Juntaro Matsuzaki, PhD

My main research interest is the early detection and precision medicine using liquid biopsy technique. Now I am involved in the Japanese multi-center national project for comprehensive circulating microRNA profiling of 13 types of solid cancers (stomach, esophagus, lung, liver, biliary tract, pancreas, colon, ovary, prostate, bladder and breast cancers, as well as sarcoma and glial tumors), and performing microarray experiments and statistical analysis. Using this database, for example, we identified serum biomarker microRNAs for the screening of ovarian cancer (Nature Communications 2018), and those for the prediction of lymph node metastasis of breast cancer before the surgery (Clinical Cancer Research 2018).
Through this experience, I strongly felt that we need to know more about the biology of circulating miRNAs. Although we know that circulating miRNA profiles of cancer patients are distinct from those of healthy populations, the major reasons for it are still unknown. Previously we thought that aberrant expression of miRNAs in cancer cells would affect the circulating miRNA profiles. So I would like to improve my basic research skill in your lab and ultimately reveal underlying mechanisms how circulating miRNA profiles are determined.
Now I also have a more basic research topic, which aims to develop novel cell sources for the regeneration therapy for pancreatic beta cells. Using some small molecules, we could reprogram mature pancreatic ductal cells to pancreatic progenitor-like cells, which could differentiate to insulin-expressing cells in mouse (Oral presentation in Gordon Research Conference in 2017).
Originally I am a gastroenterologist. I can provide some suggestions from the clinical point of view, and I also have the skills to handle clinical information. I believe my basic and translational research experiences can also contribute to works in your lab.