Research Background

Genome editing is a recent biotechnology that allows genetic information (genomes) to accurately change. With genome editing, a person’s DNA cleaving enzyme (the genome-editing tool) is created. We aim for intracellular DNA and cut it out. The human genome has about 3 billion nucleotide sequences (A, G, C, T) of information contained in it. But with genome editing, you can cut out a specific part. Cut DNA may quickly repair itself depending on the multiple intracellular systems, but genome editing uses this repairing process to accurately alter genes. Similar to a natural mutation, genome editing can go from microbes to animals and plants. It is an innovative technology that is expected to achieve results in using micro-organisms for biofuel development, improve useful varieties of those micro-organisms that can be applied to drug discovery and the pharmaceutical field.

Research Contents

At Hiroshima University, we began developing the basic technologies for genome editing in 2008. Since then, we have announced many research results. We use a uniquely developed genome-editing tool (Platinum TALEN) to edit the genomes of micro-organisms, insects, sea urchins, frogs, newts, and other amphibians and mammals. Furthermore, as this technology improves, the workings of genes inside cells can be regulated and imaging can proceed.

Genome editing is expected to be applied from basic research to a wide range of sectors (biofuel development with algae, improvement of useful varieties, drug discovery, and gene therapy).

The Image of Social Implementation and Corporate Tie-ups

Hiroshima University, a leading genome-editing research institute, formed the Genome Editing Industry-Academia Collaborative Consortium in 2016. Thanks to the participation of many businesses, industrial technology development is progressing. Using microalgae in the gene-editing process, development of renewable fuels alternative to fossil fuels is progressing. In the medical field, to further genetic disease research, we made an iPS cell model and an animal model and have continued our work with researchers from here and abroad. Genome editing has high utility value when it comes to medical treatment. We are putting our energy into technological development that will further regenerative medicine and cell preparation for treating cancer.

http://www.mls.sci.hiroshima-u.ac.jp/smg/opera/index.html

Hiroshima University was chosen for the WISE Program (doctoral program for World Leading Innovative & Smart Education, which cultivates leading genome editors) by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT). Here, people learn from the basics of genome editing to the background of various applications, developing researchers who can create new industries and develop new industrial technologies.

https://genome.hiroshima-u.ac.jp/

To create new industries that use genome-editing techniques requires more than the basic knowhow of genome editing. Knowledge of the target organism and the substance to be produced is also necessary. At Hiroshima University, we are able to arrange for researchers that are not only genome editors, but also the type that can help with creating new industries. When it comes to social implementation, actual experience is necessary in a field segregated from the natural environment. The Hiroshima University east campus, one of the largest in Japan, has the activity and the local autonomy to cooperate with businesses. Its environment makes it easy for businesses to work in. Also, our policy is to aggressively build a genome-editing database for the advance of bio-informatics, which will be increasingly important in the future.

For companies interested in the above project, please contact us from the link below.