Updated on 2025/07/09

写真a

 
TAKAHASHI Ken
 
Organization
Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Associate Professor
Position
Associate Professor
Profile

Ken Takahashi is an Associate Professor at the Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University. He was a Visiting Researcher at Harvard Medical School in the USA from 2018 to 2019. His research interests include organ-on-a-chip, cardiovascular regenerative medicine, ischemia-reperfusion injury, space medicine/biology, finite element analysis, and molecular dynamics. He conducts collaborative research projects with organizations such as UNCTAD-Okayama University (Thailand's NANOTEC), Texas A&M University in the USA, Sorbonne University in France, Strasbourg University in France, the University of Cincinnati in the USA, and the University of Medicine, Yangon in Myanmar. He has extensive experience mentoring students and international students.

He obtained his PhD degree from Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine. In the field of space medicine, he conducted research as part of the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) New Academic Areas Research project, "Integrated Understanding of New Life Control Mechanisms Unraveled from Space" (led by Astronaut Satoshi Furukawa), and collaborated with the space venture company PD Aerospace.

He serves as a council member for the Japanese Physiological Society, a representative member for the Japanese Society for Medical Engineering, a member of the Heart Working Group of the European Society of Cardiology, and the secretary-general of the Okayama Prefecture Medical Engineering Research Society. He is also an editorial board member for the international academic journals AIMS Biophysics and Pathophysiology.

He has completed an Ironman triathlon race and served as a torchbearer for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

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Degree

  • Ph. D. (Medicine) ( 2006.1   Nagoya University )

Research Interests

  • Biomedical Engineering

  • organ on a chip

  • Regenerative Medicine

  • Mechanobiology

  • Cardiovascular diseases

  • Space Medicine

  • Physiology

  • ischemia-reperfusion injury

  • Biophysics

  • myocardial infarction

Research Areas

  • Life Science / Physiology  / Physiology

  • Life Science / Biomedical engineering  / Biomedical Engineering

  • Life Science / Physiology  / Space Medicine

  • Life Science / Biomaterials  / Biomedical Engineering

  • Natural Science / Biophysics, chemical physics and soft matter physics  / Biophysics

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Education

  • Nagoya University   医学研究科   細胞情報医学専攻 神経性調節分野

    - 2006.1

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    Country: Japan

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Research History

  • Okayama University   Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences   Associate Professor

    2023.6

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  • Harvard University   Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering   Visiting Scholar

    2018 - 2019

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  • Nagoya University   Graduate School of Medicine   Assistant Professor

    2007 - 2010

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  • The Japan Foundation for Aging and Health   Research Redident

    2003.6 - 2005.3

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  • Okayama University   Graduate School of Medicine , Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences   Research Associate Professor

    2020 - 2023

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    Country:Japan

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Professional Memberships

  • Physiological Society of Japan

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  • Japanese Society for Medical and Biological Engineering

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  • European Society of Cardiology

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  • 日本病態生理学会

    2022.8

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  • Japan Society of Aerospace and Environmental Medicine

    2010

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Committee Memberships

  • Japanese Society for Medical and Biological Engineering   Representative  

    2023.4   

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    Committee type:Academic society

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  • The BME Society of Okayama Prefecture   Secretary General  

    2021.1   

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    Committee type:Academic society

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  • Pathophysiology   Editorial Board  

    2020.10   

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    Committee type:Academic society

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  • AIMS Biophysics   Editorial Board  

    2013.9   

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    Committee type:Academic society

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  • The Physiological Society of Japan   Councilor  

    2012.7   

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    Committee type:Academic society

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Papers

  • Direct Binding of Synaptopodin 2-Like Protein to Alpha-Actinin Contributes to Actin Bundle Formation in Cardiomyocytes Reviewed

    Hiroshi Yamada, Hirona Osaka, Nanami Tatsumi, Miu Araki, Tadashi Abe, Keiko Kaihara, Ken Takahashi, Eizo Takashima, Takayuki Uchihashi, Keiji Naruse, Kohji Takei

    Cells   13 ( 16 )   1373 - 1373   2024.8

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    Language:English   Publishing type:Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher:MDPI AG  

    Synaptopodin 2-like protein (SYNPO2L) is localized in the sarcomere of cardiomyocytes and is involved in heart morphogenesis. However, the molecular function of SYNPO2L in the heart is not fully understood. We investigated the interaction of SYNPO2L with sarcomeric α-actinin and actin filaments in cultured mouse cardiomyocytes. Immunofluorescence studies showed that SYNPO2L colocalized with α-actinin and actin filaments at the Z-discs of the sarcomere. Recombinant SYNPO2La or SYNPO2Lb caused a bundling of the actin filaments in the absence of α-actinin and enhanced the α-actinin-dependent formation of actin bundles. In addition, high-speed atomic force microscopy revealed that SYNPO2La directly bound to α-actinin via its globular ends. The interaction between α-actinin and SYNPO2La fixed the movements of the two proteins on the actin filaments. These results strongly suggest that SYNPO2L cooperates with α-actinin during actin bundle formation to facilitate sarcomere formation and maintenance.

