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Endocrinology and Metabolism Lab
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A lab that explores diabetes and endocrine and metabolic diseases from both clinical and basic research perspectives.
AboutAbout the lab
Aiming to elucidate the pathophysiology of diabetes, endocrine disorders, and metabolic diseases
The Endocrinology and Metabolism Lab integrates clinical care, research, and education for diabetes and for endocrine and metabolic diseases.
The department has four labs, the First through the Fourth, each pursuing distinctive clinical and basic research.
Prof. Shimomura has worked on elucidating the pathophysiology of visceral fat obesity and on the discovery of adiponectin, a hormone derived from adipocytes.
The department's guiding principles include respecting senior colleagues while nurturing those who follow, and enjoying academic study at the university.
Key terms
- Adiponectin
- A hormone secreted by adipocytes. It was discovered in this department, and its physiological and pathological significance is being studied.
- Pancreatic β cells
- Cells in the pancreas that secrete insulin. In diabetes, their secretion declines.
- Glucotoxicity
- A phenomenon in which sustained hyperglycemia further impairs insulin biosynthesis and secretion in pancreatic β cells.
- Ectopic fat accumulation
- Accumulation of fat in places other than adipose tissue, such as the pancreas, heart, and large blood vessels.
ResearchResearch themes
The Endocrinology and Metabolism Lab is a department that integrates clinical care and research on diabetes, endocrine diseases, and obesity. Its four labs, the First through the Fourth, each conduct distinctive clinical and basic research.
*Illustrative imageResearch on pancreatic β cells and glucose flux
The lab investigates the mechanism of "glucotoxicity," in which sustained hyperglycemia reduces insulin secretion from pancreatic β cells. It also analyzes glucose flux and reduced insulin sensitivity (insulin resistance) organ by organ, aiming for treatment matched to each patient's pathology.
*Illustrative imageDiabetes research using patients' pancreases
The lab histologically analyzes the causes and pathology of diabetes using patients' pancreases, and case analysis is also a pillar of its research. It also analyzes ectopic fat accumulation, focusing on the pancreas, heart, and large blood vessels.
*Illustrative imageResearch on visceral fat and adiponectin
This is the lab where the concepts of visceral fat obesity and metabolic syndrome originated. It is highly regarded for its discovery of adiponectin, a secreted factor derived from fat, and for research clarifying its physiological, pathological, and clinical significance.
*Illustrative imageResearch on endocrinology and adipocyte dysfunction
Working together with the group of the Department of Pathology and Pathophysiology, the lab aims to clarify clinical problems and develop treatments in endocrinology and in the study of adipocyte dysfunction.
MembersFaculty
The members of the Endocrinology and Metabolism Lab consist of Professors, Associate Professors, Lecturers, Assistant Professors, faculty of endowed chairs, project faculty, visiting faculty, hospital physicians, and graduate students.As of 2026
- Professor, Head of Clinical DepartmentIichiro Shimomura
- Professor, Endowed ChairMichio Otsuki
- Associate Professor, Deputy Department Head, Director of Clinical Division, Hospital ProfessorNaoto Katakami
- Associate Professor, Endowed ChairJunji Ozawa
- Associate Professor, Hospital ProfessorDan Kawamori
- Lecturer, Faculty of Medicine; Ward ChiefKazuyuki Miyashita
- LecturerYosuke Okuno
- LecturerMitsuyoshi Takahara
- Lecturer, Faculty of MedicineShoko Kobayashi
- Associate Professor, Endowed ChairYuya Fujishima
- Associate Professor, Endowed ChairMegumi Batono
- Assistant ProfessorShiro Fukuda
- Lecturer, Faculty of MedicineShugo Sasaki
- Lecturer, Faculty of MedicineKosuke Mukai
- Assistant ProfessorChisaki Ishibashi
- Assistant ProfessorShigenori Nishitani
- Assistant ProfessorYoshiya Obata
- LecturerHirofumi Nagao
- Assistant ProfessorToshiharu Onodera
- Assistant Professor, Endowed ChairTomomi Horii
- Assistant ProfessorTomoaki Hayakawa
- Assistant Professor, Endowed ChairNaohiro Taya
- Project Assistant ProfessorSatoshi Kawada
- Project LecturerToshihiko Shiraiwa
- Project Assistant ProfessorIssei Omori
- Project LecturerTakao Nanmo
- Project LecturerSho Yoneda
- Project LecturerYukari Fujita
- Project LecturerShingo Fujita
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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: “Inzulínová pera” Mr Hyde at Czech Wikipedia (Original text: moje foto) / Public domain (cropped)
- Research on pancreatic β cells and glucose flux: “Mouse pancreatic islet” Jakob Suckale / CC BY-SA 3.0 (cropped)
- Diabetes research using patients' pancreases: “Histology of pancreas 2” Netha Hussain / CC BY-SA 3.0 (cropped)
- Research on visceral fat and adiponectin: “Blausen 0012 AdiposeTissue” BruceBlaus. When using this image in external sources it can be cited as: Blausen.com staff (2014). "Medical gallery of Blausen Medical 2014". WikiJournal of Medicine 1 (2). DOI:10.15347/wjm/2014.010. ISSN . / CC BY 3.0 (cropped)
- Research on endocrinology and adipocyte dysfunction: “Adipocyte types-es” KTroike de la traducción Lorito987 / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Neurology Lab): “Neuron (100x magnification)” Ns takes photos / CC BY 4.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Host Defense Lab): “House Dust Mite” Employee of US Government / Public domain (cropped)
- Related lab (Hospital Clinical Laboratory Medicine Lab): “Clinical Chemistry Analyzer , Клинички биохемиски анализатор 1” Делфина / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Dermatology Lab): “Dermatology - Skin -- Smart-Servier” Laboratoires Servier / CC BY-SA 3.0 (cropped)
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