction of these cells is involved in pathogenesis of alterd bone mass. I have been working on osteoclast. Recently, we reported steoclats specific actin-binding protein Profilin1 knockout (Pfn1-cKO) mice have skeletal dysplasia associated with osteopenia and Pfn1-cKO osteoclasts exhibit increased migration, indicating that Pfn1 protects mice from osteopenia and skeletal deformities by negatively regulating osteoclast migration (Kajikawa S. et al., JBMR PLUS (2018)). Now, I am working on regulatory mechanisms of osteoclast migration by Pfn1.

In mammals, auditory organ is composed of two types of hair cells, inner and outer hair cells, and various supporting cells. In contrast to the clear anatomical diversity of hair cells and supporting cells in mammals, the auditory organs of non-mammals show a simple structure in which hair cells and supporting cells are arranged in a row. I’m studying the evolution of the mammalian auditory system from a comparative anatomical perspective. In addition, I’m studying the molecules that are expressed characteristically in various types of supporting cells in order to elucidate the roles of each type of supporting cell in mammals.

Food hygiene is expected to more important due to HACCP and export of meat and marine product.
Pneumonia is a common disease in feedlot, and Mycoplasma bovis may be involved. The bacteria occur such as pneumonia, mastitis, and arthritis. Endocarditis, which causes lesions in the heart, is occasionally observed at slaughterhouses (Fig). The researches of adhesive factors for vaccine development leads to a stable supply of meat product.
Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC, STEC), Salmonella, Campylobacter,which are known to be food poisoning, are tested at the Meat Inspection Center. The study of food microbiology that have attracted attention in recent years, such as Clostridium perfringens and Listeria monocytogenes, makes to improve food safety.

The number of patients with type 2 diabetes is projected to increase from about 400 million to about 600 million by 2040, and hypertension affects about 1.4 billion people worldwide. It has also been reported that about 85% of type 2 diabetes patients develop hypertension by the age of 50, and about 50% of hypertensive patients develop type 2 diabetes, so there are many patients with both hypertension and diabetes. Functional abnormalities and structural changes in large blood vessels such as the aorta, small blood vessels such as capillaries, and lymphatic vessels are associated with the pathogenesis of hypertension and diabetes. Using genetically engineered animals, excised blood vessels and lymphatic vessels, and cultured cells, I am investigating the pathogenesis of hypertension and diabetes using molecular biological techniques, with the aim of developing new therapeutic agents.

I aim to understand and evaluate the physical and mental conditions of livestock animals from the viewpoints of physiology and behavior, and to construct a rearing environment in which livestock animals can maximize their potential. In particular, we are conducting research on the effects of temperature on livestock animals and examining ways to supply healthy, safe, and high-quality livestock products to people even under climate change caused by global warming.

I am working for research on the causes, diagnosis and treatment of dermatosis and ear diseases in companion animals (dogs, cats and exotic pet animals). Furthermore, I am focusing on research on the treatment of infestation by fleas, ticks and Demodex mites. With regard to preventive veterinary medicine, the survey on the prevalence of infectious diseases in dogs and cats and further pharmacoepidemiological studies on vaccines, prophylactics for dirofilariasis, and ectoparasiticides for dogs and cats.