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Biochemistry Lab
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A biochemistry lab that explores, at the molecular level, the mechanisms shared by bone and brain diseases.
AboutAbout the lab
Uncovering bone, brain, and blood vessel diseases from the molecules up
The Biochemistry Lab takes a molecular biochemistry approach, studying gene function, metabolism, and protein function to research how diseases arise.
It investigates genes shared by osteoporosis and Alzheimer's disease, and the relationship between inflammation caused by periodontal bacteria and dementia.
The lab also studies molecular mechanisms involved in bone metabolism and blood vessel formation, and works on AI-based drug discovery and bioinformatics analysis.
The lab also recruits undergraduate students, who can join the journal club where English-language papers are read.
Key terms
- Osteoporosis
- A disease in which bone mass decreases or bone quality declines, making bones fragile and prone to fracture
- Bioinformatics
- The field of analyzing large amounts of data, such as genes and proteins, by computer
- Pleiotropic gene
- A single gene that is involved in multiple mechanisms in the body. Some act in both bone and nerves
NewsLab news
A review article linking osteoporosis and Alzheimer's disease was published in Current Osteoporosis Reports
A doctoral student received the Best Poster Award at the 11th Hokkaido University Cross-Departmental Symposium
Assistant Professor Ikedo received the IFMRS Herbert Fleisch Workshop 2025 Travel Award (Japanese Society for Bone and Mineral Research)
A paper by Assistant Professor Ikedo and colleagues was published in Journal of Bone and Mineral Research
A paper by Professor Lee and colleagues was published in Cell Communication and Signaling (CCS)
ResearchResearch themes
From a molecular biochemistry perspective, the lab studies gene expression, metabolism, and protein function to clarify the molecular mechanisms of various diseases. It aims to clarify the links between diseases of the mouth and systemic diseases, and to connect basic research to the diagnosis and treatment of disease.
*Illustrative imageGenes linking osteoporosis and Alzheimer's disease
The lab aims to clarify, through gene expression analysis and molecular biology methods, how “pleiotropic genes” involved in both bone metabolism and neurodegeneration contribute to the onset and progression of the two diseases.
Periodontal bacteria and Alzheimer's disease
Focusing on inflammation caused by Porphyromonas gingivalis, the main causative bacterium of chronic periodontitis, the lab studies at the molecular level how it affects nerves, with the aim of leading to new prevention and treatment strategies.
*Illustrative imageHormones, nutrition, exercise, and bone metabolism
Using mice lacking the gene for the receptor of the female hormone estrogen, and mice in which an energy-deficient state is reproduced through dietary restriction and exercise, the lab studies how hormones and nutrition regulate bone metabolism.
*Illustrative imageDrug discovery using AI
The lab analyzes large-scale genome and protein data together to search for disease markers (biomarkers) and drug targets. It also aims to speed up the search for new drug candidates by analyzing the three-dimensional structures of target molecules with AI.
MembersFaculty
The members of the Biochemistry Lab are faculty, visiting researchers, and graduate students (including working-adult graduate students).As of 2026
- ProfessorJiwon Lee
- Assistant ProfessorAoi Ikedo
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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: “Rheumatology - Osteoporotic bone -- Smart-Servier” Laboratoires Servier / CC BY-SA 3.0 (cropped)
- Genes linking osteoporosis and Alzheimer's disease: “Alzheimer's disease brain comparison” derivative work: Garrondo (talk) SEVERESLICE_HIGH.JPG: ADEAR: "Alzheimer's Disease Education and Referral Center, a service of the National Institute on Aging." PRECLINICALSLICE_HIGH.JPG: ADEAR: "Alzheimer's Disease Education and Referral Center, a service of the National Institute on Aging." / Public domain (cropped)
- Hormones, nutrition, exercise, and bone metabolism: “Mouse running on a standard wheel” Manuelito2021consupadre / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Drug discovery using AI: “Docking” Chaos / CC BY-SA 3.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (硬組織微細構造学教室): “Bone histomorphometry” Jbakalovic / CC BY 4.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (歯周病学教室): “Dental explorer and periodontal probe” Coronation Dental Specialty Group / CC BY-SA 3.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (生体材料工学教室): “Hüdroksüapatiidi kristallid” Martin.Neitsov / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (血管生物分子病理学教室): “Formation of the new blood vessels 2” Author: Patrycja Kowalska, Foundation of Research and Science Development, Poland Fundacja Badań i Rozwoju Nauki / CC BY 4.0 (cropped)
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