Organization
INGEM consists of an Operations Committee to deliberate important matters regarding the center’s operations, a Research section composed of nine groups, and an Administration Sector for planning and coordination.
Executive Directors
Executive Director
Prof. Hozumi Motohashi
Associate Executive Vice President for Research, Tohoku University
Professor, Department of Medical Biochemistry Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine
Deputy Executive Director
Prof. Kengo Kinoshita
Deputy Executive Director, Tohoku University Tohoku Medical Megabank Organization
Professor, Department of Systems Bioinformatics Tohoku University Graduate School of Information Sciences
Prof. Naoto Ishii
Dean, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine
Professor, Division of Microbiology and Immunology Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine
Organization List
(1st April 2025)
Administration Sector
- Planning and Promoting Group
Administration Sector
- Planning and Promoting Group
Research Section
Research section
Clinical and Translational Research Sector
Full-Time Faculty
Professors:
Soichi Ogishima, MD, PhD
Clinical Database Integration Group
Expertise: Translational Bioinformatics, Systems Biology, Medical Informatics
Fumiki Katsuoka, MD, PhD
Clinical Sequencing Group
Expertise: Biochemistry, Molecular Biology (Gene Expression Regulation)
Seizo Koshiba, PhD (Science)
Structural Biology Group
Expertise: Biochemistry, Structural Biology, Omics Analysis
Muneaki Shimada, MD, PhD
Clinical Biobank Group
Expertise: Gynecologic Oncology
Specially Appointed Professor (Chief URA):
Yasuhisa Nemoto, MD, PhD, MBA (Finance)
Planning and Promoting Group
Expertise: Research Planning, Pre-Award/Post-Award Management, Industry Collaboration, IP Strategy, Start-up Support
Lecturers:
Yasunobu Okamura, PhD (Information Science)
Clinical Sequencing Group
Expertise: Bioinformatics
Sakae Saito, PhD (Science)
Clinical Phenome Group
Expertise: Molecular Biology
Bin Li, MD, PhD
Clinical Biobank Group
Expertise: Molecular Biology, Obstetrics and Gynecology
Assistant Professors:
Eiji Hishinuma, PhD (Pharmacy)
Clinical Phenome Group
Expertise: Genomic Pharmacology, Drug Metabolism
Liam Baird, MD, PhD
Clinical Sequencing Group
Expertise: Biochemistry, Molecular Biology (Oxidative Stress)
Group Introductions
Basic Research Sector
Genetic Variation Verification Group
This group verifies the physiological and pathological significance of gene mutations and polymorphisms found in human specimens through the creation and analysis of genetically modified mice. By collaborating with clinicians, pharmacists, clinical laboratory technicians, and researchers from various backgrounds, the group formulates research plans, creates disease model mice using genome editing, and provides technical support for mouse analysis. In addition to offering this foundational research infrastructure, the members also verify the functions of multiple gene mutations in hereditary diseases as part of their individual research projects.
Leader: Associate Professor Mikiko Suzuki (Graduate School of Medicine)
Genome Informatics Group
This group aims to enhance the accuracy of disease genome analysis for Japanese individuals using the Japanese reference genome, promote interdisciplinary research leveraging data science and artificial intelligence (AI) technology, and foster medical AI professionals. The first edition of the Japanese reference genome, JG1, was released in 2019, followed by JG2 in 2020, with significantly expanded and reconstructed analysis data. In 2024, JG3, a near-complete sequence, was constructed and published. The group also continues to develop and release information for applying the Japanese reference genome for disease analysis.
Leader: Professor Gen Tamiya (Graduate School of Medicine)
Clinical Pharmacogenomics and Drug Discovery Group
This group aims to develop and publish pharmacokinetics prediction panels based on genomic information, and promotes the development and clinical implementation of personalized pharmacotherapy through pharmacogenomics analysis. By utilizing the whole-genome reference panel created by the Tohoku Medical Megabank Organization, the group produces and evaluates approximately 1,000 types of recombinant variant enzymes, such as CYP1A2, CYP2C9, and DPYD. By identifying rare variants that affect drug-metabolizing enzyme activity, the group contributes significantly to the advancement of personalized medicine.
