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INSTITUTE FOR CHEMICAL RESEARCH

Director: TOKITOH, Norihiro, D.Sc.

Vice-Director: SATO, Naoki, D.Sc.

Vice-Director: WATANABE, Hiroshi, D.Sc.

Uji, Kyoto 611-0011, JAPAN

Tel. +81-774-38-3344

Fax. +81-774-38-3014

http://www.kuicr.kyoto-u.ac.jp/

 

 

   The Special Chemical Laboratory was set up at the Kyoto Imperial University, College of Science to study and produce salvarsan in 1915. The Institute for Chemical Research, which was established through the expansion of this facility as a "comprehensive research institute for chemistry" in 1926, celebrated its 80th anniversary in 2006.

   The basic policy of the Institute for Chemical Research is "freedom of research", which is not restricted to only chemistry; the scope of our research expands into physics, biology, and bioinformatics, in which we have achieved a number of milestones. As a result, this institute has developed into a large-scale research organization with 107 faculty members and 230 graduate students engaged in research activities in 31 laboratories supervised by full-time professors and five laboratories supervised by visiting professors, which are divided into three centers and five research divisions. Currently, each division (i.e., laboratory) of the Institute for Chemical Research acts as a cooperative chair for 13 majors in 7 graduate schools: science, engineering, pharmaceutical sciences, agriculture, medicine, informatics, and human and environmental studies. The ideas that underlie this unique "multidisciplinary community" were introduced at the time when the institute was established some 82 years ago.

   One can think of the Institute for Chemical Research as a kind of department store or a something-for-everyone type of institute. Each part of the institute, however, cooperates flexibly, and is committed to the creation of pioneering new fields. Typical examples are the laboratories related to bioinformatics, which were established and developed in this way. These laboratories now serve as the Center of Excellence that leads the world in the field of bioinformatics. We can say with confidence that a cooperative framework, which offers positions or maintenance and repair expenses when required, has firmly taken root at the Institute for Chemical Research. This genuine cooperative framework operates not with a top-down approach but from the bottom up. It serves as one of the essential intangible assets for energetic research and education activities at a corporate university.

   Several years ago, we discussed the vision which the Institute for Chemical Research should rely upon. We realized that the idea that led to the establishment of the Institute 82 years ago, which was stated to excel in the investigation of basic principles of chemistry and chemical application, clearly and aptly summarizes what the institute is trying to accomplish. We therefore, decided to carry on this vision and now we are eager to move forward at the Institute for the Chemical Research. We have interpreted "special matters" to mean pioneering, state-of-the-art, interdisciplinary, and integrated research programs. We are able to perform our duties as an essential partner for the graduate schools by aggressively promoting research and education that are not addressed well at other undergraduate and graduate schools. The vision governing the Institute for Chemical Research was that the institute should perform excellent, freethinking research regardless of whether it is basic or applied; this is an excellent insight into what represents the true nature of research.

   Through various activities including the exchange of postgraduate students with overseas institutes, the number of postgraduate students has grown significantly. We are confident that many of these students will become leading researchers in the future. The more we promote interdisciplinary collaboration, the more we can convey the characteristics of the Institute for Chemical Research to other institutions abroad. We are committed to promote our research in collaboration with outstanding researchers inside the Institute within the university, across Japan, and throughout the world.

 

ORGANIZATION

 

RESEARCH DIVISIONS

  Synthetic Chemistry

  Materials Chemistry

  Biochemistry

  Environmental Chemistry

  Multidisciplinary Chemistry

RESEARCH CENTERS

  Advanced Research Center for Beam Science

  International Research Center for Elements Science

  Bioinformatics Center

RESEARCH FACILITY

  Supercomputer Laboratory

 

NUMBER OF ACADEMIC STAFF

  Professor                                            28

  Professor (visiting)                             5

  Associate Professor                           24

  Associate Professor (visiting)            4

  Assistant Professor                         39

  Program-Specific Assistant Professor           6

 

NUMBER OF GRADUATE STUDENTS ENGAGED IN THESIS WORK AT THE INSTITUTE

Master's Course                                            139

Doctoral Course                                            85

 

PUBLICATION

  The Institute published its own memoir, Annual Report of the Institute for Chemical Research, Kyoto University, and distributes this to about 500 universities, institutes, and other institutions in Japan and overseas.

