Members
Director
Associate Professor
Manabu Ozawa
Interests: Running, walking, motorcycle touring
Research theme: Mechanisms controlling spermatogenesis
Message: Our goal is to comprehensively understand how germ cells and surrounding testicular somatic cells coordinate with one another to maintain continuous spermatogenesis. We also aim to translate our findings into infertility treatment, contraceptive development, and therapeutic approaches for human diseases such as germ cell tumors.
Project Researchers
Aya Kitabayashi
Research theme: Functional analysis of stem cells and their regulatory mechanisms in development and tissue homeostasis
Message: Stem cells play essential roles in tissue and organ differentiation and morphogenesis during development. In adults, they reside in various tissues in an undifferentiated state and contribute to cell turnover and tissue repair. Dysfunction caused by aging, genetic mutations, or external stimuli is linked to disease onset and progression. I aim to deepen our molecular and cellular understanding of stem cell regulation and contribute to disease treatment and regenerative medicine.
Shino Nagata
Research theme: Mechanisms of mammalian spermatogenesis using in vitro spermatogenesis systems
Message: I study the molecular mechanisms supporting mammalian spermatogenesis, with a particular focus on temporal changes. By reproducing spermatogenesis in vitro using testis organ culture, I aim to deepen our understanding of human spermatogenesis and contribute to the development of diagnostic and therapeutic approaches for male infertility.
Technical Staff
Reiko Sakamoto
Mio Kikuchi
Generation of knockout mice by zygote electroporation
Establishment and culture of genetically modified ES cells using CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing
Generation of chimeric mice by blastocyst injection
In vitro fertilization, embryo culture, and cryopreservation of sperm and embryos
Project Specialist
Kinuyo Miyazaki
Graduate Student
Nanako Sugimoto, M2 (Graduate School of Frontier Sciences; University of Toronto alumna)
Research theme: Molecular mechanisms contributing to the maintenance of oocyte quality
Message: Oocytes are uniquely important cells that give rise to life. I study mechanisms that maintain oocyte quality, with the aim of contributing to reproductive medicine and age-related reproductive health.