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NEXT FRONTIER
A poster session offering access to cutting-edge knowledge through interaction with researchers
Recipients of NEDO’s Young Researcher Discovery and Support Program through Public-Private Partnership
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Chiba University
Shinnosuke Hirata
Researcher availability hours:Thursday, May 14th, 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Technology for measuring tissue elasticity and viscosity based on shear wave characteristics using ultrasound imaging
- Ultrasound imaging
- Measurement of tissue elasticity and viscosity
The true stiffness of biological tissue, as perceived through the sense of touch, is defined by the combination of its elasticity and viscosity. In this study, we propose the non-invasive and high-accuracy technology for measuring tissue elasticity and viscosity. In the proposed technique, shear waves of various frequencies are generated within the tissue, and their propagation speeds are estimated from ultrasound imaging. By fitting the frequency characteristics of the shear wave speed to a physical model composed of elastic and viscous elements, both elasticity and viscosity can be simultaneously quantified from the model parameters.
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Kyoto University
Masanobu Horie
Researcher availability hours:Wednesday, May 13th 14:00-17:00
Thursday, May 14th, 10:00 AM - 1:00 PMMaturation and Functional Evaluation of Human Cells Based on Differences in Bioreactor Agitation Methods.
- Bioreactor
- Cell manufacturing
- Cell therapy
Mass cell culture is essential for the practical application of cell therapy, but "cost" and "maturation" remain significant challenges. While suspension culture is suitable for efficient mass production, the shear stress caused by agitation—a mechanobiological stimulus—affects cell proliferation and characteristics. Aiming to achieve cell control via physical stimuli, this study cultured human cells using bioreactors with different agitation methods. By comparing their behavior and function, the study evaluated the impact of agitation types on the cells
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Kyoto University
Peizheng Wu
Researcher availability hours:Wednesday, May 13th 14:00-17:00
Thursday, May 14th, 10:00 AM - 1:00 PMDevelopment of customizable skin turnover models
- Alternatives to animal testing
- In vitro models
- Tissue engineering
We aim to develop a skin model using 3D bioprinting that precisely reproduces the three-layered structure of human skin (epidermis, dermis, and subcutaneous tissue) together with a vascular network, and enables long-term culture for several months through connection to a perfusion system.This model can reproduce natural skin turnover and chronic toxicity, making it suitable for long-term safety and efficacy evaluation of cosmetics, detergents, and pharmaceuticals. Because layer thickness and cellular composition can be freely controlled, customized models for different skin types can be generated. In addition, the use of a standardized manufacturing process allows low-cost production with high reproducibility and scalability.
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Nagoya University
Masahiro Matsunaga
Researcher availability hours:Wednesday, May 13th 14:00-17:00
Thursday, May 14th, 10:00 AM - 1:00 PMTextile-based triboelectric energy harvester
- Energy harvesting
- Smart textile
- Wearable
We are developing energy harvesting technologies that use friction to convert small mechanical energy into electrical energy. In this study, we fabricated a wearable energy-harvesting garment that generates electricity from human motion through contact between fabrics. This technology has significant potential as a supplementary power source for wearable devices and for motion sensing in healthcare applications.
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National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology
Tomoya Sato
Researcher availability hours:Wednesday, May 13th 14:00-17:00
Thursday, May 14th, 10:00 AM - 1:00 PMNovel Fluorine-free Surface Treatment Agents with Enhanced Functionality Enabled by Natural Products
- Fluoride-free
- Anti-fouling surfaces
- Natural-product-based materials
Fluorinated compounds have long been used as surface treatment agents due to their excellent water and oil repellency. However, as the risks they pose to human health and the environment have become increasingly evident in recent years, the development of alternative technologies is urgently needed. To address this societal challenge, we have initiated the development of a fluorine free surface treatment agent, supported by NEDO, using a new approach that enhances functionality through the utilization of natural products. In this study, we present our development concept, along with an overview of the prototype surface treatment agents and their performances.