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  • Human heart-on-a-chip microphysiological system comprising endothelial cells, fibroblasts, and iPSC-derived cardiomyocytes Reviewed International coauthorship International journal

    Yun Liu, Rumaisa Kamran, Xiaoxia Han, Mengxue Wang, Qiang Li, Daoyue Lai, Keiji Naruse, Ken Takahashi

    Scientific Reports   14 ( 1 )   18063 - 18063   2024.8

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    Authorship:Last author, Corresponding author   Language:English   Publishing type:Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher:Springer Science and Business Media LLC  

    DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-68275-0

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    Other Link: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-024-68275-0

  • Reconstructing heart functions on a microfuidic chip International coauthorship International journal

    Mengxue Wang, Yun Liu, Rumaisa Kamran, Xiaoxia Han, Keiji Naruse, Ken Takahashi

    The Journal of Physiological Sciences   74 ( Suppl 2 )   231 - 231   2024.5

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    Authorship:Last author, Corresponding author   Language:English   Publishing type:Research paper (other academic)  

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  • Effect of mechanical stretching stimulation on maturation of human iPS cell-derived cardiomyocytes co-cultured with human gingival fibroblasts

    Mengxue Wang, Harumi Idei, Chen Wang, Yin Liang, Yun Liu, Yusuke Matsuda, Ken Takahashi, Hiroshi Kamioka, Keiji Naruse

    bioRxiv   2023.12

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    Authorship:Corresponding author   Language:English  

    DOI: 10.1101/2023.12.15.567696

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  • Development of a human heart-on-a-chip model using induced pluripotent stem cells, fibroblasts and endothelial cells International coauthorship International journal

    Yun Liu, Rumaisa Kamran, Xiaoxia Han, Mengxue Wang, Qiang Li, Daoyue Lai, Keiji Naruse, Ken Takahashi

    bioRxiv   2023.12

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    Authorship:Last author, Corresponding author   Language:English   Publishing type:Research paper (scientific journal)  

    DOI: 10.1101/2023.12.06.569751

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Books

  • Dynamic remodeling of the heart and blood vessels: implications of health and disease

    Takahashi K, Piao H, Naruse K( Role: Joint author)

    Wiley-Blackwell  2016.12  ( ISBN:9781118966143

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    Language:English Book type:Scholarly book

    DOI: 10.1002/9781118966174.ch11

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  • Innovation of vascular engineering by mechano-medicine

    Takahashi K, Naruse K( Role: Joint author)

    Springer Japan  2016  ( ISBN:9784431548

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    Language:English Book type:Scholarly book

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  • Guyton and Hall Textbook of Medical Physiology, 11th Edition

    Takahashi K, Sokabe M( Role: Joint translator)

    Elsevier Japan  2010  ( ISBN:9784860347246

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    Language:Japanese Book type:Textbook, survey, introduction

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  • エネルギー代謝・生体エネルギー代謝

    成瀬 恵治, 高橋 賢( Role: Joint author)

    日本生体医工学会  2022.11 

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    Language:Japanese Book type:Dictionary, encyclopedia

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  • 感覚受容器

    成瀬 恵治, 高橋 賢( Role: Joint author)

    日本生体医工学会  2022.11 

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    Language:Japanese Book type:Dictionary, encyclopedia

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MISC

  • Recapitulation and Application of Cardiac Function on Heart-on-a-Chip Invited

    Chengyu Shi, Ken Takahashi

    Circulation Control   45 ( 2 )   90 - 92   2024.12

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    Authorship:Last author, Corresponding author   Language:Japanese   Publishing type:Article, review, commentary, editorial, etc. (scientific journal)  

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  • Cellular mechanism of gravity sensing Invited

