ABOUT ME

I am a chemical biologist and postdoctoral researcher at Bio2Q, Keio University. My research is driven by a fundamental question: How can we use chemical tools to decipher and modulate the intricate biomolecular structures that govern cellular life?

Currently, I apply this chemical biology lens to protein quality control. I investigate the molecular mechanisms of chaperone systems, which act as the cell's vital maintenance crew to ensure proteins fold correctly. To study these pathways in a highly relevant physiological context, I use organoid models to explore how quality control mechanisms adapt or break down during cellular ageing. 

This way of approaching biology through chemistry came from my PhD at Kyoto University under Prof. Hiroshi Sugiyama, where I worked on the chemical biology of nucleic acids. I designed probes to target non-canonical DNA structures, specifically G-quadruplexes and Z-DNA, to understand their functional relevance. I also developed methods combining nanopore sequencing and machine learning to detect DNA and RNA modifications at single-base resolution.

When I’m not in the lab, you’ll likely find me exploring the Japanese countryside on my road bike or training at the gym. I also channel my scientific background into communication, utilising 3D animation and writing to translate complex molecular structures and cellular systems into engaging, visually compelling stories.