Yasutomi Higashikuni, M.D., Ph.D., FESC

Yasutomi Higashikuni, M.D., Ph.D., FESC

Assistant Professor of Cardiovascular and Genetic Research

Jichi Medical University

Biography

Dr. Yasutomi Higashikuni is an Assistant Professor of Cardiovascular and Genetic Research at Jichi Medical University. His research interests include homeostatic inflammation, RNA metabolism and modification, aging, and synthetic biology in cardiovascular medicine. He is leading a new research field, “Synthetic Cardiology”, which creates novel gene and cell therapies that enable automatic reversal of aging phenotypes and maintenance of homeostasis.

Interests
  • Synthetic Cardiology
  • Homeostatic Inflammation
  • RNA Metabolism and Modification
  • Aging
Education
  • Ph.D. in Internal Medicine, 2010

    The University of Tokyo

  • M.D., 2002

    The University of Tokyo

Experience

 
 
 
 
 
Center for Molecular Medicine & Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Jichi Medical University
Assistant Professor
Center for Molecular Medicine & Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Jichi Medical University
Jun 2024 – Present Shimotsuke-shi,Tochigi

Research interests include, but not limited to:

  • Synthetic Cardiology
  • RNA metabolism and modification
  • Homeostatic Inflammation
  • Aging
 
 
 
 
 
Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, The University of Tokyo
Visiting Researcher
Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, The University of Tokyo
Jun 2024 – Present Tokyo

Research interests include, but not limited to:

  • Synthetic Cardiology
  • RNA metabolism and modification
  • Homeostatic Inflammation
  • Aging
 
 
 
 
 
Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, The University of Tokyo
Assistant Professor
Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, The University of Tokyo
Apr 2019 – May 2024 Tokyo

Research interests include, but not limited to:

  • Synthetic Cardiology
  • RNA metabolism and modification
  • Homeostatic Inflammation
 
 
 
 
 
Synthetic Biology Group, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Visiting Scientist
Synthetic Biology Group, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Oct 2015 – Mar 2019 Boston

Tim Lu Lab:

  • Living Cell Computation and Memory
  • Development of Novel Synthetic Antimicrobial Peptide
  • Combinatorial Phenotypic Screening
  • Next-Generation Gene Therapy for Heart Failure
 
 
 
 
 
Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, The University of Tokyo
Assistant Professor
Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, The University of Tokyo
Dec 2010 – Sep 2015 Tokyo

Higashikuni/Sata Lab:

  • Homeostatic Inflammation in Cardiovascular Disease (Including Multi-Organ Interaction)
  • Anti-Oxidant Response in Cardiovascular Disease
  • Renin-Angiotensin System in Cardiovascular Disease

Clinical Activity:

  • Percutaneous Coronary Intervention
 
 
 
 
 
Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, The University of Tokyo
Clinical Fellow
Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, The University of Tokyo
Apr 2010 – Dec 2010 Tokyo

Higashikuni/Sata Lab:

  • Homeostatic Inflammation in Cardiovascular Disease (Including Multi-Organ Interaction)
  • Anti-Oxidant Response in Cardiovascular Disease
  • Renin-Angiotensin System in Cardiovascular Disease

Clinical Activity:

  • Percutaneous Coronary Intervention
 
 
 
 
 
Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, The University of Tokyo
Graduate Student
Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, The University of Tokyo
Apr 2006 – Mar 2010 Tokyo

Sata Lab:

  • Homeostatic Inflammation in Cardiovascular Disease (Including Multi-Organ Interaction)
  • Anti-Oxidant Response in Cardiovascular Disease
  • Renin-Angiotensin System in Cardiovascular Disease

Clinical Activity:

  • Percutaneous Coronary Intervention
 
 
 
 
 
Cardiologist
Mitsui Memorial Hospital
Jun 2003 – Mar 2006 Tokyo
 
 
 
 
 
The University of Tokyo Hospital
Resident Physician
The University of Tokyo Hospital
Jun 2002 – May 2003 Tokyo
 
 
 
 
 
The University of Tokyo
Undergraduate Student
The University of Tokyo
Apr 1996 – Mar 2002 Tokyo

Accomplish­ments

Jokichi Takamine Young Investigator Award (2018)
Outstanding Presentation Award (2014)
Young Investigator Award (2014)
Young Investigator Award (2014)
Research Award (2013)
Young Investigator Award (2012)
Young Investigator Award (2012)
Young Investigator Award (2012)
Medical Award (2012)
Outstanding Poster Award (2012)
Young Investigator Award (2011)

Projects

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Synthetic Cardiology
Creating novel gene and cell therapies that enable automatic reversal of aging phenotypes and maintenance of homeostasis by introducing multimodal sense-and-respond capabilities into living cells.
Synthetic Cardiology
Aging
Elucidating how cardiac aging and its propagation occur.
Aging
RNA Metabolism and Modification in Cardiovascular disease
Deciphering RNA metabolism and modification in pathogenic mechanism of heart failure for development of novel therapeutic strategies.
RNA Metabolism and Modification in Cardiovascular disease
Homeostatic Inflammation in Cardiovascular Disease
Elucidating the mechanisms in which inflammation causes cardiovascular disease.
Homeostatic Inflammation in Cardiovascular Disease
Artificial Intelligence
Interconnecting “living machines” to digital devices.
Artificial Intelligence

People

Meet the Team

Principal Investigator

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Yasutomi Higashikuni, M.D., Ph.D., FESC

Assistant Professor of Cardiovascular and Genetic Research

Researchers

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Yu Tanaka, M.D., Ph.D.

Assistant Professor of Pediatrics

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Wenhao Liu, M.D.

Graduate Student

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Takumi Obana

Technical Assistant

Recent Publications

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