Biomedical Engineering Course Prof. Eiji TAKAHASHI E-mail:eiji [at] cc.saga-u.ac.jp (Please replace [at] with @ in e-mail address.) Academic Staff Database Laboratory Home Page

DEGREES: Doctor of Engineering (Biomedical Engineering) from Hokkaido Univ., Japan (March, 1984) PROFESSIONAL CAREER: 1985-1988 Postdoctoral Research Fellow at Toronto Univ. School of Medicine (Clinical Sciences Division) and Medical Research Council (Canada) Fellow 1988-1991 Research Assistant at Division of Biomedical Systems Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Hokkaido Univ. 1991-1993 Assistant Professor, Department of Physiology, Yamagata Univ. School of Medicine 1993-2010 Associate Professor, Department of Physiology, Yamagata Univ. School of Medicine 2010- Professor, Advanced Technology Fusion, Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Saga Univ. Position in Society: 2003 Co-chair Person, Mitochondrial Physiology Society 2008 President, International Society on Oxygen Transport to Tissue 2012- President, Oxygen Dynamics Society Japan 2014- Executive Committee Board, International Society on Oxygen Transport to Tissue

Research Field : biomedical engineering

His specialty is Physiology and Biomedical Engineering. He is also a Physiology Educator certified by The Physiological Society of Japan since 2015.

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BIOIMAGINGS are powerful tool to explore the function of biomolecules in individual cells. We are particularly interested in the OXYGEN because this molecule is not only crucial for energy production in mitochondria but also mediates a range of genetic responses for survival. OXYGEN is particularly important in cancer because the molecule defines the biological characteristics of tumor cells. Using sophisticated techniques to visualize oxygen dynamics and other metabolic processes in cells, we are working to elucidate the mechanism for survival of cancer cells in hypoxic environment.

Bioimaging of cellular oxygen transport and metabolism

We are developing novel techniques for imaging oxygen transport to and within cells. Using these techniques, we have demonstrated mechanisms by which cells undergo necrotic cell death even at physiological oxygen concentrations. Details can be found at www.ee.saga-u.ac.jp/sensor/Res_ET/O2_imaging.html.

A life with less oxygen?

Recently, we have demonstrated that some cancer cell lines can sustain mitochondrial membrane potential without oxygen when cellular oxygen sensor (PHD/HIF-1) is activated. Find more in
Takahashi E and Sato M: Anaerobic respiration sustains mitochondrial membrane potential in prolyl hydroxylase pathway-activated cancer cell line in a hypoxic microenvironment. Am J Physiol Cell Physiol. 2014 Feb 15;306(4):C334-42.

Cancer cells prefer higher oxygen?

To elucidate the initial mechanisms of hematogenous metastasis of cancer cells, we hypothesized that cancer cell might migrate towards regions with higher oxygen concentration such as intratumor micro vessels along the gradient of oxygen concentration. To test this hypothesis, we have devised the gap cover glass (GCG) by which oxygen concentration gradients were established in monolayer cultured cells. We demonstrated a directional migration of MDA-MB-231 cells under the oxygen gradient.
Find more at www.ee.saga-u.ac.jp/sensor/ATF_Biomed/Welcome.html.