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Taki Lab
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A lab that studies molecules and mechanics, aiming for future medicine that uses fewer drugs.
AboutAbout the lab
Toward future medicine with as little medication as possible.
The Taki Lab studies the fundamental principles of molecules and mechanics, aiming for future medicine that uses as little medication as possible.
Aiming for drugs that remain effective for a long time after a single dose, the lab uses peptides and DNA aptamers to study mid-sized-molecule drugs that form covalent bonds only with their target proteins.
In joint research with the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan, the lab also develops devices and materials that read out the forces acting on hydrogels using light.
The lab is small, and it emphasizes students choosing their own problems, forming hypotheses, and moving their research forward on their own.
Key terms
- Mid-sized molecules
- Molecules such as peptides and nucleic acids. They can recognize a target at multiple points and are easy to modify through chemical or enzymatic reactions.
- Covalent bond
- A bond by which a drug irreversibly binds to its target protein, inhibiting the target semi-permanently.
- DNA aptamer
- DNA that has the property of binding to a target. The lab studies how to convert it into a drug by attaching a reactive group that forms a covalent bond.
- Hydrogel
- A synthetic gel-like material that serves as a scaffold for cells. The lab uses it as a material that reads out forces as changes in light.
NewsLab news
A paper on the photoelasticity of hydrogels was selected for the Outside Front Cover of Chem. Commun.
A paper on the ARCaDia method, which finds DNA-based covalent drugs in a single round, was published in Chem. Commun.
Prof. Taki and colleagues received an Excellent Interdisciplinary Research Award from the Japan Society of Mechanical Engineers.
An undergraduate student received an Outstanding Presentation Award for a graduation thesis at the university.
A master's student received an Outstanding Poster Presentation Award at the Research Meeting on Fundamental Science and Engineering.
ResearchResearch themes
The Taki Lab works on drugs that remain effective for a long time after a single dose and recognize only their target proteins with high selectivity, as well as on technologies for measuring invisible forces. By combining chemistry, life science, and optics, it aims for “medicine that reduces the need for drugs.”
*Illustrative imageDesign Foundations for Mid-Sized-Molecule Covalent Drugs
Toward the design of mid-sized-molecule covalent drugs (bioTCI), the lab integrates NGS, mass spectrometry, molecular dynamics calculations, and AI-based analysis to investigate the relationships among sequence, affinity, reactivity, and dynamic structure. It aims to clarify the local environment in which a drug reacts and the essential nature of transient interactions between biomolecules.
*Illustrative imageSeeing Cellular Forces in 3D
The lab aims to read out the tiny forces that cells exert on their surroundings in 3D, from the optical response of hydrogels. With SiBRe, a device built in joint research with the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan, it measures stress and birefringence simultaneously without fluorescent labels.
MembersFaculty
The members of the Taki Lab are faculty members, a visiting professor, a secretary, and doctoral, master's, and undergraduate students.As of 2026
- ProfessorMasumi Taki
VoicesStudent voices
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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: “Picture of peptide hydrogel formation shown by the inverted vial method” Hutchinson Jessica / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Design Foundations for Mid-Sized-Molecule Covalent Drugs: “Flow chart for structure based drug design” Laozhengzz / CC BY-SA 3.0 (cropped)
- Seeing Cellular Forces in 3D: “Cell on 2D Monolayer vs. 3D Hydrogel with RGD” Lisa Zlanino / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Hirano Lab): “Photinus pyralis Firefly glowing” art farmer from evansville indiana, usa / CC BY-SA 2.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Kitada Lab): “Close-up view of a bioluminescent beetle Elateroidea” Basile Morin / CC BY 4.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Tanaka Lab): “Mitochondrial DNA lg” National Human Genome Research Institute / Public domain (cropped)
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