Research Director: Kenya HONDA
(Professor, Keio University, School of Medicine / Team Director, Center for Integrative Medical Science, RIKEN)
Research Term: Oct 2026 - Mar 2032
Grant Number: JPMJER2603

 

 

This research area aims to elucidate the direct effects of the microbiome on the maintenance of host homeostasis, as well as on the onset, progression, and amelioration of various diseases, and to establish the causal relationships underlying these effects. Particular emphasis will be placed on clarifying the metabolic and biotransformation pathways of dietary molecules that influence the intestinal ecosystem. Through these efforts, we seek to uncover the molecular mechanisms governing interactions between dietary components and gut microorganisms and thereby advance a fundamental understanding of host-microbiome interactions.

In particular, the research will focus on dietary molecules, especially plant-derived organic compounds, as key components of the exposome. By elucidating the metabolic mechanisms through which gut microbes transform these compounds and by characterizing the effects of the resulting bioactive metabolites on the host, we aim to reveal the mechanisms by which microbial metabolism regulates host physiology. Such knowledge is expected to substantially advance our understanding of the molecular basis underlying both the maintenance and disruption of health, and to contribute to the early detection of disease risk as well as the identification of novel targets for therapeutic intervention.

 

Research Groups

-Microbiome Discovery Group
-Synthetic Chemistry and Chemical Biology Group
-Structural Metabolomics Group
-Dietary Chemistry and Plant Systems Group
-Microbial gene manipulation Group
-Metagenomics and computational biology Group