Professor / Director / Chairman
Satoru Takahashi




Genetically Modified Mouse Laboratory


Professor Satoru Takahashi specializes in Molecular Biology and Developmental Engineering. He conducts research on the molecular mechanisms of organ formation and cell differentiation by the Large Maf Transcription Factor family. In particular, he focuses on research into the formation of pancreatic endocrine cells; formation of renal podocytes; and regulation of macrophage functions.

In recent years, in collaboration with the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), Professor Takahashi has been conducting the first space mouse flight experiments aboard the International Space Station (ISS), within the Japanese ‘Kibo’ space laboratory module.

Professor Takahashi is the Director and Chairman of Transborder Medical Research Center (TMRC). He also serves as a Professor of the Genetically Modified Mouse Laboratory (Laboratory Animal Resource Center) within the Animal Resources Division, and as a Professor of the Anatomy and Embryology Department within the Faculty of Medicine at University of Tsukuba, Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan.

Professor Takahashi initially graduated from Tohoku University’s School of Medicine in 1987, where he obtained his Medical Doctor license (MD). He later entered the Graduate School of Medicine at Tohoku University and received his Doctorate in Medicine in 1991 before moving to Switzerland to complete studies for his Postdoctoral Fellow at University of Geneva’s Department of Pathology, under supervision of Professor Shozo Izui, between 1991 and 1994.

Upon returning to Japan in 1994, Professor Takahashi became an Assistant Professor at Tohoku University and has lectured at the University of Tsukuba since 1996. He became a Professor in year 2000. In addition, Professor Takahashi was Director of the Laboratory Animal Resources Center between 2009 and 2014, and then became Director of Transborder Medical Research Center (TMRC) from 2017.

Professor Takahashi has received numerous notable awards for his efforts and contributions to Science throughout his research career, including the Tohoku University Medical School’s Silver Award in 1991; University of Tsukuba’s Best Faculty Member award in 2016 and in 2018, the “ISS Award for Compelling Results in Biology and Medicine” from ISS R&D Conference in San Fransisco, USA. Most recently, he also received the 2020 Ando-Tajima Award from the Japan Association for Laboratory Animal Science and the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT).

Professor Satoru Takahashi brings an immense depth of knowledge and research expertise to head up the Transborder Medical Research Center (TMRC) for research coordination and important ongoing research and discovery efforts.





See Research Profile (External Site)


GM Mouse Resources Research


See Associated External Research Website