    Takahashi K, Sasanami M, Osada H, Naruse K

    69 ( 2 )   106 - 109   2018.4

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    Authorship:Lead author   Language:Japanese   Publishing type:Article, review, commentary, editorial, etc. (scientific journal)  

    DOI: 10.11477/mf.2425200769

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  • Application of mechanobiological engineering to regenerative and reproductive medicine Invited

    Takahashi K, Oh H, Iribe G, Matsuura K, Naruse K

    Trans JSMBE   55 ( 4PM-Abstract )   340 - 340   2017

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    Language:Japanese   Publishing type:Research paper, summary (national, other academic conference)   Publisher:Japanese Society for Medical and Biological Engineering  

    <p>Recent advancement of mechanobiological research contributes to understanding and cure of diseases, leading to the birth of mechanomedicine. Here we introduce innovative mechano-medical technologies that pursue clinical use. In dermal regenerative medicine, we performed co-culture of dermal keratinocytes and fibroblasts with stretch stimulus, and found thickening of dermal layer and facilitated basal membrane formation. In cardiac regenerative medicine, we found that exosomes released from stem cells in response to mechanical stimulus excrete paracrine factors and micro RNAs, and thus enhance therapeutic effect of cell therapy in vivo. In reproductive medicine, we applied mechanical stimulus to fertilized eggs using a tilting embryo culture system, and confirmed enhancement of blastocyst development rate. Exhaustive gene analysis suggested that the enhancement is due to alteration of gene expression at epiblast. We continue to reveal the mechanisms of biological response to mechanical stimulus, and pursue clinical application of mechano-medical therapy.</p>

    DOI: 10.11239/jsmbe.55Annual.340

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  • Response to mechanical stimulus and cardiovascular homeostasis Invited Reviewed

    Takahashi K, Naruse K

    Clinical Calcium   26 ( 12 )   1671 - 1676   2016.11

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    Authorship:Lead author   Publishing type:Article, review, commentary, editorial, etc. (scientific journal)  

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  • iPS治療とメカニカルストレス Invited Reviewed

    高橋賢, 成瀬恵治

    ファルマシア   51 ( 11 )   1038 - 1041   2015

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    Language:Japanese   Publishing type:Article, review, commentary, editorial, etc. (scientific journal)  

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Presentations

  • Redefining Medicine with Organ Chip Science for a Better Future Invited

    Ken Takahashi

    TEDxOkayama University  2025.4.20 

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    Event date: 2025.4.20

    Presentation type:Public lecture, seminar, tutorial, course, or other speech  

    File: Flyer 04202025TEDx.pdf

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  • Recapitulating heart function using organ chip technology Invited

    Takahashi K

    The 45th Annual Meeting of Japan Society of Circulation Control in Medicine  2024.6.28  Japan Society of Circulation Control in Medicine

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    Event date: 2024.6.28 - 2024.6.29

    Language:Japanese   Presentation type:Symposium, workshop panel (nominated)  

    Venue:Tokushima  

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  • Reconstruction and functional reproduction of heart tissue through mechanosignaling on organ chips Invited

    Takahashi K

    63rd Annual Conference of Japanese Society for Medical and Biological Engineering  2024.5.24  Japanese Society for Medical and Biological Engineering

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    Event date: 2024.5.23 - 2024.5.25

    Language:Japanese   Presentation type:Symposium, workshop panel (nominated)  

    Venue:Kagoshima  

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  • Development of disease models using organ-on-a-chip Invited International conference

    Ken Takahashi

    TAMU Cardiovascular Research Institute and JSPS Mini Symposium  2023.10.26  Texas A&M University Cardiovascular Research Institute, Japan Society for the Promotion of Science

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    Event date: 2023.10.26 - 2023.10.27

    Language:English   Presentation type:Oral presentation (keynote)  

    Venue:Texas  

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  • Development of an innovative drug testing system using human organ chips Invited

    Ken Takahashi

    Research Studio 2023 Pitch Event  2023.10.21  Tsukuba Clinical Research & Development Organization

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    Event date: 2023.10.21 - 2023.10.22

    Language:English   Presentation type:Oral presentation (invited, special)  

    Venue:Tokyo  

    File: ResearhStudio2023_PitchEvent チラシ.pdf

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Industrial property rights

  • Method for producing cardiomyocytes

    Ken Takahashi, Harumi Idei, Keiji Naruse

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    Applicant:Okayama University

    Application no:特願2020-084982  Date applied:2020.5.14

    Announcement no:特開2021-177731  Date announced:2021.11.18

    Country of applicant:Domestic   Country of acquisition:Domestic

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  • Preventive/therapeutic reagent for ischemic heart diseases