 

ACTIVITIES

 

DIVISION OF SYNTHETIC CHEMISTRY

 

ORGANOELEMENT CHEMISTRY

(Laboratory in the Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science)

http://boc.kuicr.kyoto-u.ac.jp/www/index-e.html

Professor

TOKITOH, Norihiro, D.Sc. (Univ. of Tokyo), Organoelement Chemistry, Organometallic Chemistry,

Associate Professor

NAKAMURA, Kaoru, D.Sc. (Kyoto Univ.), Bioorganic Chemistry,

Assistant Professors

SASAMORI, Takahiro, D.Sc. (Kyushu Univ.), Organoelement Chemistry, Organometallic Chemistry,

MIZUHATA, Yoshiyuki, D.Sc. (Kyoto Univ.), Organoelement Chemistry, Organometallic Chemistry,

 

  Organic chemistry has been developed as that of second-row elements such as carbon, oxygen, and nitrogen so far, while the synthesis and isolation of the heavier congeners of typical organic molecules as stable compounds have been one of "dreams" for organic chemists.  Our main research interest is the elucidation of the similarities and differences in structures and reactivities between organic compounds and the corresponding heavier congeners.  These studies are interesting from the standpoints of not only fundamental chemistry but also opening the way to more extensive application of main group chemistry.  Organic synthesis mediated by biocatalysts is also studied.

 

STRUCTURAL ORGANIC CHEMISTRY

(Laboratory in the Department of Energy and Hydrocarbon Chemistry, Graduate School of Engineering)

http://hydrogen.kuicr.kyoto-u.ac.jp/ kouzou.html

Professor

MURATA, Yasujiro, D.Eng. (Kyoto Univ.), Organic Chemistry,

Assistant Professor

MURATA, Michihisa, D.Eng. (Kyoto Univ.), Organic Chemistry,

 

  Fundamental studies are being conducted for creation of new functional materials with novel structures and properties.  The major subjects are: organic synthesis of endohedral fullerenes by the use of molecular surgery technique; studies on properties of small molecules encapsulated in a sub-nano space; synthesis of new redox-active and functional -systems; organo-chemical transformation of fullerenes, specifically generation of alkylated fullerenyl cations and their application for synthesis of functional materials.

 

SYNTHETIC ORGANIC CHEMISTRY

(Laboratory in the Division of Physical and Organic Chemistry, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences)

http://fos.kuicr.kyoto-u.ac.jp/

Professor

KAWABATA, Takeo, D.Pharm.Sci. (Kyoto Univ.), Organic Chemistry, Asymmetric Synthesis,

Associate Professor

FURUTA, Takumi, D.Pharm.Sci. (Kyoto Univ.), Organic Chemistry, Chemical Biology,

Assistant Professor

YOSHIMURA, Tomoyuki, D.Pharm.Sci. (Tokushima Univ.), Organic Chemistry, Total Synthesis,

 

  Research in this laboratory focuses on molecular chirality.  Programs are active in the areas of asymmetric synthesis based on "memory of chirality", organocatalysis for selective reactions, synthesis of unusual amino acids, azahelicenes and novel nitrogen heterocycles, total synthesis of biologically active products, visualization of molecular information by functional phenolphthaleins, and the structural and functional investigation of D,L-oligoesters, D,L-oligopeptides, and homochiral oligonaphthalenes.

 

ADVANCED INORGANIC SYNTHESIS

 

DIVISION OF MATERIALS CHEMISTRY

 

CHEMISTRY OF POLYMER MATERIALS

(Laboratory in the Department of Polymer Chemistry, Graduate School of Engineering)

http://www.cpm.kuicr.kyoto-u.ac.jp/

Professor

TSUJII, Yoshinobu, D.Eng. (Kyoto Univ.), Polymer Chemistry,

Assistant Professors

OHNO, Kohji, D.Eng. (Kyoto Univ.), Polymer Chemistry,

GOTO, Atsushi, D.Eng. (Kyoto Univ.), Polymer Chemistry,

 

  Kinetic and mechanistic analyses are made for better understandings of the chemical and physicochemical reactions occurring in polymerization systems and for better routes to the synthesis of well-defined polymers.  By various polymerization techniques, in particular, living polymerizations, new well-defined polymers or polymer assemblies are prepared, and their structure/properties relationships are precisely analyzed.  Projects in progress include: (1) Kinetics and mechanisms of living radical polymerization. (2) Synthesis of new polymeric materials by living polymerizations and their structure/properties studies. (3) Synthesis, properties, and applications of high-density polymer brushes.

 

POLYMER CONTROLLED SYNTHESIS

(Laboratory in the Department of Polymer Chemistry, Graduate School of Engineering)

http://www.scl.kyoto-u.ac.jp/~yamago/index.html

Professor

YAMAGO, Shigeru, D.Sc. (Tokyo Inst. of Tech.), Polymer Chemistry, Organic Chemistry,

Associate Professor

TSUJI, Masaki, D.Eng. (Kyoto Univ.), Polymer Physical Chemistry,

Assistant Professors

TOSAKA, Masatoshi, D.Eng. (Kyoto Univ.), Polymer Physical Chemistry,

NAKAMURA, Yasuyuki, D.Sc. (Kyoto Univ.), Organic Chemistry,

 

  Our research program focuses on the development of new synthetic methods, which enable precise control of polymers in terms of their size and structure. Our attention is especially directed to control of reactive carbon species, such as carbon centered radicals and carbocations for the precision synthesis. The research area covers from basic research, such as design and synthesis of precursors for reactive intermediates and mechanistic studies, to applied research, such as development of polymer functions. We also study various polymer condensed states by both static and dynamic methods to understand the relation of physical properties and structures.  

