Cell transplantation therapy: Hepatocyte transplantation is a treatment in which hepatocytes are harvested from donor
livers that do not meet the criteria for liver transplantation and directly transplanted into the patient's liver.
It is expected to serve as an alternative treatment to liver transplantation, but there is a limitation on the supply of
hepatocytes that can be used for transplantation. We have succeeded in developing a technique to proliferate hepatocytes in
vitro, and based on this technology, we are advancing research aimed at establishing a stable cell source for transplantation.
Gene therapy: We are conducting basic and applied research targeting liver fibrosis. Using a mouse model, we have
developed a technique to introduce genetic mutations into hepatic stellate cells, which are the direct cause of liver
fibrosis, aiming to understand the mechanisms of its onset and progression. Additionally, we are working on developing a
technique to specifically deliver genes to hepatic stellate cells and applying this to gene therapy.
Vascularization of Organoids
Organoids are three-dimensional cellular structures created in vitro, essentially miniature organs.
They are expected to be applied in regenerative medicine as alternatives to animal experiments and for use in
transplantable organs. To address the issue of oxygen deprivation during large-scale organoid construction,
research is being conducted on the development of vascular networks in tissue-like structures, such as those
found in the kidney.