    Takahashi K, Wang J, Naruse K

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    Application no:特願2012-278633  Date applied:2012.12.20

    Announcement no:特開2014-122174  Date announced:2014.7.3

    Patent/Registration no:特許第6073125号  Date issued:2017.1.13

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  • Cell incubator

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    Application no:特願2013-512445  Date applied:2012.4.26

    Patent/Registration no:特許第6074860号  Date issued:2017.1.20

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  • Centrifugal microscope

    Naruse K, Takahashi K, Morimatsu M

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    Applicant:Okayama University

    Application no:特願2016-043814  Date applied:2016.3.7

    Announcement no:特開2017-161608  Date announced:2017.9.14

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Works

  • 第13回国際バイオテクノロジー展/技術会議

    高橋 賢

    2014.5

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    低価格平面パッチクランプシステムの開発

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  • BIO tech 2014

    2014

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  • Bio Japan 2012 World Business Forum

    2012.10

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  • 第11回国際バイオテクノロジー展/技術会議

    高橋 賢, 深澤太郎, 成瀬恵治

    2012.4

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    機械刺激応答を記録可能な平面パッチクランプ装置の開発

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  • BIO tech 2012

    2012

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Awards

  • Finalist; Amazon AWS Award, PR Times Award

    2025.2   SMBC Mirai X   Human Organ-on-a-Chip

    Physiaura

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  • Top Performing Team

    2023.10   Tsukuba Clinical Research & Development Organization (T-CReDO)   Research Studio 2023

    Physiaura (Ken Takahashi)

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    Country:Japan

    Development of an innovative drug testing system using human organ chips

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  • BIPROGY Award

    2023.2   BIPROGY Inc.   The 5th Okayama Tech Plan Grand Prix

    Physiaura (Ken Takahashi)

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    Country:Japan

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  • OLBA Healthcare Prize

    2023.2   OLBA HEALTHCARE HOLDINGS, Inc.   The 5th Okayama Tech Plan Grand Prix

    Physiaura (Ken Takahashi)

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    Country:Japan

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  • Finalist

    2023.2   New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization   NEDO Technology Commercialization Program Final Examination

    Physiaura (Ken Takahashi)

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    Country:Japan

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Research Projects

  • Verification and Mechanism Elucidation of Blood-Brain Barrier Permeability of Food-Derived Functional Compounds Using Organ-on-a-Chip Systems

    2023.04 - 2025.03

    Bizen Chemical Co., Ltd.  Joint Research 

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    Authorship:Principal investigator  Grant type:Collaborative (industry/university)

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  • Practical application of heart-on-a-chip

    Grant number:JPMJST2283  2022.10 - 2023.03

    Japan Science and Technology Agency  JST START University Ecosystem Promotion Type (Supporting Creation of Startup Ecosystem in Startup Cities) 

    Ken Takahashi

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    Authorship:Principal investigator  Grant type:Competitive

    Grant amount:\1898000 ( Direct expense: \1460000 、 Indirect expense:\438000 )

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  • Elucidation of mechanism of ischemia-reperfusion injury using heart-, brain-, and kidney-on-a-chips

    Grant number:20H04518  2020.04 - 2024.03

    Japan Society for the Promotion of Science  Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research  Type (B)

    高橋 賢

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    Authorship:Principal investigator 

    Grant amount:\17810000 ( Direct expense: \13700000 、 Indirect expense:\4110000 )

    本課題は「ヒトの心筋梗塞、脳梗塞、および移植時の臓器障害に共通する病態メカニズムは存在するか」を核心をなす学術的な問いとして研究を行なっている。この共通の病態メカニズムに、細胞に発現しているイオンチャネルである一過性受容器電位チャネルサブタイプ M4 (TRPM4)の活動が関与していると仮定している。
    昨年度までの研究により、ヒトiPS細胞のTRPM4遺伝子をCRISPR/Cas9によりノックアウトした株の作成に成功した。この細胞を、心筋など様々な細胞に分化誘導することにより、TRPM4チャネルの活動をなくした状態で心筋梗塞、脳梗塞、および移植時の臓器障害に共通する虚血再灌流障害の程度を評価することが可能になる。
    心臓チップに関してはヒトiPS由来心筋細胞、線維芽細胞、および血管内皮細胞から成る心臓チップの開発に成功した。具体的には、iPS心筋細胞は自発的な収縮を示し、ノルアドレナリン投与に対し濃度依存的な心拍数の上昇を示した。さらに、ライブイメージングにより心筋細胞内のカルシウムイオンレベルの測定に成功した。その結果、iPS心筋の収縮は不整脈の兆候を示さず同期していることが明らかとなった。
    腎臓チップに関しては、近位尿細管細胞と血管内皮細胞から成る腎臓チップを開発した。この腎臓チップでは、生体で生理的に見られる血管側から尿細管側へのグルコースの取り込みが確認された。
    これらの成果により、Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine誌などで論文6報、欧州心臓病学会などで学会発表9件を行なった(招待講演3件、国際学会2件)。

