RESEARCH

Academic Research Facilities

Page Index

The Near InfraRed Photo-ImmunoTherapy Research Institute

Accelerating Near InfraRed Photo-Immuno Therapy (NIR-PIT) Research Through Both Academic Expertise and Clinical Experience

The Near InfraRed Photo-Immuno Therapy (NIR-PIT) Research Institute, established in April 2022, is the first institution in Japan dedicated to NIR-PIT, a cutting-edge and innovative cancer treatment. The institute is under the leadership of Dr. Hisataka Kobayashi, Distinguished Professor and Senior Investigator at the U.S. National Institutes of Health, who pioneered the development of NIR-PIT.
As a center for both fundamental research and clinical advancement of NIR-PIT, the institute aspires to serve as the core hub for NIR-PIT research in Japan. It is equipped with state-of-the-art technologies necessary for the exploration and development of this novel therapy.
Located within the Faculty of Medicine Building on the Hirakata Campus, the institute occupies approximately 1,660 m2 and comprises several key divisions. These include the Division of Research Administration; the Division of Fundamental Technology Development, which is responsible for the creation and evaluation of novel NIR-PIT agents; the Division of Immunology, which aims to advance future antibody-based therapies and vaccine development through detailed analysis of immune responses induced by NIR-PIT; and the Division of Tumor Pathology, which conducts comparative pathological studies using tissue samples from laboratory animals and human patients treated with NIR-PIT.
We plan to build a suitable environment as the central site for NIR-PIT research by allocating appropriate personnel and further expanding our facilities and increasing our equipment to conduct collaborative research with both domestic and international institutions. It also engages in joint research initiatives with universities, research organizations, and industry partners to contribute to the advancement and practical implementation of NIR-PIT-related technologies and devices.
In addition, the NIR-PIT Center at KMU Hospital serves as the clinical unit for administering NIR-PIT. The Research Institute plays an integral role in supporting the clinical application of NIR-PIT at KMU hospital, ensuring a strong linkage between basic research and clinical practice. The use of clinical specimens obtained through treatment is considered highly valuable, and such data are expected to significantly accelerate the further development and refinement of NIR-PIT.

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The Near InfraRed Photo-Immuno Therapy Center

Accelerating Near InfraRed Photo-Immuno Therapy (NIR-PIT) Research Through Both Academic Expertise and Clinical Experience

The Near InfraRed Photo-Immuno Therapy (NIR-PIT) Center at KMU Hospital, a specialized facility dedicated to the treatment of head and neck cancer using Alluminox, was established in April 2021. The Center has since opened a dedicated outpatient department tasked with evaluating indications for NIR-PIT, administering treatment, and managing patient outcomes. Clinical treatments commenced in July 2021.
NIR-PIT is a pioneering cancer therapy that is garnering increasing attention as the fifth major modality of cancer treatment, following surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and immunotherapy. The establishment of the Center not only enables the delivery of NIR-PIT, but also facilitates the systematic collection of patient data. These efforts are expected to accelerate research aimed at enhancing treatment safety, optimizing procedural techniques, and expanding indications, with the ultimate goal of achieving health insurance coverage and broadening applicability to cancers beyond recurrent or refractory head and neck malignancies.
Through close collaboration between the KMU Hospital NIR-PIT Center and the Near InfraRed Photo-Immuno Therapy (NIR-PIT) Research Institute, we remain committed to advancing this innovative therapy and making it accessible to a greater number of cancer patients at the earliest opportunity.

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Institute of Biomedical Science

Promoting Unique and Advanced Biomedical Research with Extensive Facilities and Faculties

The Institute of Biomedical Science promotes biomedical research to explore biological phenomena, to elucidate the onset or prognosis of disease, and to develop effective treatments.
The Institute comprises the Departments of Molecular Genetics, Cell Signaling, Animal Models, Functional Neuroscience Genetics, Human Stress Response Science, Genome Analysis, Genome Editing, and Cancer Biology, and Department of Tenure-Track was also established in AY2023. Through cooperation with the Central Research Center, the Laboratory Animal Center, and the Radioisotope Research Center, a well-equipped environment for advanced medical research, including user support, has been maintained.