Leader: Professor Masahiro Hiratsuka (Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences)
Structural Biology Group
This group contributes to the realization of next-generation medicine by developing drug discovery technologies based on the molecular structures of proteins. Using two Cryo-Electron Microscopes (transmission and scanning) and an 800MHz NMR, the group advances three-dimensional structural analysis and the functional elucidation of disease-related biomolecules. To date, the group has successfully resolved the structures of multiple proteins, such as ribosomes and membrane proteins, at resolutions of approximately 2-4Å. In addition to supporting drug discovery research by companies and universities, the group collaborates with various departments in INGEM.
Leader: Professor Seizo Koshiba (INGEM)
Clinical and Translational Research Sector
Clinical Biobank Group
As a clinical biobank, this group has established a comprehensive system for collecting, storing, and managing biological samples from patients at Tohoku University Hospital, making them available for research within the university. This group is committed to continuously expanding the biobank by increasing the number of collected and stored samples, the variety of sample types, as well as the number of collaborating clinical departments. At the same time, by actively promoting the use of these resources in both intramural and extramural research, the biobank plays a crucial role in advancing basic and clinical research, ultimately contributing to the realization of next-generation medicine in Japan.
Leader: Professor Muneaki Shimada (INGEM)
Clinical Sequencing Group
To contribute to next-generation medicine, this group promotes genome analysis using next-generation sequencing technologies and organizes genomic information, which together form the foundation of genomic medicine. This group conducts short-read sequencing analysis focusing on single nucleotide polymorphisms and small insertions/deletions, long-read sequencing analysis targeting complex structural genome variations, and transcriptome analysis aimed at quantifying gene expression. This group also promotes projects utilizing cutting-edge technologies such as single-cell RNA sequencing.
Leader: Professor Fumiki Katsuoka (INGEM)
Clinical Phenome Group
This group conducts integrated multi-omics analyses to identify disease-related markers for diagnostics, treatment, and prevention. It also develops data platforms to assess disease susceptibility through metabolome, proteome, and microbiome profiling. By advancing metabolome and proteome analysis of biological samples, this group aims to apply these approaches to cancer type identification, treatment efficacy evaluation, and prognosis prediction. Additionally, the group is expanding the range of measurable metabolites and sample types to include non-cancer diseases. In parallel, ongoing projects focus on collecting metagenomic samples and analyzing temporal changes in the microbiome associated with diseases such as ovarian cancer, oral cancer, and brain tumors.
Leader: Professor Ritsuko Shimizu (Graduate School of Medicine)
Clinical Genome Diagnosis Group
This group manages a Molecular tumor board (MTB) at our hospital to facilitate cancer genome medicine, and interprets the results of genetic analysis to propose treatments for patients. This group works to improve the quality of medical care by enhancing and streamlining the MTB, and is also returning the results of whole genomic sequencing to patients. In addition, this group is conducting multi-omics analysis in collaboration with the various groups of INGEM based on these genomic data (comprehensive genomic profiling, whole genome analysis data) to discover new treatment targets and develop diagnostic tools.
Leader: Professor Hozumi Motohashi (Graduate School of Medicine)
Clinical Database Integration Group
This group focuses on building an integrated database for the Tohoku University Hospital (TUH) Clinical Biobank, storing not only clinical data, but also genomic/omics data derived from biospecimens. The group also develops catalogs for biospecimen/data from the TUH Clinical Biobank and Tohoku Medical Megabank project. Furthermore, to further enhance the utilization of clinical data, this group is conducting research on the establishment of infrastructure for the utilization of hospital information and the structuring of clinical texts in electronic medical records, using a Large Language Model.
Leader: Professor Soichi Ogishima (INGEM)