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  • Elucidation of the mechanism of arrhythmia in myocardial infarction in an organ-on-a-chip

    Grant number:17KK0168  2018 - 2020

    Japan Society for Promotion of Science  Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research  Fund for the Promotion of Joint International Research (Fostering Joint International Research)

    Takahashi K

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    Authorship:Principal investigator  Grant type:Competitive

    Grant amount:\14430000

    The original one-year schedule was extended by four months, and research on ischemia-reperfusion injury was conducted using the organ-on-a-chip in the laboratory of Professor Donald E. Ingber of the Wyss Institute at Harvard University. I acquired techniques for organ-on-a-chip research and formed an international research network.
    After returning to Japan, my research team succeeded in developing a human heart-on-a-chip using human iPS-derived cardiomyocytes under co-culture with human fibroblasts and human vascular endothelial cells.
    Furthermore, we succeeded in knocking out TRPM4 channels in human iPS cells by genome editing using CRISPR/Cas9. This paved the way for investigating the involvement of this channel in the development of myocardial infarction.

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  • Design of medical criteria for travelers of suborbital space flight

    Grant number:7261600139  2016.09 - 2019.08

    PD Aerospace, LTD  Joint Research 

    Takahashi K

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    Authorship:Principal investigator  Grant type:Collaborative (industry/university)

    Grant amount:\112234

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Other research activities

  • Tokyo 2020 Olympics - Torchbearer

    2020.01
    -
    2021.08

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  • Ironman Triathlete

    2006.12

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    Finished an Ironman Triathlon race (Western Australia, 2006)

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  • JAXA有人閉鎖実験 完遂

    2004.02

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    2004年2月25日から3月5日までつくば宇宙センターで行われた第2回JAXA有人閉鎖実験に被験者として参加し、完遂

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Class subject in charge

  • Practicals: Cardiovascular Physiology (2024academic year) special  - その他

  • Research Projects: Cardiovascular Physiology (2024academic year) special  - その他

  • Research Projects and Practicals: Cardiovascular Physiology I (2024academic year) special  - その他

  • Lecture and Research Projects: Cardiovascular Physiology I (2024academic year) special  - その他

  • Research Projects and Practicals: Cardiovascular Physiology II (2024academic year) special  - その他

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Social Activities

  • Robotic Project of Elementary School Students

    Role(s):Advisor, Informant

    Elementary School at Westford, MA, USA  2018.11

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    Audience: Schoolchildren

    Type:Research consultation

    Mentoring elementary school students (Westford, MA) for a robotic project about a solution to muscle atrophy in space.

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  • Seminar: How does space environment change your body?

    Role(s):Lecturer

    Takatsuki High School/Junior High School, The Biophysical Society of Japan  Takatsuki High School/Junior High School  2018.1.31

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    Audience: Junior students, High school students

    Type:Visiting lecture

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  • Obesity, cancer, and thin tube - health and disease controlled by blood vessel

    Role(s):Lecturer

    Frompage; Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology  2015 Dream Navigator Lecture live  Intex Osaka  2015.6.20

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    Audience: High school students

    Type:Lecture

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  • Publons Reviewer

    Role(s):Advisor, Report writing

    Clarivate Analytics  2014

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    Audience: Researchesrs, Scientific

    Type:Newspaper, magazine

    Our mission is to speed up research by harnessing the power of peer review.

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  • JAXAリーダーズセミナー

    Role(s):Lecturer

    JAXA  名古屋市・大同工業大学  2007.11.13 - 2007.11.14

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    Audience: Teachers, General

    Type:Seminar, workshop

    東海地区の宇宙教育リーダーを対象とした「JAXAリーダーズセミナー」に参加、「宇宙教育の理念」と「宇宙と人間の身体」の2題を講演

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Media Coverage

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Academic Activities