Greetings from the Director of the Center

This center was established in April 2024 as a university-wide center that focuses on research on intestinal diseases and aims to meet the needs of society. Intestinal diseases are among the most prevalent diseases worldwide, and acute intestinal diseases such as diarrhea in particular claim more than 1.5 million lives each year. In addition, chronic intestinal diseases such as ulcerative colitis are on the rise in Japan, and the need to address these issues is increasing.
The Center will establish a multidisciplinary research system and organization to promote comprehensive intestine research utilizing data from patients and healthy individuals. Specifically, the Center has the following four objectives.

1. Promote comprehensive gut research by integrating gut-related research resources and utilizing data.
2. Strengthen interdisciplinary collaborative research systems and prepare for international outbreaks of acute intestinal diseases.
3. Elucidation of pathophysiology of chronic intestinal diseases and intestinal flora-related diseases from an international perspective.
4. Fostering human resources such as young researchers who will play a central role in future research on intestinal diseases and intestinal health science.

Through these activities, we aim to contribute to the improvement of intestinal and human health. In addition, as part of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology's Program for Forming Japan’s Peak Research Universities (J-PEAKS), we intend to contribute to the realization of a wellbeing society and social reforms through medical innovation.

Director of research center for intestinal health science
Keiji Naruse