About our study

About our study

　　This international collaborative research team comprises top international researchers from China, Korea and Japan with proven expertise in cellular senescence and aging. Our research interests include in vivo imaging, animal models of aging and age-related diseases, including cancer. On the technical side, several researchers are working to develop state-of-the-art techniques to analyze the transcriptome and epigenome at the single-cell level in senescent cells. Thus, by focusing on cellular senescence, we aim to control aging and age-related diseases and achieve healthy longevity in East Asia. The research group consists of three teams as described below.

Team A：　Leader　Mei Tian （China）

<Aim>　Search for novel biomarkers of aging using multi-omics analysis and develop in vivo imaging systems of senescent cells

<Research Topic>　Prof. Mei Tian will take the lead of this team with her expertise in multi-modality imaging technology, human phenome studies, and clinical theranostics. This task of team is to conduct multi-omics bioinformatics analysis to identify potential biomarkers for the early detection of aging-associated conditions and diseases. Molecular imaging probes (or imaging agents) will be developed and applied in cells and animal models for non-invasive visualization of aging-associated biomarkers.

Team B：　Leader　Jaewhan Song （Korea）

<Aim>　Elucidate the role of cellular senescence using model organisms

<Research Topic>　Prof. Jaewhan Song will take the lead of this team with his expertise in using model organisms and mouse disease models. This team members will collaborate together to elucidate the role of cellular senescence in vivo, and to clarify the role of senescent cells by manipulating and removing senescent cells in model organisms and mouse disease models.

Team C：　Leader　Naoko Ohtani （Japan）

<Aim>　Pathophysiology of cellular senescence in vivo.

<Research Topic>　Prof. Naoko Ohtani, will take the lead of this team, as a specialist of the research on cellular senescence and SASP. This team will elucidate the role of cellular senescence and SASP in age-related diseases and cancers by using animal models. In addition, they will investigate the inter-cellular networks between senescent cells and surrounding cells in each pathophysiological models, for example, by using special transcriptomes that could lead to create the treatment of aging-associated diseases.