Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University
4-1 Seiryo-machi, Aoba-ku
Sendai-shi, Miyagi-ken
Japan 〒980-8575
Phone: +(81) 22-717-8496
IDAC is Japan's Center for Smart-Aging Research. We are a unique institute that is part of Tohoku University and we are affiliated with other national universities that also promote aging sciences.
It is a well-known fact that Japan’s population is aging faster than any other country in the world, and the need for aging research is becoming greater each day. Currently, the elderly make up more than 25% of the population, and in addition to the decline in birthrate, there is also a decline in the working population. In order to maintain a healthy society, it is clear that urgent measures must be taken to support an aging population.
The purpose of our institute is to shed light on the basic mechanisms of aging and to control age-related diseases, such as dementia and intractable cancers. To achieve our goals, we promote research under 3 main groups: (1) molecular mechanisms of aging and the self defense system, (2) molecular mechanism of carcinogenesis and cancer growth, and (3) brain maturation and aging. IDAC is one of the very few research institutes in the world that manages comprehensive multi-hierarchical medical research to focus on the complex mechanism of aging, by methods ranging from studying genes and cells using molecular biology techniques to directly studying people.
Specifically, our ultimate goal is to realize “smart-aging”, which refers to the development and maturation of individual abilities as one gets older, where everyone can welcome old age with liveliness and continue to be an active part of society. To make this possible, our goal is to provide medical support and policies as well as becoming a leading research center by showing the world that we can effectively manage a super-aging society. As time passes, it is critical for individuals and the population as a whole to remain healthy and continue to have the vitality for growth and wisdom.
We call this approach “SMART-AGING”.
-Ryuta KAWASHIMA, MD, Director of IDAC
July 19, 1880 - February 19, 1962
Scientist and Doctor of Internal Medicine
President, Tohoku University
Director and Founder, the Research Institute for Tuberculosis and Leprosy
Advisor, Chiba Institute of Technology
Awarded 2nd place for the Order of the Rising Sun
Professor Kumagai was born and raised in Shiojiri, Nagano. After earning his doctorate in Internal Medicine from the Tohoku Imperial University School of Medicine, he attended the University of Berlin, Germany, from 1911-1913 to study immunology, experimental therapeutics, and medical chemistry. After returning to Japan, he began his research on insulin usage to combat diabetes and tuberculosis, especially with BCG. Shortly thereafter, he founded the Research Institute for Tuberculosis and Cancer, which is known today as IDAC.
The Research Institute for Tuberculosis and Cancer (formerly the Research Institute for Tuberculosis and Leprosy), was founded in 1941 by the late professor Taizo KUMAGAI as its director. At the time the Institute was established, it was the second Research Institute of Tohoku University with the purpose of overcoming leprosy and tuberculosis, with departments in three different disciplines: Internal Medicine, Leprosy and Pathological Anatomy.
In 1944, three more departments were added, namely Bacteriology, Biochemistry and Pharmacology. A few years shortly thereafter, the Departments of Surgery and Pediatrics were added in 1950 and 1953. Since then, the area of research has been widened to cover both fundamental and clinical oncology. The practical knowledge and expertise acquired during almost two decades of tuberculosis research was then applied to the study of cancer. As a result, the Department of Lung Cancer was established in 1958 and the Department of Cancer Chemotherapy in 1962.
After several years of in-depth research, an informal committee of professors from the Institute declared a new ambitious program on cancer research in August 1966. Since then, a number of cancer research projects have been subsidized by the Ministry of Education, Science, Sports and Culture, together with other Ministries of the Japanese Government. Subsequently, the Department of Radiology was established in 1967 and the Department of Clinical Cancer Chemotherapy in 1969.
Due to a growth in research facilities and staff, the Institute took another great leap forward in July 1977, when it moved from the Hirose-machi area to its present site located in Seiryo-machi. During the transition, the Department of Leprosy was replaced by the Department of Immunology, and the Department of Microbiology (formerly the Department of Bacteriology), was reorganized as the Department of Cell Biology. Two years later, the Department of Medical Engineering and Cardiology was established in 1979.
The Institute’s long history was marked by another milestone when the Tumor Cell Repository attached to the Institute was inaugurated in 1984 in order to meet the demand of researchers throughout Japan and the world. By this time, the Institute comprised of thirteen Departments, a Cancer Cell Repository, an Animal Laboratory for Tumor Research, and a Radioisotope Laboratory. Almost a decade later in 1993, the establishment was renamed as the Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer (IDAC) to reflect its commitment to Smart-Aging research. At this point in IDAC’s modest history, the Institute consisted of five Divisions: Gene Research, Developmental Biology and Medicine, Organ Pathophysiology, Cancer Control and Brain Sciences, including sixteen departments with full research facilities.
In 1997, the Cancer Cell Repository was converted to a Cell Resource Center for Biomedical Research, and the Genome Research Center was founded in 2004. Five years later, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports and Science officially recognized IDAC as a Research Center for Aging and Cancer in 2009. In December 2018, the Department of Cognitive Health Science was established; and in addition, the Department of Metabolic Bioregulation in January 2019. The Institute is often abbreviated and called “Kareiken” in Japanese.