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The University of Tokyo
Hiroyasu Yamahara
Researcher availability hours:Wednesday, May 13th 14:00-17:00
Thursday, May 14th, 10:00 AM - 1:00 PMDevelopment of Functional Oxide Gas Sensors for Health Monitoring
- Gas sensor
- Functional oxide materials
- Health monitoring
Disease diagnosis based on odors such as body odor and breath is known as olfactory diagnosis. Human body gases, which are the source of these odors, contain more than 1,000 chemical components and are known to reflect physiological conditions and diseases. Establishing highly sensitive methods for measuring body gases is expected to enable the development of non-invasive healthcare devices. In this study, we aim to identify gas biomarkers that correlate with health conditions and diseases through the analysis of biological gases, and to develop compact gas sensors capable of measuring these body gases.
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The University of Tokyo
Takuma Ito
Researcher availability hours:Wednesday, May 13th 14:00-17:00
Thursday, May 14th, 10:00 AM - 1:00 PMCooperative driving arbitration system for multiple mobility
- Connected Autonomous Mobility
- Delivery Robot
- Cooperative Driving Arbitration
For realizing the social implementation of delivery robots, we are trying to develop a cooperative remote driving arbitration system to avoid simultaneous high-risk situations during the remote monitoring of multiple delivery robots, and to validate the core principles through experiments with actual devices in real-world environments. Specifically, based on digital map technologies and vehicle motion control technologies, we aim to achieve the stable simultaneous operation of multiple delivery robots by optimizing the time it takes for each robot to reach risk points in the assumed driving environments.
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Tohoku University
Junnosuke Okajima
Researcher availability hours:ー
High-heat-flux cooling technology via evaporation of ultra-thin liquid film for next-generation high-power motor
- Cooling
- Motor
- Liquid film evaporation
Improving motor performance is essential for the electrification of transport systems, such as EVs, electric aircraft, and electric motor-pump rocket engines. A key issue in high-power motors is the effective cooling of magnets. We are developing an evaporative liquid film cooling system to solve this issue. Our goals are to optimize the flow system for uniform film distribution and to investigate surface structures that enable high-heat-flux cooling.
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Tohoku University
Haruka Yoshino
Researcher availability hours:Wednesday, May 13th 14:00-17:00
Thursday, May 14th, 10:00 AM - 1:00 PMEnhancing the functionality of metal-organic frameworks through morphological control to enable selective luminescent detection of trace amounts of toxic gases
- Metal-organic frameworks (MOF)
- Toxic gas sensing
Against the backdrop of environmental pollution and health hazards—problems arising from rapid industrial and economic growth driven by advances in science and technology—which have become pressing social issues, there has been growing interest in recent years in the development of materials capable of selectively capturing and separating toxic chemical species in our surroundings and detecting them with high sensitivity. In this research, we aim to enhance sensing performance by controlling the morphology of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) to enable the selective detection of toxic gases at low concentrations.
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University of Hyogo
Ippei Tanaka
Researcher availability hours:Wednesday, May 13th 14:00-17:00
Thursday, May 14th, 10:00 AM - 1:00 PMDiamond Coating Technology for Achieving Low Friction and High Durability
- Diamond
- Plasma
- Film
We are developing a technology to grow highly smooth diamond films on practical components without polishing, aiming to address wear and high friction in sliding parts that hinder the efficiency of mechanical systems for a decarbonized society. Using our original CH₄ concentration-modulated plasma method, we have demonstrated diamond films with high hardness, excellent smoothness, and low friction, achieving a surface roughness of Sz ≤ 0.20 µm, a hardness of 50 GPa or higher, and a friction coefficient of 0.035. We are advancing its application to tools, molds, and mechanical components.
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University of Yamanashi
Tatsuru Kamei
Researcher availability hours:Wednesday, May 13th 14:00-17:00
Thursday, May 14th, 10:00 AM - 1:00 PMWastewater treatment and valuable resource production technologies based on hydrogen oxidizing bacterial activity
- Hydrogen
- Wastewater treatment
- Resource production
This study aims to develop wastewater treatment technologies and valuable resource production technologies using the activity of hydrogen-oxidizing bacteria, which can grow using hydrogen gas, a clean energy source. We are working to implement these novel technologies to achieve carbon emission reduction and minimize the environmental load caused by human activities.