 

INORGANIC PHOTONICS MATERIALS

(Laboratory in the Department of Molecular Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering)

http://noncry.kuicr.kyoto-u.ac.jp/

Professor

YOKO, Toshinobu, D.Eng. (Tohoku Univ.), Hybrid Amorphous Materials,

Associate Professor

TAKAHASHI, Masahide, D.Sc. (Kobe Univ.), Optelectronics Materials,

Assistant Professor

TOKUDA, Yomei, D.Eng. (Kyoto Univ.), Glass Structure, Low-Melting Glass,

 

  We are studying on the preparation and characterization of new functional, especially photonics-related inorganic materials.  Glasses and ceramics are the most important photonics materials, in which we are very interested.  Our major research subjects are in the followings: (1) Synthesis of novel organic-inorganic hybrid low-melting glasses. (2) Structural studies of glasses. (3) Development of optical micro devices utilizing photorefractive effect etc.

 

 

NANOSPINTRONICS

(Laboratory in the Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science)

http://ssc1.kuicr.kyoto-u.ac.jp/indexj.html

Professor

ONO, Teruo, D.Sc. (Kyoto Univ.), Solid State Physics,

Associate Professor

KOBAYASHI, Kensuke, D.Sc. (Univ. of Tokyo), Solid State Physics,

Assistant Professor

KASAI, Shinya, D.Sc. (Keio Univ.), Solid State Physics,

Program-Specific Assistant Professor (Creative Scientific Research)

CHIBA, Daichi, D. Eng. (Tohoku Univ.), Solid State Physics,

 

  The conventional electronics utilizes only the 'electric charge' of electrons.  On the other hand, the conventional magnetic devices utilize only the 'spin' of electrons.  Contrary to them, a new field of electronics called spintronics, in which both 'charge' and 'spin' of electrons are utilized in solid-state devices, emerged and has been rapidly developing.  We are searching for new functional materials which lead to developments of novel spintronic devices by using fabrication techniques such as film growth in units of atom and electron-beam lithography with a resolution of several tenth nanometers.

 

DIVISION OF BIOCHEMISTRY

 

BIOFUNCTIONAL DESIGN-CHEMISTRY

(Laboratory in the Division of Life Sciences, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences)

http://www.scl.kyoto-u.ac.jp/~bfdc/index.html

Professor

FUTAKI, Shiroh, D.Pharm.Sci. (Kyoto Univ.), Biochemistry,

Assistant Professors

IMANISHI, Miki, D.Pharm.Sci. (Kyoto Univ.), Biochemistry,

NAKASE, Ikuhiko, D.Pharm.Sci. (Kyoto Univ.), Biochemistry,

 

  The ultimate goal of our research is the regulation of cellular functions by designed peptides and proteins. Current projects include "Development of membrane permeable peptide vectors", "Creation of novel zinc finger peptides with desired DNA binding characteristics", and "Design of functional peptides responsive to external signals".

 

CHEMISTRY OF MOLECULAR BIOCATALYSTS

(Laboratory in the Division of Applied Life Sciences, Graduate School of Agriculture)

http://biofun.kuicr.kyoto-u.ac.jp/index-j.html

Professor

HIRATAKE, Jun, D.Agr. (Kyoto Univ.), Bioorganic Chemistry,

Assistant Professor

SHIMIZU, Bun-ichi, D.Agr. (Kyoto Univ.), Phytochemistry,

 

  Our research fields are the bioorganic chemistry of biocatalysts (enzyme chemistry) and organic chemistry of life science: the physiological roles of specific enzymes as well as their reaction mechanisms and structures.  Current research subjects are: 1) Development of intermediate analogue enzyme inhibitors of acyl-activating enzyme superfamily that plays pivotal roles in plant hormone homeostasis and secondary metbolite biosynthesis. 2) Development of mechanism-based inhibitors of -glutamyltranspeptidase and their applications. 3) Studies on the activation/inactivation processes of plant hormones. 4) Molecular mechanism of regulation of coumarin biosynthesis in plants.

 

MOLECULAR BIOLOGY

(Laboratory in the Department of Biophysics, Graduate School of Science)

http://molbio.kuicr.kyoto-u.ac.jp/mbl/index.html

Associate Professors

SUGISAKI, Hiroyuki, D.Sc. (Kyoto Univ.), Biochemistry,

AOYAMA, Takashi, D.Sc. (Kyoto Univ.), Molecular Biology,

Assistant Professor

TSUGE, Tomohiko, D.Sc. (Univ. of Tokyo), Molecular Biology,

 

  This laboratory aims at clarifying the framework of regulatory network between genetic programs and environmental stress responses through the study on structure-function relationships of genetic materials and cellular proteins in higher plants.  The current major subjects are the two-component response regulators involved in cytokinin signaling, roles of phospholipid signaling in cell morphogenesis, regulatory function of COP9 signalosome, and cyclines and CDKs controlling cell cycle.

