Nakao Lab

The heart keeps beating at 100,000 times/day (3 billion beats/human life!) without any rest. Every heartbeat results from fine-tuned regulation by the pacemaker tissue known as the cardiac conduction system that regularly generates electrical impulses and highly orchestrates impulse propagation from the right atrium to the entire heart muscle. When there is dysfunction of the cardiac conduction system, the heartbeat can be too slow/fast or irregular known as arrhythmia. Severe/life-threatening arrhythmias cause dizziness, syncope and sudden cardiac death.

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The Laboratory of Applied Molecular Physiology (Nakao Lab) at the College of Life Sciences, Ritsumeikan University has focused on the cardiac conduction system in health and disease. We aims to figure out the underlying molecular mechanism to generate heartbeat and, more specifically, to transcriptionally regulate pacemaking ion channels with multiple and comprehensive approaches from macro- (individual humans and animals) to micro-levels (genes and molecules). We also try to pursue the clinical application of our research achievements to develop novel therapies to improve and regenerate the intrinsic cardiac pacemaker function.

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The cardiac conduction system is a specialised tissue that has the typical function to regularly produce and coordinately transfer the cardiac impulse and localised in the heart like a small pulse generator with a wiring system. Studying the cardiac conduction system thus requires highly specific anatomical knowledge and experimental skills. This makes scientists hard to properly investigate the pacemaker tissue in health and disease. To date, many things about the cardiac conduction system remains unknown. We need to uncover the CCS biology in collaboration with international research network. The PI, Dr. Shu Nakao, DVM, PhD, has been in the field of the CCS research for many years. This experience covers wide range of experiments including animal experiments, pathophysiological studies, morphological and microscopic analyses as well as cell culture, general molecular biology and recently developed bioinformatics approaches. So we are the team who can promote to basic medical research to investigate how the heart rate is generated and controlled.

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In the Laboratory of Applied Molecular Physiology at Ritsumeikan University, we have been working on basic biomedical research focusing on the cardiac conduction system, the cardiac pacemaker tissue. Through the research activity, students learn specialised experimental skills and deep knowledge of the research field. Our lab provides an educational environment in which students are trained to learn independent research activity, communication and social skills, theoretical thinking and problem-solving skill. Thankful and cooperative mindset is our priority for the daily research activities. These are the basis to develop your bright personality for future works. The lab provides these opportunities to students in journal club, weekly lab meeting, project-oriented progress meeting and daily mentorship. Further to your outstanding efforts, students can give presentations of their research achievement in domestic and international scientific conferences (e.g. Physiological Society of Japan, Physiological Society, Japan Circulation Society, Japan Cardiovascular Association, Japan Society of Veterinary Cardiology, International Society of Cardiovascular Pharmacotherapy. Heart Rhythm Society). We also enthusiastically support student's carrier path and fellowship application.

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Dr. Shu Nakao, DVM, PhD

PI of the Laboratory of Applied Molecular Physiology