1. History

In June 1991, "Tsukuba Research Laboratory" was established in Tsukuba city, Ibaraki prefecture, to advance biotechnology and organic synthetic technology developed at the Nagoya Research Institute. In April 2007, it was renamed "Institute for Advanced Sciences" whose aim is to advance further into new fields.


2. Outline of Research and Development

In Nagoya, the focus has been on research and development of current businesses and their peripheral activities. The Institute for Advanced Sciences was established to create new businesses from a mid- to long-term perspective. The laboratory efficiently performs activities ranging from exploration to research in applications of various biotechnologies developed at our company. Such biotechnologies include bioinformatics and peptide designs. We are also advancing research and development by simultaneously focusing on expanding the target field. This is being accomplished by actively developing collaborations with research organizations outside of the company such as universities.

Research and Development Topics
  • Research and development of new functional peptides using our company's unique design and technology
    Research and development based on methods such as in bioinformatics are performed in collaborations with universities and corporations outside of our company's research organizations.

  • Research on induction of neuronal differentiation from somatic stem cells using peptides
    Our research project into neuron differentiation through peptides, carried out jointly with Yokohama City University, was chosen by the Japan Science and Technology Agency for its Research Program in Innovative Technology Development. The goal of this research program is to develop cures for intractable nerve diseases such as Parkinson's disease, retinal degeneration, and nerve conditions caused by injury to the spinal cord. The plan is to investigate technologies for differentiating a patient's own somatic stem cells (skin or marrow stem cells) to form nerve cells, which can then be transplanted into the patient to replace damaged nerve tissue. It is hoped that this research will make a valuable contribution to progress in regenerative medicine.

  • Research and development of new diagnostic drugs and drugs for tests
    Research is performed with a network of prominent research organizations in and out of Japan.
    • Keio Advanced Research Center "GSP Center"
    In June 2007, in a joint initiative with a team of researchers at the Department of Molecular Biology of Keio University, headed by Associate Professor Jun Kudo, we participate in the GSP ("Genome Super Power") Center - a branch of the Keio Advanced Research Centers - on the premises of our Institute for Advanced Sciences in Tsukuba. Together with the Keio University team, Toagosei is pursuing the Peptide-based Drug Creation Project, involving research into new functional peptides which, it is hoped, will display "super powers" with respect to the treatments of various diseases.
    In the future, we aim to develop business operations in new fields opened up through a combination of expertise accumulated in peptide engineering and our existing chemicals technologies. The project is also being assisted by Professor Emeritus Nobuyoshi Shimizu of Keio University.



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