Our Department

　Our department is conducting research on diseases caused by renal disorders and hypertension, ranging widely from fundamental research to clinical research.

　Chronic kidney disease (CKD) leads to end-stage renal disease and is also a risk factor for cardiovascular disease such as stroke and myocardial infarction. It is important to prevent onset/progression of CKD, because doing so prevents the increase in the number of dialysis patients as well as cardiovascular disease. Hypertension is not only one of the main risk factors for cardiovascular disease but is also a strong factor in the progression of CKD. We conduct research on establishing therapeutic targets for related complications of internal organs and systemic vasculature, as well as CKD and hypertension, to prevent cardio-renal diseases.

Clinical Research

Collaborative Research

  • Observational Study of Convalescence Nephrotic Syndrome in the Elderly (Cohort study) : Approval Number 1110 (End date H28.12.31)
  • Study of Albuminuria Suppression Effect by Administration of Spinolactone to Type 2 Diabetes Patients having Albuminuria Symptom : Approval Number 1513-3 (End date H28.12.31)
  • Study of Influence on Renal function/Cardiac function by Erythropoiesis Stimulating Agents (ESA) in Non-dialysis Chronic Kidney Disease : Approval Number1549 (End date H30.09.11)
  • Study of Creating Database of Renal Disease Patients and Renal Biopsy in Our Country : Approval Number 592-1　(End date H30.12.31)
  • (J-PDOPPS)－The Peritoneal Dialysis Outcomes and Practice Patterns Study：Approval Number 2144 　(End date H31.11.2)
  • An observational study of outcomes in adult Henoch-Schönlein purpura nephritis patients : cohort study：Approval Number 2485 　(End date H31.12.31)
  • An observational study of outcomes in adult lupus nephritis patients : a nationwide retrospective cohort study：Approval Number 2521 　(End date H31.12.31)
  • Observational clinical Research In chronic kidney disease patients with renal anemia :renal proGnosis in patients with Hyporesponsive anemia To Erythropoiesis stimulating agents,darbepoetiN alfa： Approval Number 2316-4 　(End date H33.3.14)
  • A nationwide prospective cohort study of patients with advanced chronic kidney disease (CKD G3b-G5) in Japan：Approval Number2523 　(End date H34.3.31)
  • Identifying causative genes of renal disease ：Approval Number 2374 　(End date H35.3.14)
  • Study of comprehensive database construction regarding clinical effectiveness information of Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) patients in Japan: cohort study：Approval Number 2213-1 　(End date H37.3.31)

Clinical Traial

  • International Multicenter Collaboration, Randomized, Double-blind, Placebo-controlled, Parallel-group Comparative Study of Act of Atrasentan on Renal Outcome of Type 2 Diabetes Patients -SONAR : Clinical Test using Atrasentan for Diabetic Nephropathy : Approval Number 251201 (End date H29.04)

Independent Research

  • Investigation of Association between Management of CKD and Hemodialysis Initiation and Cardiovascular event/Vascular Access Insufficiency in Maintenance Hemodialysis Period : Approval Number 1367 (End date H30.12.31)

Fundamental Reseach

  • Investigation of Association between Xanthine Oxidase Activation and Disease States of Diabetic Nephropathy
  • Elucidation of Mechanism to Promote Renal Fibrosis by Aldosterone
  • Examination of Inhibitory Effect by low dose Colchicine on Renal Fibrosis
  • Technology Development of Visualizing In vivo Renin
  • Study of Influence of Transition of Intenstinal Flora triggered by Alteration in Intenstinal Environment on Chronic Kidney Disease Progression
  • Examination on Progression Mechanism of Renal Fibrosis/Peritoneal Fibrosis caused by the eNOS-NO Pathway Collapse
  • Elucidation of Mechanism of Renal Fibrosis/Peritoneal Fibrosis triggered by Activation of Oxidative Stress Dependent FOXO/Wnt Signal
  • Study on Effect of Aminolevulinic Acid on Acute Kidney Injury
  • Creation of Medical Care for Anti-aging/Extension of Healthy Life Expectancy with TGF-β Inhibition Strategy: Analysis of Hyperphosphatemia/Renal Fibrosis in Senescence Accelerated Mouse
  • Nephropathy-Inhibiting Effect of Phosphate Binder on Chronic Renal Failure Model Animal
  • Protective Effect of DPPIV Inhibitor on Diabetic Nephropathy Model Animal
  • Protective Effect of SGLT2 Inhibitor on Diabetic Nephropathy Model Animal
  • Blood Flow Change in Islet of Langerhans after Glucose Tolerance Test and Effect of DPPIV Inhibitor
  • Investigation on Molecular Mechanism of Disorder in Islet of Langerhans Caused by Hypertension
  • Analysis of Nrf2 System as Hepatopathy Suppressant triggered by Statin
  • Elucidation of the Relationship between Inflammasome and Mitochondria Stress