 

CHEMICAL BIOLOGY

(Laboratory in the Division of Molecular Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine)

http://www.scl.kyoto-u.ac.jp/~uesugi/

Professor

UESUGI, Motonari, D.Pharm.Sci. (Kyoto Univ.), Chemical Biology,

Assistant Professors

KAWAZOE, Yoshinori, D.Med.Sc. (Kyoto Univ.), Molecular and Cellular Biology,

SHIMOGAWA, Hiroki, D.Sc. (Tsukuba Univ.), Natural Product and Synthetic Chemistry

 

In human history, small organic molecules have been utilized for improving human health and for revealing secrets of life. Discovery or design of small organic molecules with unique biological activity permits small-molecule-initiated exploration of biology and further understanding of human diseases. Our laboratory has been discovering small organic molecules that modulate gene expression and cellular signaling to use them as tools to explore biology.

 

DIVISION OF ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMISTRY

 

MOLECULAR MATERIALS CHEMISTRY

(Laboratory in the Department of Molecular Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering)

http://molmat.kuicr.kyoto-u.ac.jp/index-e.html

Associate Professor

KAJI, Hironori, D.Eng. (Kyoto Univ.), Materials Science,

Assistant Professor

HIRAI, Asako, D.Eng. (Kyoto Univ.), Polymer Chemistry,

 

  Structure and dynamics of polymers are investigated in detail in different states by solid-state NMR and other analytical methods to develop environmentally friendly high-performance or high-functionality materials.  Our main subjects are: (1) Detailed characterization and molecular design of highly organized polymer materials. (2) Elucidation of the correlation between static/dynamic structure and light-emitting/ carrier-transporting properties in light-emitting amorphous materials. (3) Creation of new functionalized materials by using hierarchical structure of bacterial cellulose or by combining cellulose microfibrils and inorganic nanotubes.

 

HYDROSPHERIC ENVIRONMENT ANALYTICAL

CHEMISTRY

(Laboratory in the Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science)

http://inter3.kuicr.kyoto-u.ac.jp/scope.html

Professor

SOHRIN, Yoshiki, D.Sc. (Kyoto Univ.), Hydrospheric and Analytical Chemistry,

Associate Professor

UMETANI, Shigeo, D.Sc. (Kyoto Univ.), Analytical Chemistry,

Assistant Professors

NORISUYE, Kazuhiro, D.Sc. (Kyoto Univ.), Marine and Analytical Chemistry,

FIRDAUS, Mochamad Lutfi, D.Sc. (Kyoto Univ.), Marine and Analytical Chemistry,

 

  Research activities are concerned with geochemistry, oceanography, limnology and analytical chemistry, which are important basic sciences in order to realize the sustainable society.  Major research subjects are as follows: (1) Development of analytical methods for trace elements and isotopes in the hydrosphere. (2) Biogeochemistry of trace elements and isotopes in the hydrosphere. (3) Fe-uptake mechanism of phytoplankton. (4) Development of novel ion recognition systems.

 

SOLUTION AND INTERFACE CHEMISTRY

(Laboratory in the Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science)

http://www.scl.kyoto-u.ac.jp/~nakahara/

Professor

NAKAHARA, Masaru, D.Sc. (Kyoto Univ.), Physical Chemistry,

Associate Professor

MATUBAYASI, Nobuyuki, Ph.D. (Rutgers Univ.), Physical Chemistry,

Assistant Professor

WAKAI, Chihiro, D.Sc. (Kyoto Univ.), Physical Chemistry,

 

The structure, dynamics, and reaction of solutions with fine tenability and/or with nano-scale inhomogeneity are investigated by NMR spectroscopy, computer simulation, and theory of solutions.  Solvation is systematically elucidated for ionic liquids and supercritical fluids from both the static and dynamic viewpoints, and noncatalytic reactions of environmental importance are developed.  The structural organization and fluctuation and the molecular binding are investigated for soft, self-organizing systems such as micelle, protein, and lipid membrane.