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Central Research Center

Shared Experimental Facilities Supporting Research at KMU

The Central Research Center is a shared experimental facility with devices ranging from general-purpose ones to the latest ones. Located on the 5th and 6th floors of the North Building of the Faculty of Medicine Building on the Hirakata Campus, the Center has open laboratory-style clinical central research center, imaging devices including confocal microscopes and electron microscopes, FCM equipments (4 cell sorters and 4 cell analyzers, including the latest cell sorter with image analysis function), mass spectrometers, biochemistry devices including next-generation sequencers and Biomolecular Interaction Analysis System, 3D printers, and a P3 laboratory. Taking into consideration of research environment changing with eras, new models are proactively introduced, and models are constantly updated. Nine staff manage research devices and support users to allow smooth access to devices. In addition, meetings of user representatives are regularly held with participation by representatives of each department for fair and democratic operations.
The Biobank Center started operation in AY 2021.

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Laboratory Animal Center

Maintaining an Appropriate Environment for Laboratory Animals

The Laboratory Animal Center provides an environment to ensure socially and scientifically appropriate animal experiments and to care for breeds, and control laboratory animals.
Even in a modern age in which life is understood at the level of molecules and cells, an analysis of individual level by using laboratory animals plays an important role in life science research.
At KMU, animal experiments also yielded many revolutionary outcomes in fields such as regenerative medicine, immunology, neuroscience, and stem cell biology. Genetically modified animals are expected to be increasingly used continuously in the future, so we will strive to further expand the facilities and equipment, and maintain and improve living conditions while paying sufficient attention to growing social awareness of the need to protect animals.

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Radioisotope Research Center

Supporting and Thoroughly Managing the Use of Radioisotopes

The Radioisotope Research Center is a shared-use facility where radioisotopes and radiation generators can be used for research purposes. It mainly consists of the Radioisotope Research Laboratory (5F) and the Gamma Ray Irradiation Room (8F) of the Faculty of Medicine Building. In addition to SPECT, CT, and X-ray fluoroscopy equipment, the center has animal care facilities in a controlled area. Researchers can use radioisotope-labeled biomolecules for molecular imaging and conduct long-term quantitative evaluations of nuclear medicine drug disposition and efficacy in the body. These capabilities support advanced radiology research.
In addition, we have obtained permission to use alpha-rayemitting nuclides (e.g., At-211 and Ac-225), which allows us to conduct animal experiments with them. We have also installed equipment such as animal image analysis software (PMOD) and ultrasound equipment to provide an environment that meets a variety of research needs.
The Center is committed to ensuring that research involving radiation is conducted safely, in compliance with all relevant regulations, and that reliable data is collected. We regularly inspect radiation equipment and are working to build and maintain an advanced, highly reliable research infrastructure from both technical and equipment perspectives.

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Clinical Research Support Center

Centralized Support for Clinical Research at Four KMU Hospitals

The Clinical Research Support Center was established in April 2015 to promote clinical research and contribute to the further development of medical care at the four KMU hospitals. The Center has a support system to advance all facets of clinical research conducted at the four KMU hospitals.
The Center consists of an administrative office and five divisions: the Education, Training and Auditing Division responsible for promoting research through education and audits; the Research Promotion Division responsible for supporting implementation of research by the CRCs; the Research Planning Division responsible for consulting and coaching on study protocols for fruitful research; the Medical Statistics Division to provide researchers with statistical knowledge ; and the Data Management Division responsible for data management and monitoring for quality control.

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iPS/Stem Cell Research Support Center

Enhancing the Research Standards for Human Pluripotential Stem Cells and Promoting Their Medical Use

The iPS/Stem Cell Research Support Center was established in April 2019 to raise the standards for research using human pluripotential stem cells (iPS cells/ES cells) and to promote their medical use. To promote, support, and develop technology for human pluripotential stem cells, the Center creates and stores disease-specific iPS cells, it provides technical guidance, and it supports the development of fundamental technologies. The Center promotes the creation of an environment for clinical researchers and joint research within and outside the university to facilitate the development of therapies for rare and intractable diseases.

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