Our laboratory is led by Professor Hideyuki Okano, a world pioneer in generating iPS cells from patients with neurological disorders and applying them to disease modeling and drug discovery. Medical research is advancing rapidly, and through discussions with Professor Okano, we gain first-hand knowledge of the latest global developments while keeping our sights set on the future.
In 2025, Fujita Health University was selected as the only medical and drug discovery hub in Japan for the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology’s “Program for Forming Japan’s Peak Research Universities (J-PEAKS)”. This program aims to establish the world’s leading research base for psychiatric and neurological disorders and to create a unique academia-driven drug discovery ecosystem. Even undergraduate students in our lab can engage in daily discussions with leading specialists in stem cell biology and psychiatry under this program.

Here at Fujita, we benefit not only from access to extensive patient-derived samples and research resources, but also from an exceptionally active and collaborative research community. As one of the world’s top institutions for iPS cell–based approaches to psychiatry, our lab offers a challenging yet truly rewarding environment every day.

When I first joined, I couldn’t do any cell culture—and honestly, I didn’t even know the difference between eukaryotes and prokaryotes. Thanks to the dedicated guidance of Professor Okano and the other faculty members, I can now carry out experiments from cell culture to data analysis.
By participating in symposia and academic conferences, I have the opportunity to engage with cutting-edge scientific knowledge. Among fellow students, we constantly challenge each other by reading papers, discussing what we’ve learned, and refining our ideas together.
This lab may not feel like the “typical Fujita,” but it’s filled with the very best aspects of Fujita Health University, making it a truly unique and inspiring place to grow.