 

MOLECULAR MICROBIAL SCIENCE

(Laboratory in the Division of Applied Life Sciences, Graduate School of Agriculture)

http://www.kuicr.kyoto-u.ac.jp/labos/bm2/Pages/lab.html

Professor

ESAKI, Nobuyoshi, D.Agr. (Kyoto Univ.), Molecular Microbiology,

Associate Professor

KURIHARA, Tatsuo, D.Eng. (Kyoto Univ.), Molecular Microbiology,

Assistant Professor

MIHARA, Hisaaki, D.Agr. (Kyoto Univ.), Molecular Microbiology,

 

  Structure and function of biocatalysts, in particular, pyridoxal enzymes and enzymes acting on xenobiotic compounds, are studied to elucidate the dynamic aspects of the fine mechanism for their catalysis in the light of recent advances in gene technology, protein engineering and crystallography.  In addition, the metabolism and biofunction of sulfur, selenium, and some other trace elements are investigated.  Development and application of new biomolecular functions of microorganisms are also studied to open the door to new fields of biotechnology.  For example, molecular structures and functions of psychrophilic enzymes and their application are under investigation.

 

DIVISION OF MULTIDISCIPLINARY CHEMISTRY

 

POLYMER MATERIALS SCIENCE

(Laboratory in the Department of Polymer Chemistry, Graduate School of Engineering)

http://www.scl.kyoto-u.ac.jp/~kanaya2/index.html

Professor

KANAYA, Toshiji, D.Eng. (Kyoto Univ.), Polymer Physical Chemistry,

Associate Professor

NISHIDA, Koji, D.Eng. (Kyoto Univ.), Polymer Physical Chemistry,

Assistant Professor

MATSUBA, Go, D.Eng. (Kyoto Univ.), Polymer Physical Chemistry,

 

  The structure and molecular motion of polymer substances are studied using mainly scattering methods such as neutron, X-ray and light with intention of solving fundamentally important problems in polymer science.  The main projects are: the mechanism of structural development in crystalline polymers from the glassy or molten state to spherulites; the dynamics in disordered polymer materials including low-energy excitation or excess heat capacity at low temperatures, glass transition and local segmental motions; formation processes and structure of polymer gels; the structure and molecular motion of polyelectrolyte solutions; the structure of polymer liquid crystals.

 

MOLECULAR RHEOLOGY

(Laboratory in the Department of Molecular Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering)

http://rheology.minority.jp/jp/

Professor

WATANABE, Hiroshi, D.Sc. (Osaka Univ.), Molecular Rheology,

Associate Professor

MASUBUCHI, Yuichi, D.Eng. (Nagoya Univ.), Polymer Rheology,

Assistant Professor

MATSUMIYA, Yumi, D.Eng. (Kyoto Univ.), Polymer Physical Chemistry,

Program-Specific Assistant Professor (Industry-Govern-

ment-Academia Collaboration)

UNEYAMA, Takashi, D.Sc. (Kyoto Univ.), Polymer Physics,

 

  Rheology is a research field of investigating a relationship between the strain and stress of materials.  How do the molecules/structures in a given material deform to raise the stress and how do they move to induce the stress relaxation?  From a molecular view summarized in these questions, this research lab combines viscoelastic, optical, dielectric, scattering, and other experimental methods and simulation techniques to investigate the rheological properties and molecular dynamics of soft materials including polymeric liquids, organic glasses, emulsions, and suspensions.

 

MOLECULAR AGGREGATION ANALYSIS

(Laboratory in the Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science)

http://www.kuicr.kyoto-u.ac.jp/labos/is2/scope.html

Professor

SATO, Naoki, D.Sc. (Univ. of Tokyo), Organic Solid-State Chemistry,

Associate Professor

ASAMI, Koji, D.Sc. (Kyoto Univ.), Biophysical Chemistry,

Assistant Professor

YOSHIDA, Hiroyuki, D.Sc. (Univ. of Tokyo), Physical Chemistry,

 

  Electronic structure of the states below and above the energy gap in organic solids is investigated using photoemission and inverse photoemission spectroscopies, respectively, to elucidate the correlation with their molecular aggregation forms and electronic properties.  Synthetic studies in this connection aiming at novel molecular aggregates are also carried out.  Further, electrical and dielectric properties of biological materials and systems, such as biomembranes, cells and ion-channels of peptides in lipid bilayers, are studied in terms of biophysics, to elucidate the correlation between their functions and structures.

 

SUPRAMOLECULAR BIOLOGY

(Laboratory in the Department of Biophysics, Graduate School of Science)

http://www.scl.kyoto-u.ac.jp/~umelab/index.htm

Professor

UMEDA, Masato, D.Pharm.Sci. (Univ. of Tokyo), Biological Chemistry,

Associate Professor

IKENOUCHI, Junichi, D.Med.Sc. (Kyoto Univ.), Cell Biology.

Assistant Professor

KATO, Utako, D.Sc. (Ochanomizu Univ.), Cell Biology,

 

  We have undertaken the molecular biology, cell biology and behavioral genetics approaches to study the role of biological membrane systems, especially the principal structural element of all membranes, lipid molecules, in controlling animal morphogenesis and behavior.  Current research topics are as follows: (1) Identification of a series of proteins that regulate molecular motion of lipid molecules and elucidation of their role in cellular and animal morphogenesis. (2) Establishment of a series of Drosophila mutants with aberrant temperature preference (atsugari, samugari, etc) and elucidation of the molecular relationship between the temperature-responding membrane systems and animal behaviors.

