Welcome to the Sada Lab!
Laboratory of Skin Regeneration and Aging
IRCMS, Kumamoto University, Japan
Stem cells maintain tissue integrity during homeostasis and show remarkable plasticity to respond to various stress or damages of the tissue. Dysfunction or misregulation of stem cells leads to tissue dysfunction, including impaired wound healing, cancer, and aging. Emerging evidence suggests heterogeneous stem cell populations within adult tissues and their specific roles in physiological and pathological conditions. Our research focuses on elucidating the cellular dynamics and regulatory mechanisms of tissue-resident stem cells, especially using mouse epithelial tissues (skin, eyes, oral) as a model. We identified new stem cell populations in the mouse skin epidermis (Sada et al., Nat Cell Biol 2016) and established the genetic tools and molecular markers to analyze these cells in vivo. We are currently studying stem cells in tissue regeneration and aging by combining cell & molecular biology techniques, genetic engineering of mice, omics analysis, bioengineering, glycobiology, and so on. Our research goal is to reveal the drivers and effectors of stem cell dysfunction. Targeting these factors may prevent or cure diseases at the stem cell level, with implications for applications in regenerative therapy and future treatments of cancer, aging, and other disorders.
Sada lab seeks motivated students (master and Ph.D. level), postdocs, and collaborators worldwide. Particulaly, our university has a priority slot for MEXT application for studying aging as a PhD student. We also have fellowship and internship program to do research at IRCMS. If you're interested in pursuing research with us, please do not hesitate to contact me.
RESEARCH ENVIRONMENT
International Research Center for Medical Sciences (IRCMS) at Kumamoto University is a a cutting edge, research institute, especially focusing on stem cells, aging and cancer. Researchers in our institute enjoy Science and closely communicate with each other in a characteristic open lab system of our institute.
IRCMS website
IRCMS YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2AaBlubZfGHXNqTFreQCyw
IRCMS Twitter
LIFE IN KUMAMOTO
Kumamoto University is located in the south part of Japan (Kyushu area) and is close to the city center with traditional Japanese castle, convenient living places, shopping mall and nice foods & drinks! Kumamoto also has beautiful nature within 1 hour drive distance, where you can enjoy Aso mountains, hot springs, fishing and many other outdoor activities.
Life in Kumamoto
WHAT'S NEW
LAB NEWS
2021.10.1
Three new doctoral students have joined the Sada Lab today. Welcome! I am looking forward to working together in Kumamoto soon.
RECRUITMENT
2021.9.30
The MEXT program information became available. Stipend, travel expenses, fees for enrollment and tuition will be supported for 4 years of doctor course.
The application deadline: December 28, 2021
The interview date: January 31, 2022
The enrollment: October 1, 2022
Educational program for the extension of healthy life expectancy (on the bottom of this page).
http://www.medphas.kumamoto-u.ac.jp/.../admissions_top/
If you are interested in applying, please do not hesitate to contact me.
PUBLICATION
2021.9.25
Check out our protocol article from JoVE. This paper describes a method for isolating and culturing mouse oral keratinocytes. Congratulations, Yen! We will be shooting a protocol video soon.
RECRUITMENT
2021.9.2
The International Research Center for Medical Sciences (IRCMS) at Kumamoto University has launched its YouTube channel! The first one is a digest version of PI interview videos, including a short introduction of labs, life in Kumamoto, and more. There is also an interview video with an international student and postdoc. Please subscribe to our channel!
MEETING
2021.6.26
PhD student Yen presented her poster at ISSCR. Postdoc Erna gave a talk at the annual meeting of the Japanese Society for Matrix Biology and Medicine. Thank you for the discussion!
MEETING
2021.5.21-22
Yen presented her poster at the 18th stem cell research symposium, entitled "Defining diversity and similarity of epithelial stem cell populations and its anatomical environment in murine skin and oral mucosa". Aiko gave a talk about the story on the ocular surface epithelium.