RESEARCH
Research
Tool Development
Unraveling the “here and now” of biological activity with nucleic acid sensors
We are developing technologies that utilize nucleic acids with molecular recognition capabilities, such as aptamers and riboswitches, to detect the “where” and “when” of specific molecules in living systems in real time. This enables the visualization of dynamic biological phenomena that were previously difficult to capture, providing new analytical approaches for understanding the mechanisms underlying dynamic biological processes.
Pharmaceutical development
The potential of new drugs brought about by RNA hacking
RNA hacking, which we developed, is an innovative technology that artificially alters the three-dimensional structure of target mRNA to control protein translation. This mechanism can form the basis of next-generation therapies that overcome the challenges faced by existing nucleic acid drugs. By selectively controlling the function of target genes while suppressing side effects, this technology is expected to offer a new approach to diseases that have been difficult to treat.