 

ADVANCED RESEARCH CENTER FOR BEAM SCIENCE

 

PARTICLE BEAM SCIENCE

(Laboratory in the Department of Physics II, Graduate School of Science)

http://wwwal.kuicr.kyoto-u.ac.jp/www/index-e.htmlx

Professor

NODA, Akira, D.Sc. (Kyoto Univ.), Accelerator and Beam Physics,

Associate Professor

IWASHITA, Yoshihisa, D.Sc. (Kyoto Univ.), Microwave and Beam Physics,

Assistant Professor

SOUDA, Hikaru, Accelerator and Beam Physics,

 

  The research activities of the Laboratory cover the improvement of beam characteristics in accelerator and the application of the accelerators and beams to fundamental research and related applications such as cancer therapy and so on.

  The current research subjects of members of the laboratory are: (1) Research and development of high-efficiency beam-acceleration to realize compact accelerators with use of laser plasma interaction and reduction of energy spread of the laser-produced ions by phase rotation. Downsizing of accelerator for cancer therapy is also studied. (2) Approaches to crystalline beam with beam cooling and investigation related to phase transition.  (3) Research with the use of the electron beam, interaction of the electrons with nuclei captured inside of a trap set in the storage ring by collaboration with RIKEN and calibration of various detectors such as oriented for neutrino detection at T2K experiments using output beam from the electron linac. (4) Beam delivery system for Linear Collider: Final focus lenses with super strong permanent magnets and superconducting accelerating cavity. (5) Satellite pulsed tiny neutron source and neutron optics with super strong permanent magnet devices, skin effect with thin conducting layers and study on muon accelerators as a neutrino factory.

 

LASER MATTER INTERACTION SCIENCE

(Laboratory in the Department of Physics II, Graduate School of Science)

http://laser.kuicr.kyoto-u.ac.jp/index_eng.html

Professor

SAKABE, Shuji, D.Eng. (Osaka Univ.), Laser Plasma Physics, Laser Applications,

Associate Professor

HASHIDA, Masaki, D.Eng. (Osaka Univ.), Laser Engineering, Laser Applications,

Assistant Professor

TOKITA, Shigeki, D.Eng. (Osaka Univ.), Laser Engineering, Laser Application,

 

  The physics of intense laser-matter interaction and its applications are studied, and intense short pulse lasers and their related technology are developed.  Generation of intense radiations (electrons, ions, x-rays, THz, and so on) with intense lasers and their applications to analysis for material science and to high energy science are researched.  The physics of laser-surface interaction and nano-ablation and femtosecond laser processing are investigated.  The T6-laser (Table-top Ten TW Ten Hz Tunable Ti:sapphire laser) is equipped in the Laser Science Bldg., emitting 100 fs, >100mJ pulses, and it is opened for collaborative joint research.  Proposals of collaborative joint research from not only laser science but also other fields are welcome.

 

ELECTRON MICROSCOPY AND CRYSTAL CHEMISTRY

(Laboratory in the Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science)

http://eels.kuicr.kyoto-u.ac.jp:8080/Root/

Professor

ISODA, Seiji, D.Sc. (Kyoto Univ.), Crystal Chemistry,

Associate Professor

KURATA, Hiroki, D.Sc. (Kyoto Univ.), Crystal Chemistry,

Assistant Professors

OGAWA, Tetsuya, D.Sc. (Kyoto Univ.), Crystal Chemistry,

NEMOTO, Takashi, D.Sc. (Tokyo Inst. of Tech.), Crystal Chemistry,

 

  Crystallographic and electronic structures of materials and their transformations are studied through direct imaging of atoms or molecules by high-resolution spectromicroscopy which realizes energy-filtered imaging and electron energy-loss spectroscopy as well as high-resolution imaging.  It aims to explore new methods for imaging and also obtaining chemical information in thin films, nano-clusters, interfaces, and even in solutions.  By combining this with scanning probe microscopy, the following subjects are studied: direct structure analysis, electron crystallographic analysis, epitaxial growth of molecules, structure formation in solutions, fabrication of low-dimensional functional assemblies.

