Frontier Sciences

At our Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences promotes the “Resilient educational research base by constructing a network-based faculty organization” developed from the “Collaborative research aimed at improving QOL from oral health”. On this chapter, we introduce multi-disciplinary open laboratory which named as “Alliance Lab” for graduate students and young researchers. In the following open laboratory, we also hope and encourage collaborative research with domestic and foreign research teams.

Alliance Laboratory

We have prepared the “Alliance Lab” as a platform for young researchers to conduct subjective and their independent experiments. Young researchers can use the fundamental equipment and acquire competitive grants, and then promote advanced research. Furthermore, by combining each experimental unit vertically and horizontally, it is possible to develop into various fusion research. Next, I will introduce the shared advanced equipment prepared in the Alliance Lab.

At the Alliance Lab, we train young researchers as Principal Investigators. The results of using these facilities are summarized from page 13 of this booklet.

Confocal Scanning Laser Microscopic System

This microscope is used for the tomography of fluorescently labeled cells as well as tooth and bone sample. The system can also be reconstructed into 3-dimensional images and applied to quantitative analysis of photographed molecules. In addition, we add extensible devices that are useful for taking the timelaps images of the samples and observing matter movement inside and outside the cells by the medium and ion exchange.

Multiplex Immunoassay Luminex System

It is a device that measures and quantifies multiple cytokines and various genes in cells and hard tissues. By using 100 fluorescent beads, we can measure 100 molecules per well, so we can obtain up to 9,600 data points on 96 well format plates. Once target cells and proteins are determined, we separate and purify using the following equipment.

Automated Column Chromatography System

This system is used to fractionate proteins or purify automatically. We purify the targeted protein according to molecular weight, isoelectric point or specific affinity. By analyzing the purified protein, we will obtain accurate and reproducible data.

Imaging FACS Device

FACS is a frequently used device in cellular studies. FACS is used for analyzing cell types, differentiation, or properties with various fluorescent dyes. Imaging FACS devices can simultaneously capture images of cells under the normal FACS analysis.

Biomolecular Interaction Analyzer

Biomolecular interaction analysis (BIA) is used to study in detail interactions among the purified proteins and nucleic acid. We will search the molecules acting on the specific cells and analyze interaction between drugs and the target molecules. It can also be applied to affinity measurement and kinetics measurement of enzymatic reaction.

Optical 3D Motion Capture Systems

This systems which have 2 million pixel optical cameras can be used to measure or give real-time feedback on the movements of the whole body or a single part, including detailed head, face, hand, and feet in conjunction with electromyogram and eye tracking hardware. We own the world’s only passive optical motion capture systems with that are classed as medical devices with leading accuracy.

Multi-purpose Digital X-ray TV System

The key feature of this imaging system are digital image processing by computer with low X-ray exposure and enable us to multidirectionally evaluate the masticatory and swallowing function by combining electromyography or motion capture systems. This system is also available for systematic analysis of feeding function of dysphagic patients.

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation System

This device can stimulate the motor cortex noninvasively through a magnetic field and produce a reactive electromyography. Measuring the electromyography in terms of amplitude or latency changes is utilized to analyze facilitatory or inhibitory mechanism in neural pathway and to evaluate the neuroplasticity in sensorimotor cortex associated with volsuntary movement in electrophysiological research.