Research Frontiers

iPS cell technology to elucidate mechanisms of longevity and related diseases

Hideyuki Okano, Professor
Department of Physiology, School of Medicine

December 25, 2017

Hideyuki Okano
Researcher video (60 seconds)
Short video where Professor Hideyuki Okano describes the activities of the Longevity Cluster at KGRI.
Hideyuki Okano
Researcher video (60 seconds)
Short video about the research activities of Professor Hideyuki Okano's group.

Hideyuki Okano, Professor, Department of Physiology, Keio University School of Medicine.

Overview of iPS research by Professor Okano and colleagues

Prof. Hideyuki Okano is the leader of the KGRI Longevity Cluster of the Top Global University project (the other two research clusters being Security and Creativity).

The activities of the Longevity Cluster are interdisciplinary with research focused on elucidating the mechanisms of diseases related to longevity to achieve long and healthy lives. Okano is using iPS cell technology to study the onset of dementia as well as developing basic therapeutic drugs to overcome this and related diseases. In other research, Okano and colleagues are studying people over the age of 100--so-called "centenarian studies."

Furthermore, researchers from other fields are looking into how the results of this research should be reflected in social policies. "We want to be leaders in the challenge of coping with longevity to achieve a healthy, longevity society," says Okano.

Please contact the KGRI for further information about this research.

Contact
Keio University Global Research Institute (KGRI)
2-15-45 Mita, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-8345 Japan
E-mail : kgri@info.keio.ac.jp
http://www.kgri.keio.ac.jp/en/index.html

Further information
Professor Hideyuki Okano, Professor, Department of Physiology, Keio University School of Medicine.
https://keio.pure.elsevier.com/en/persons/hideyuki-okano

Recent research

As of December 25, 2017
Regenerative medicine needs collaboration in and out of science in order to face current and future challenges

Regenerative medicine is a broad term used to describe approaches to repair or replace damaged or diseased human cells or tissues. This can be achieved through a variety of approaches, including the use of stem cells and stimulating the body's own repair mechanisms. Due to its wide implications in science, technology and ethics, regenerative medicine has attracted the attention of a multitude of 'stakeholders' from scientists and physicians to those involved in ethical, legal and social implications (ELSI).

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In a recent review, Douglas Sipp from the Keio University School of Medicine in Tokyo, Japan, and his colleagues from the University of British Columbia, McGill University, the University of Miami, the California Institute of Regenerative Medicine, the University of Alberta, the University of Montreal, the University of Ottawa and the University of Regina, give an overview of past initiatives relating to social, ethical and legal aspects of regenerative medicine and offer their view on future priorities.

Even countries that have shown leadership and have established policies, such as Canada, are now facing a shift in the landscape of regenerative medicine due to fast scientific advances such as those relating to induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) and targeted genome editing using novel techniques such as CRISPR/Cas9.

A key aspect for the advancement of the field is collaboration between scientists and and those within the ELSI community. Training of both sides to collaborate is being explored in Canada, which is looking to launch a training series to familiarise social scientists with the laboratory workflow and laboratory-based scientist with the problems facing those who deal with ethical and social aspects of the field. The authors also suggest adding experts from these different disciplines to grant applications.

Fast scientific advancements in the field have left many laws and policies as being outdated. Hence, the authors call for leaders in the international regenerative medicine community, such as the International Society for Stem Cell Research, to look at existing policies and consider reforming them to keep-up with the rapid technological advances that are taking place.

In the age of social media, the perception of regenerative medicine and the questions it raises are easily communicated to the public, but in some cases, can also be distorted. Therefore, the authors suggest "the ELSI community can and should play a role both by studying the impact of these new modes of popular media and engaging directly with the broader public and patient communities through participation in virtual communities and networks."

Publication and affiliations

Authors: Judy Illes1, Douglas Sipp2,3,4, Erika Kleiderman5, Shelly Benjaminy6, Rosario Isasi7, Geoff Lomax8, Zubin Master9, Jennifer McCormick10, Ubaka Ogbogu11, Vardit Ravitsky12, Julie M. Robillard1, Fabio Rossi13, Brenda Wilson14 and Amy Zarzeczny15.
Title: A blueprint for the next generation of ELSI research, training, and outreach in regenerative medicine.
Journal: npj Regenerative Medicine 21 (2017)
DOI:10.1038/s41536-017-0026-z

  1. National Core for Neuroethics, Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada;
  2. RIKEN Center for Developmental Biology, Kobe, Japan;
  3. Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan;
  4. Keio Global Research Institute, Tokyo, Japan; 5
  5. Centre of Genomics and Policy, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada;
  6. National Core for Neuroethics and Department of Experimental Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada;
  7. John T. Macdonald Foundation Department of Human Genetics, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL, USA;
  8. California Institute of Regenerative Medicine, Oakland, CA, USA;
  9. Alden March Bioethics Institute, Albany Medical College, Albany, NY, USA;
  10. Department of Humanities, Pennsylvania State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, USA;
  11. Faculties of Law and Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada;
  12. Bioethics Program, School of Public Health, University of Montreal, Montreal, QC, Canada;
  13. Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada;
  14. School of Epidemiology, Public Health and Preventive Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
  15. Johnson Shoyama Graduate School of Public Policy, University of Regina, Regina, SK, Canada

Correspondence: Judy Illes (jilles@mail.ubc.ca) or Douglas Sipp (sipp@cdb.riken.jp)

suggested

Key terms in the field of regenerative medicine.

Overview of iPS research by Professor Okano and colleagues