Research Supported by Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research

2013

  1. Challenging exploratory research; Development and application of new imaging technology enabling the analysis of microhemodynamics of islets of langerhans（Naoki Kashihara）
  2. Scientific Research (C)　 Elucidation of the signal transmission mechanism of oxidative stress-dependent wnt signal in retroperitoneal fibrosis fibrosis（Tamaki Sasaki）
  3. Scientific Research (C)　 Elucidation of the tubular disorder suppression mechanism by urine protein of selective estrogen-receptor stimulant（Souhachi Fujimoto）
  4. Young Scientists (B)　 Identification of pathological role of NADPH oxidase nox isoforms of diabetic nephropathy（Tamehachi Namikoshi）

2014

  1. Challenging exploratory research; Development of visual and analytical technology for renin activity in vivo and its application for pathological analysis and treatment development（Naoki Kashihara）

2015

  1. Scientific Research (B)　 Elucidation of Molecular mechanism and Strategic Planning for Treatment of Vascular Endothelial Dysfunction as Base Pathology of CKD/Elderly Kidney（Naoki Kashihara）

2016

  1. Scientific Research(C)　 Fundamental research of therapeutic development for diabetic nephropathy with endothelial cell-specific molecule-1 endocan（Atsunori Kuwabara）
  2. Young Scientists(B)　Elucidation of protraction mechanisms of inflammation caused by inflammasome activation, and developing a therapeutic method of chronic kidney disease（Hajime Nagasu）

2017

  1. Scientific Research(C)　慢性腎不全の腸内細菌叢と腸管バリア機能の解析と治療戦略のための基盤構築（Minoru Satoh）
  2. Young Scientists(B)　 ATP/P2Y2受容体経路による糖尿病性腎症の新規進展機序の解明と治療法の開発（Kengo Kidokoro）

Research Environment

University Research Facility
　Kawasaki Medical School has a Central Research Center that consists of 4 units (Medical Biology Research Unit, Molecular and Cellular Biological Unit, RI Unit and Bioimaging Unit). Research is conducted using these facilities.

Researchers
　Associate Professor/Assistant Professor (Satoh, Nagasu, Kidokoro): provide coaching and supervise experiments. Graduate students (Uchida, Sogawa): conducting fundamental research. Experimental assistants (5–6 people): main tasks are rearing and management of experimental animals, assistance with animal experiments, maintenance of cell cultures, assistance with biochemical experiments, and maintenance of experimental data.

Related Conferences / Societies

　We attend wide range of scientific meetings and give presentation about our study, including kidney, dialysis, hypertension, cardiovascular, arteriosclerosis etc.

International Conference
　International Society of Nephrology、American Society of Nephrology、European Renal Association – European Dialysis and Transplant Association

Domestic Conference
　The Japanese Society of Internal Medicine、Japanese Society of Nephrology、The Japanese Society of Hypertension、The Japanese Society for Dialysis Therapy, Japan Atherosclerosis Society, The Society of Cardiovascular Endocrinology and Metabolism, The Japan Diabetes Society, Japanese Society of Anti-Aging Medicine, the NO Society of Japan, The Japanese Circulation Society, Japanese Society for Circulation Research

Domestic Society
　Molecule Kidney Forum, Japanese Society of Pathophysiology in Kidney Failure, The Kidney and Free Radical Research Association, Japan Diabetic Nephropathy Study Group