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Yamaguchi University
Kazuhiro Yamabuki
Researcher availability hours:Wednesday, May 13th 14:00-17:00
Thursday, May 14th, 10:00 AM - 1:00 PMNext-Generation Rechargeable Batteries Using High Sulfur Content Polymers as Cathode Active Materials
- Sulfur
- Rechargeable battery
- Polymer
The development of a green society requires devices capable of storing renewable energy efficiently and in large quantities. In this study, we designed a novel high–sulfur-content material in which sulfur was chemically modified, aiming at the development of next-generation rechargeable batteries that are both low-cost and capable of achieving high energy density. This material exhibited physicochemical properties distinct from those of conventional sulfur, including adhesiveness, stretchability, and solubility. When used as a cathode active material, it led to improved charge–discharge performance in lithium–sulfur rechargeable batteries.
From “PHD Lab.”,
the University of Tokyo × JR East 100-Year Co-creation Project
Next-Generation Researchers Corner
Featuring poster presentations by next-generation researchers advancing their work at the University of Tokyo Planetary Health Research Institute,
established at TAKANAWA GATEWAY CITY in 2025.
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The University of Tokyo
Ruri Iwai
Researcher availability hours:Wednesday, May 13th 14:00-17:00
Thursday, May 14th, 10:00 AM - 1:00 PMAI/DX Nutrition ~Sustaining Human Life on Earth — Rethinking the Systems That Make Our Existence Possible Through Food ~
- AI/DX nutrition
- Planetary Health × Well being
- Co-Creating Sustainable Value for the Future
AI/DX Nutrition is a research field grounded in Exposome Biology—a novel scientific discipline that studies the totality of external factors, such as diet, environment, and lifestyle, and their impacts on the human body. It enables minimally invasive measurement of physiological states, including blood amino acid profiles, and uses artificial intelligence to predict health status and future risks. Furthermore, through digital transformation (DX), it translates these insights into the design of optimized interventions. Within this project, AI/DX Nutrition serves as a core technology to develop personalized dietary and lifestyle strategies that simultaneously enhance human health and reduce unnecessary consumption of food and resources.
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The University of Tokyo
Kotaro Kado
Researcher availability hours:Wednesday, May 13th 14:00-17:00
Thursday, May 14th, 10:00 AM - 1:00 PMAnalysis of Genome-segment Complementation during Co-infection by Genome-deficient Influenza A Viruses
- Virology
- Influenza A virus
- Digital assay
Influenza A virus has an eight-segmented RNA genome, and therefore contains many non-infectious particles lacking one or more genome segments. However, when multiple non-infectious particles co-infect a single cell, the missing genome segments may be complemented, potentially restoring productive infection. This suggests that such non-infectious particles may play a role in viral infection. In this study, we generated segment-deficient artificial viruses and co-infected cells with these defective viruses under controlled particle numbers using a digital influenza assay, in an attempt to demonstrate genome-segment complementation during co-infection and to analyze the properties of the defective viruses.
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The University of Tokyo
Soma Kosokabe
Researcher availability hours:Wednesday, May 13th 14:00-17:00
Thursday, May 14th, 10:00 AM - 1:00 PMMathematical Study on Error Catastrophe Avoidance in Influenza Virus
- Influenza Virus
- Genome Complementation
- Mathematical Model
Influenza viruses are known for their high mutation rates. Although these high rates help them adapt to changing environments, accumulating too many mutations can ultimately lead to their extinction. In fact, previous research shows that about half of these viral particles have incomplete genomes, and over 99% cannot infect a host on their own. To understand how they still manage to cause infections under such a high mutation rate, we created a mathematical model assuming that multiple viral particles work together to compensate for each other's missing genomes. Our findings demonstrate that this genetic complementation saves the viral population from dying out, even under high mutation rates that would normally destroy viruses infecting alone. This deepens our understanding of the influenza virus's survival strategies and could influence future approaches to fighting infectious diseases.
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