
Aiko Sada, Ph.D.
Principal Investigator
Aiko Sada graduated from Shizuoka University, Japan and obtained her Bachelor’s degree in 2006. She received a Ph.D. in 2011 from the Graduate University for Advanced Studies, Japan for her studies on RNA-binding protein Nanos2 in spermatogonial stem cells under the supervision of Dr. Yumiko Saga.
Soon after her graduation, she joined Dr. Tudorita Tumbar’s laboratory at Cornell University, Ithaca, NY as a postdoctoral fellow, where she worked on identification and characterization of epidermal stem cells. She is a recipient of a long-term fellowship from Human Frontier Science Program (HFSP) and fellowships from Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS).
In 2016, she completed her postdoc training, moved back to Japan and started as Assistant professor at Tsukuba Advanced Research Alliance (TARA), University of Tsukuba. In 2019 October, she was promoted to Associate professor and started her own laboratory at IRCMS, Kumamoto University. She is currently studying the cellular and molecular mechanisms of skin regeneration and aging.
BIOGRAPHY
EDUCATION
PROFESSIONAL POSITIONS
2016 - 2019
Assistant Professor
Life Science Center for Survival Dynamics
Tsukuba Advanced Research Alliance (TARA)
University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan
Project : Skin stem cells in tissue regeneration and aging
2011 - 2016
Postdoctoral Fellow
Dr. Tudorita Tumbar’s laboratory
Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics
Cornell University, Ithaca, NY
Project : Cellular and molecular characterization of mouse epidermal stem cells
Fellowships:
Long-Term Fellowship, Human Frontier Science Program (HFSP)
Postdoctoral Fellowship for research abroad,
Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS)
2006 - 2011
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
The Graduate University for Advanced Studies (SOKENDAI)
Department of Genetics
Dr. Yumiko Saga’s laboratory
National Institute of Genetics, Mishima, JAPAN
Project : Elucidating the role of an RNA-binding protein Nanos2 in mouse spermatogonial stem cells
Fellowship:
Research Fellowships for doctoral course students (DC1)
Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS)
Award:
The 1st Presidential Award FY2010
The Graduate University for Advanced Studies, JAPAN
2002 - 2006
Bachelors of Science (B.S.)
Shizuoka University
Department of Biology, Faculty of Science
Shizuoka, JAPAN
Dr. Nobuyoshi Shiojiri’s laboratory
Project : Analysis of C/EBPa knockout mice in liver development
2019 - Current
Associate Professor
International Research Center for Medical Sciences (IRCMS), Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan
Visiting Associate Professor
Life Science Center for Survival Dynamics
Tsukuba Advanced Research Alliance (TARA)
University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan
Project : Skin stem cells in tissue regeneration and aging