TEL. 03-3353-8111
〒162-8666 8-1, Kawada-cho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo
We often feel that the key to the successful management of a disease of unknown pathogenesis in our field of specialization is always hidden in some unfamiliar field. The slogan of our department is ‘From incurable to curable’. Are you satisfied with the present standard treatment of intractable diseases associated with chromosomal anomaly or cerebral palsy ? If your answer is ‘No’, then please join us to investigate new strategies for these incurable diseases. We are currently trying to find new ways to utilize regenerative medicine in order to be able to effectively treat those diseases.
1. Study to elucidate the pathogenesis of Kawasaki Disease (Dr. Nagata)
In our previous study, we found certain microbes that produce heat-shock
protein 60 and which have superantigenic-like properties on the surface
of the pharyngeal and upper gastrointestinal tract mucosa, which might
play a role in the onset of Kawasaki disease. We will perform further investigations
on these microbes in this project.
2. Investigation of vaginal bacterial flora causing premature delivery.
(Dr. Nagata)
We recently developed novel probes to search for microbes in the vaginal
bacterial flora that may cause premature delivery. We will attempt to regulate
these microbes to protect patients from premature delivery due to bacterial
vaginosis.
3. Effectiveness of probiotics for maintaining remission of inflammatory
bowel diseases. (Dr Nagata)
We will demonstrate that a probiotic strain can contribute to maintaining
the remission of inflammatory bowel diseases in a clinical trial. This
has previously been reported in animal models
4. Audiovisual cognitive development and its disorders in full term neontates
and prematurely born babies.(Dr. Hirasawa)
The survival rate of very low birth weight babies are decreasing with the
progress of the neonatal medicine. But the occurrence of the developmental
disorders in prematurely born babies. So it seems to be necessary to study
the audiovisual development in early infancy in these babies and full term
babies using the new technology such as gaze detectors.
5. Developmental trajectory of very low birth weight babies with autistic
trait and intervention (Dr. Hirasawa)
It is becoming a problem that the occurrence rate of autism spectrum disorders
in prematurity born babies is increasing. It seems to be interesting to
investigate the developmental trajectory of the prematurely born babies
with autistic trait from a vast follow- up data in our NICU graduates And
analyzing such data, we would like to suggest the efficient procedures
of developmental intervention.
6.Neurophysiological study of myoclonic seizures and epileptic spasms (Dr.
Oguni)
In order to investigate the underlying neurophysiological mechanism of
myoclonic seizures and epileptic spasms, we study on ictal polygraphs of
these seizures by means of computer-based EEG analysis to measure the latency
between various EEG components of epileptic EEG seizures and the onset
of EMG manifestation, and also high-frequency oscillation in the epileptic
EEG seizures.
7. Translational research for pediatric malignant tumor. (Translational
research) Available also except a medical doctor. (Dr. Tsuruta)
To learn the translational research (mediation research from basic to clinical)
about the treatment of a childhood cancer, for example, the molecular targeted
therapies, the cancer peptide vaccines, the chimeric antigen receptor T-cell
therapies, the inhibitors of regulatory T-cell, the immune checkpoint inhibitors,
or the oncolytic viruses. Especially, to learn the process to how to make
the plan of a basic experiment, to make the protocol of a clinical trial,
to take data, and to make recognition of the pharmaceutical affairs , etc.
8. Development of new drugs for pediatric malignant tumor (Investigator
initiated clinical trial). (Dr. Tsuruta)
To learn the translational research (mediation research from basic to clinical)
about the treatment of a childhood cancer, for example, the molecular targeted
therapies, the cancer peptide vaccines, the chimeric antigen receptor T-cell
therapies, the inhibitors of regulatory T-cell, the immune checkpoint inhibitors,
or the oncolytic viruses, that are applied to the adult, but children.
9. Trial of new therapy for the intractable hematopoietic diseases. (Dr.
Tsuruta)
To learn a proccess of development of the new therapy for such as the intractable
hemolytic anemia, by using the technique of molecular therapy or cellular
therapy, such as a gene therapy or a hematopoietic-stem-cell-transplantation.
10. Clinical or basic research for incurable neurogenic or muscular diseases
by the tissue stem cells. (Dr. Tsuruta)
Available also except a medical doctor. To learn the clinical or basic
research of the regeneration medicine which used tissue stem cells, such
as a mesenchymal stem cell, for various incurable diseases, such as neurogenic
diseases, muscular diseases or metabolism diseases.
11. Approach to developing a new treatment for Fukuyama congenital muscular
dystrophy (Dr.Ishigaki)
Our emeritus professor, Dr. Fukuyama, reported the first patient with Fukuyama
congenital muscular dystrophy (FCMD) in our department. Since reports of
FCMD patients are localized within Japan, only a few institutes are working
to develop a treatment for this disease, in contrast to the extensive research
being conducted on Duchenne muscular dystrophy. We are planning (i) to
identify new factors causing necrosis or exacerbating FCMD in order to
discover new methods of treatment and (ii) to develop regenerative medicine
techniques employing stem cells with Dr. Tsuruta’s (Associate professor)
group.
12. Steroid therapy for patients with FCMD (Dr.Ishigaki)
Steroid therapy is now part of the care recommendations for Duchenne muscular
dystrophy and is in widespread routine use. The evidence that short-term
steroid administration is also effective for aggravation of muscle weakness
after infections in FCMD patients supports the possible efficacy of this
therapy for FCMD patients, but only a few cases have been reported to date.
We are planning a prospective study to assess the efficacy of long-term
steroid therapy for patients with FCMD.
13. A novel measure of function for FCMD (Dr.Ishigaki)
Within a few years, we might be able to launch a clinical trial for FCMD
patients. To assess the efficacy of any new medication, we need a stable
and highly reliable measure that accurately reflects function in FCMD patients.
We are planning to evaluate actinography as a promising tool for function
measurement in FCMD patients.
Satoru Nagata, MD, PhD. Professor and Chairman of the department, Director
of Children’s Medical Center
Kyoko Hirasawa, MD, PhD. Associate Professor K
eiko Ishigaki, MD, PhD. Assistant Professor
Akiko Takeshita, MD, PhD. Research Associate
Miyuki Sakakibara, MS. Clinical Psychologist
Satoshi Kusuda, MD, PhD. Professor of Neonatal Medicine
Research Achievements Database
〒162-8666
8-1, Kawada-cho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo
TEL +81-3-3353-8111