 

STRUCTURAL MOLECULAR BIOLOGY

(Laboratory in the Department of Interdisciplinary Environment, Graduate School of Human and Environmental Studies)

http://www.scl.kyoto-u.ac.jp/~hata/indexE.html

Professor

HATA, Yasuo, D.Sc. (Osaka Univ.), Structural Biology, Protein Crystallography,

Associate Professor

ITO, Yoshiaki, D.Sc. (Osaka Univ.), Atomic Spectroscopy, X-ray Spectroscopy,

Assistant Professor

FUJII, Tomomi, D.Sc. (Tokyo Inst. of Tech.), Structural Biology, Protein Crystallography,

 

  Our research activities are performed for X-ray structural studies of biomacromolecules and inorganic materials.  The main subjects of the former studies are crystallographic studies on the reaction mechanism of enzymes, the mode of protein-protein interaction, and the mechanism of thermostabilization of proteins.  In the latter studies, the electronic states of atoms and molecules are investigated using X-rays from conventional and SR sources to obtain fundamental information on the structure and property of materials.  The development of radiation detectors is also performed.

 

 

INTERNATIONAL RESEARCH CENTER FOR ELEMENTS SCIENCE

 

ORGANIC MAIN GROUP CHEMISTRY

(Laboratory in the Department of Energy and Hydrocarbon Chemistry, Graduate School of Engineering)

http://es.kuicr.kyoto-u.ac.jp/

Professor

NAKAMURA, Masaharu, D.Sc. (Tokyo Inst. of Tech.), Synthetic Organic Chemistry,

Associate Professor

TAKAYA, Hikaru, D.Eng. (Osaka Univ.), Organometallic Chemistry,

Assistant Professor

HATAKEYAMA, Takuji, D.Sc. (Univ. of Tokyo), Synthetic Organic Chemistry,

 

  We are focusing on the discovery, design and development of new molecular transformations, which enable efficient utilization of chemical resources, such as unsaturated hydrocarbons, haloalkanes, as well as common metals. Our research concerns some new aspects of elements science in synthetic organic chemistry, including: (1) Design and development of new synthetic reactions exploiting chemical resources such as universal metals and biorenewables. (2) Design of molecular catalysts based on synergistic and concerted function of the main group and transition metals. (3) Design and creation of new organic molecules which are conducible to efficient energy-material conversion. (4) Development of smart materials based on synergistic effect of various metals on peptide. (5) Preparation of biocompatible functional materials using supramolecular assembly of metallated peptides.

 

ADVANCED SOLID STATE CHEMISTRY

(Laboratory in the Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science)

http://msk2.kuicr.kyoto-u.ac.jp/~shimak-lab/

Professor

SHIMAKAWA, Yuichi, D.Sc. (Kyoto Univ.), Solid State Chemistry,

Associate Professor

AZUMA, Masaki, D.Sc. (Kyoto Univ.), Solid State Chemistry,

Assistant Professor

SAITO, Takashi, D.Sc. (Kyoto Univ.), Solid State Chemistry,

Program-Specific Assistant Professor (Creative Scientific Research)

ICHIKAWA, Noriya, D.Eng. (Tokyo Univ.), Solid State Chemistry,

 

  Transition-metal oxides show lots of interesting and useful properties.  The wide variety of their crystal structures gives rise to various electronic structures, which lead to interesting and useful physical and chemical properties.  We are focusing on the fundamental physics and chemistry of these "Functional oxides" and seeking new materials with new functions.  We are conducting systematic studies of various forms of material synthesis.  Polycrystalline samples, for example, are obtained based on phase equilibrium information.  Single crystals and thin film samples are also synthesized.  Precise crystal structures of these materials are analyzed by x-ray and neutron diffraction.  Electronic and magnetic structures are discussed based on the results of electronic structure calculations and physical property measurements.

 

ORGANOTRANSITION METAL CHEMISTRY

(Laboratory in the Department of Energy and Hydrocarbon Chemistry, Graduate School of Engineering)

http://om.kuicr.kyoto-u.ac.jp/

Professor

OZAWA, Fumiyuki, D.Eng. (Tokyo Inst. of Tech.), Organometallic Chemistry,

Associate Professor

OKAZAKI, Masaaki, D.Sc. (Tohoku Univ.), Organometallic Chemistry,

Assistant Professor

TAKITA, Ryo, D.Pharm.Sci. (Univ. of Tokyo), Synthetic organic chemistry,

Program-Specific Assistant Professor (Special Research and Education)

NAKAJIMA, Yumiko, D.Eng. (Tokyo Inst. of Tech.), Organometallic chemistry,

 

  This is a research laboratory launched in the 2003 academic year, aiming at establishment of novel synthetic methodologies based on organotransition metal chemistry.  New concepts and ideas of well-defined catalysts are accumulated by mechanistic investigations of reaction intermediates and elementary processes.  The current research subjects include: (1) Novel complexes based on the combination of transition metals and heavier main-group elements. (2) Reactive organometallic complexes bearing sp2-hybridized phosphorus ligands. (3) Metal clusters with hydrocarbyl ligands for organic transformations. (4) Stereo-controlled synthesis of functional macromolecules.

