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Kotani Lab
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The lab explores treatments for virus-induced cancers and the new science that can be found in them.
AboutAbout the lab
Curing virus-induced cancers and discovering new science from them.
The Kotani Lab, in the Division of Infection and Tumor Control, studies hematopoietic malignancies and other diseases caused by Epstein-Barr virus (EBV).
The lab aims to carry out its research on two wheels: research aimed at treatment, and the building of new science.
Clinical trials based on the lab's research results have been underway since 2023.
Graduate students are accepted from the Graduate School of Medicine and the Graduate School of Frontier Biosciences at Osaka University.
Key terms
- EBV
- Abbreviation of Epstein-Barr virus. A virus that causes cancer; associated cancers are rare in Europe and North America but common in East Asia.
- Hematopoietic malignancies
- Malignant diseases that arise in blood or lymphatic cells. This lab works on NK-cell leukemia and malignant lymphoma.
- Extracellular vesicles
- Small sac-like particles that cells release outward. Also called EVs.
NewsLab news
Paper on a treatment for cytokine storm syndrome published in Science Advances
Paper published in Journal of Lipid Research
Paper published in eLife
ResearchResearch themes
The lab aims to cure virus-induced cancers and to discover new science from them. Centered on hematopoietic malignancies caused by EBV, its research has expanded to hepatitis B virus (HBV), cytokine syndromes, and more.
*Illustrative imageElucidating and treating EBV-caused blood cancers
EBV-associated cancers are rare in Europe and North America but common in East Asia, so research within Japan is needed. Clinical trials based on the lab's results began in 2023, and the lab continues its efforts to bring them to patients.
*Illustrative imageNew science seen through virus-induced cancers
In virus-induced cancers, where infection causes cells to become cancerous in a short time, phenomena that are usually hidden appear. The lab found that EBV infection reactivates an enzyme thought to have degenerated in mammals, and considers analysis of the properties of the responsible molecule to be important.
*Illustrative imageA novel RNA that binds hepatitis B virus
This research began as a collaborative study within the AMED hepatitis research group. Centered on graduate students, the lab has identified a new RNA that binds hepatitis B virus and has high therapeutic efficacy, and aims to file patents and out-license it.
*Illustrative imageMechanism of action and clinical development of SPREDs
By combining lymphoma research and hepatitis research, the lab obtained SPREDs, a candidate that may lead to the development of therapies to prepare for emerging infectious diseases. While investigating its mechanism of action, which differs from that of extracellular vesicles (EVs), among other things, the lab is advancing joint research with companies.
MembersFaculty
The members of the Kotani Lab consist of faculty, invited researchers, visiting researchers, technical assistants, graduate students, and research students.As of 2026
- ProfessorAi Kotani
- LecturerKai Kudo
- Assistant ProfessorTakeshi Kamakura
- Project Assistant ProfessorHantian Qiu
- Project Assistant ProfessorKaku Goto
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Report an errorAbout the images
The top and research theme images are illustrative and were not taken at the lab. They are cropped from Wikimedia Commons images. Cropped CC BY-SA images are provided under the same CC BY-SA license as the original (version shown on each line).
- Top image: “Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) Particles” NIAID / CC BY 2.0 (cropped)
- Elucidating and treating EBV-caused blood cancers: “Electron micrograph showing three Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) particles colorized pink” NIAID / Public domain (cropped)
- New science seen through virus-induced cancers: “Epstein Barr Virus (NIH BioArt 144)” Courtesy of NIAID Ryan Kissinger / Public domain (cropped)
- A novel RNA that binds hepatitis B virus: “Hepatitis b” NIAID / CC BY 2.0 (cropped)
- Mechanism of action and clinical development of SPREDs: “Hodgkin Disease, Reed-Sternberg Cell” Ed Uthman, MD / CC BY-SA 2.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (情報伝達分野 高倉研究室): “Bovine Pulmonary Artery Endothelial Cells Fluorescent Image 3” Erin Rod / CC BY 4.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (システム生命医科学分野 神元研究室): “Beckman Coulter CEQ 8800” Herodotptlomeu / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (ワクチン創成グループ 吉岡研究室): “Vero Cell COVID-19 vaccine vial, cotton swab and syringe” Ajay Kumar Chaurasiya / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
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