2019年度TAMAGO採択課題

Creation of next-generation medical tools through the fusion of veterinary medicine and biotechnology

Development of AI-based data analysis methods for wildlife information

Creation of environmentally friendly materials using unused waste biomass

Creation of next-generation medical tools through the fusion of veterinary medicine and biotechnology

 
Principal Investigator: Professor Tomoko Yoshino

(Institute of Engineering, Division of Biotechnology and Life Science)

 "Next Generation Medical Tool Creation Team"

Through collaboration between veterinary researchers and bioengineering researchers, we aim to create a new interdisciplinary field that captures life phenomena from the dynamic transitions of multicellular populations at the organ and organ level. We would like to use three-dimensional mini-organs, called 3D organoids, to clarify the cell lineage from single cells to cancer tissue formation and set it as the global standard for cancer tissue models. Our bioengineering field is a world leader in single-cell analysis of cancer cells. Our veterinary field has the technology to create three-dimensional organoids and a pathological diagnosis system, and has the advantage of being able to create unique and diverse organoids from animals visiting the hospital. In this research, we hope to develop fusion research for the health of both humans and animals, and to lead to the elucidation of the mechanisms of diseases for which there is currently no cure and the development of therapeutic drugs.

Members of the "Next Generation Medical Tool Creation Team"

Development of AI-based data analysis methods for wildlife information

 
Principal Investigator: Associate Professor Shinsuke Koike

(Institute of Agriculture, Division of Environment Conservation)

 "Wildlife Data Science Research Team"

In Japan, conflicts between wild animals and human activities occur almost daily, and the damage to agriculture and forestry is particularly severe, calling for the creation of a new wildlife management system. Meanwhile, advances in sensor technology and internet environments have made it possible to obtain large-scale data on wild animal movements and biological information. In this project, we will develop data analysis techniques using AI (artificial intelligence) to analyze wild animal behavior and biological information, and apply these techniques to wildlife management. We aim to understand and elucidate the ecology of wild animals as mathematical models, and to "visualize the ecology of wild animals" by predicting their behavior and elucidating their ecology. In Japan, where the population is declining and aging, we hope to develop efficient and labor-saving measures to prevent conflicts with wild animals.

Members of the Wildlife Data Science Research Team

Creation of environmentally friendly materials using unused waste biomass

 
Principal Investigator: Associate Professor Shinji Kanehashi

(Institute of Engineering, Division of Applied Chemistry)

 "Green Products Creation Research Team"

To address the worsening environmental problems of global warming and waste plastic pollution, it is important to switch from petroleum resources to renewable resources. In this project, we will develop environmentally functional materials that can effectively utilize unused resources abundant in Southeast Asia. First, we will focus on the nut shells that are generated annually in the cashew nut industry, and aim to establish advanced and effective utilization technologies for the shells and the oil contained in them (basic monomers for chemical products, functional polymers, biofuels, etc.). Furthermore, we will aim to expand and integrate unused resources generated from the main local industries of natural rubber, palm, rice cultivation, sugar cane, etc., and contribute to education and science and technology support and the creation of a circular society toward the achievement of the SDGs through international joint research and personnel exchanges with emerging countries.

Members of the "Green Products Creation Research Team"