 

PHOTONIC ELEMENTS SCIENCE

(Laboratory in the Department of Physics I, Graduate School of Science)

http://www.scl.kyoto-u.ac.jp/~opt-nano/

Professor

KANEMITSU, Yoshihiko, D.Eng. (Univ. of Tokyo), Nanomaterials Science,

Associate Professor

MATSUDA, Kazunari, D.Eng. (Nagoya Univ.), Nano-photonics,

Assistant Professor

TAYAGAKI, Takeshi, D.Sc. (Kyoto Univ.), Optical Spectroscopy,

 

  Our research interest is to understand optical and quantum properties of nanometer-scale materials and to develop opto-nanoscience for creation of innovative functional materials.  Optical responses of semiconductor quantum nanostructures and low-dimensional strongly correlated electron systems are studied by means of space- and time-resolved laser spectroscopy.  The main subjects are as follows: (1) Development of high-resolution scanning near-field optical microscope and optical properties of single nanostructures. (2) Ultrafast optical spectroscopy of excited states of semiconductor nanostructures. (3) Development of nanoparticles with new optical functionalities.

 

BIOINFORMATICS CENTER

 

BIOKNOWLEDGE SYSTEMS

(Laboratory in the Department of Biophysics, Graduate School of Science and the Department of  Bioinformatics and Chemical Genomics, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences)

http://kanehisa.kuicr.kyoto-u.ac.jp/

Professor

KANEHISA, Minoru, D.Sc. (Univ. of Tokyo), Bioinformatics,

Associate Professor

GOTO, Susumu, D.Eng. (Kyushu Univ.), Bioinformatics,

Assistant Professor

HATTORI, Masahiro, D.Sc. (Kyoto Univ.), Bioinformatics,

Program-Specific Assistant Professors (Industry-Govern-

ment-Academia Collaboration)

TOKIMATSU, Toshiaki, D.Agr. (Kyoto Univ.), Bioinformatics,

KOTERA, Masaaki, D.Sc. (Kyoto Univ.), Bioinformatics,

 

  Owing to continuous developments of high throughput experimental technologies, ever increasing amounts of data are being generated in genomics and proteomics.  We have been developing bioinformatics technologies for analyzing a large number of genes, proteins and chemical compounds at a time, toward the understanding and utilization of higher order functional behaviors of the cell or the organism.  The suite of databases and associated software that we develop is called KEGG and is made publicly available as part of the GenomeNet service.

 

BIOLOGICAL INFORMATION NETWORKS

(Laboratory in the Department of Intelligence Science and Technology, Graduate School of Informatics)

http://www.bic.kyoto-u.ac.jp/takutsu/index.html

Professor

AKUTSU, Tatsuya, D.Eng. (Univ. of Tokyo), Bioinformatics,

Assistant Professors

HAYASHIDA, Morihiro, D.Info. (Kyoto Univ.), Bioinformatics,

TAMURA, Takeyuki, D.Info. (Kyoto Univ.), Bioinformatics,

Algorithms,

 

  Due to rapid progress of the genome projects, whole genome sequences of organisms ranging from bacteria to human have become available.  In order to understand the meaning behind the genetic code, we have been developing algorithms and software tools for analyzing biological data based on advanced information technologies such as theory of algorithms, artificial intelligence, and machine learning.  We are recently studying the following topics: systems biology, scale-free networks, protein structure prediction, inference of biological networks, chemo-informatics, discrete and stochastic methods for bioinformatics.

 

PATHWAY ENGINEERING

(Laboratory in the Division of Bioinformatics and Chemical Genomics, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences)

http://www.bic.kyoto-u.ac.jp/pathway/index.html

Professor

MAMITSUKA, Hiroshi, D.Sc. (Univ. of Tokyo), Bioinformatics, Artificial Intelligence,

Assistant Professors

TAKIGAWA, Ichigaku, D.Eng. (Hokkaido Univ.), Bioinformatics, Pattern Recognition,

SHIGA, Motoki, D.Eng. (Gifu Univ.), Bioinformatics, Machine Learning,

 

With the recent advancement of high-throughput experimental techniques in molecular biology, a large amount of biological data is being accumulated, giving us richer opportunity to understand the entire system of a cell from the data. Our focus is placed on molecular mechanisms, which can be represented by networks such as metabolic and signal transduction pathways. Our research objective is to develop techniques based on computer science and/or statistics to systematically understand network mechanisms at the cellular and organism level using a variety of biological data available nowadays.

 

 

 

SUPERCOMPUTER LABORATORY

  The supercomputer laboratory was founded as a support facility within the Institute when the supercomputer system was first installed in 1991.  The current supercomputer system consists of two SGI Altix 4700 systems with 512 CPUs and 256 CPUs for computation servers, four Sun Fire Enterprise 6900 servers configured with 144 CPUs in total for GenomeNet services, and other smaller servers and workstations. The laboratory provides computational services to the Institute and to the entire Kyoto University through the campus network KUINS, and also the GenomeNet database service to the Japanese and international research communities through the Internet.