DEPARTMENT | PROFESSOR |
---|---|
Dept. Gene Expression Regulation | Hozumi MOTOHASHI |
Dept. Experimental Immunology | Toshiyuki TAKAI |
Dept. Immunobiology | Koetsu OGASAWARA |
Dept. Molecular and Cellular Biology | Hisanori HORIUCHI |
Dept. Metabolic Bioregulation | |
Dept. Modomics Biology and Medicine | Fan-Yan WEI |
Dept. Project Programs | Ryuta KAWASHIMA |
Dept. In Silico | Kengo KINOSHITA |
DEPARTMENT | PROFESSOR |
---|---|
Dept. Vascular Biology | Yasufumi SATO |
Dept. Molecular Oncology | Kozo TANAKA |
Dept. Cancer Biology | Natsuko CHIBA |
Dept. Clinical Oncology | Chikashi ISHIOKA |
Dept. Thoracic Surgery | Yoshinori OKADA |
DEPARTMENT | PROFESSOR |
---|---|
Dept. Developmental Neurobiology | Toshihiko OGURA |
Dept. Functional Brain Imaging | Ryuta KAWASHIMA |
Dept. Human Brain Science | Motoaki SUGIURA |
Dept. of Aging Research and Geriatric Medicine | Yasuyuki TAKI |
Dept. Cognitive Health Science | Ryuta KAWASHIMA |
Dept. Integrative Physiology | |
Dept. Cognitive and Behavioral Neuroscience |
DEPARTMENT | PROFESSOR |
---|---|
Div. Cognitive Neuroscience | Ryuta KAWASHIMA |
Department of New Therapeutics Innovation for Alzheimer’s and Dementia | Yukitsuka KUDO |
Department of New Therapeutics Innovation for Alzheimer’s and Dementia | Hiroyuki ARAI |
DEPARTMENT | PROFESSOR |
---|---|
Cell Resource Center for Biomedical Research | Yasuhisa MATSUI |
DEPARTMENT | PROFESSOR |
---|---|
Dept. Pre-Clinical Evaluation | Tomoyuki YAMBE |
Dept. Medical Engineering and Cardiology | Tomoyuki YAMBE |
Dept. Ubiquitous Sensing | Ryuta KAWASHIMA |
Dept. Biomedical Measurements | Yoshifumi SAIJO |
Dept. Respiratory Engineering | Yoshinori OKADA |
DEPARTMENT | PROFESSOR |
---|---|
Department of Redox Regulation | Hozumi MOTOHASHI |
Department of Metabolic Stress Regulation | Fan-Yan WEI |
Department of Chromosomal Stress Regulation | Kozo TANAKA |
Department of Bioinformatics |
DEPARTMENT | PROFESSOR |
---|---|
Brain MRI Center | Motoaki SUGIURA |
DEPARTMENT | SUPERVISOR |
---|---|
Laboratory Animal Resources | Kozo TANAKA |
Center of Research Instruments | Fan-Yan WEI |
The Global Affairs and Public Relations Office | Ryuta KAWASHIMA |
Administration Office | Administration Office |
FELLOW | NAME |
---|---|
IDAC Fellow | Akira YASUI |
IDAC Fellow | Yukitsuka KUDO |
IDAC is one of the most distinguished research institutes in the world for brain imaging with its advanced imaging facilities and large scale brain image databases that brings IDAC to the forefront of brain research.
The Cell Resource Center for Biomedical Research was established to collect, control, and distribute various human and animal cancer cells, while providing an extensive database for researchers worldwide. Cell lines include transplantable animal cell lines, such as the Yoshida sarcoma and rat ascites hepatoma (AH series), as well as human cell lines such as the murine and hybridoma cells.
Equipment | Function | Manufacturer |
---|---|---|
LAS4000mini | Quantitative Imaging of Gels & Blots by Chemiluminescence | GE Healthcare |
FLA-7000 | Laser Scanner. Fluorescence, IP, and Digitization | GE Healthcare |
ABI PRISM 310 | Genetic Analyzer | Applied Biosystems |
ABI 3130 | Genetic Analyzer,4-capillary | Applied Biosystems |
ABI 3130xl | Genetic Analyzer,16-capillary | Applied Biosystems |
LSM5 PASCAL | Confocal Laser Scanning Microscope | Carl Zeiss |
BIACORE2000 | Bio-Molecular Interaction Analysis | GE Healthcare |
DU 640 | UV/VIS Spectrophotometer | BECKMAN |
SpectraMax M2e | Microplate Reader | Molecular Devices |
Lmax II 384 | Luminometer | Molecular Devices |
OPT Scanner 3001 | Optical Projection Tomography | Medical Research Council Technology |
BR-3000L | Bioshaker | TAITEC |
Cytomics FC500 | Flow Cytometry Systems, 5-color Analysis | BECKMAN COULTER |
EPICS ALTRA | Flow Cytometry Systems, Hyper Sort Cell Sorting System | BECKMAN COULTER |
MC10000 | Wide Format Printer | EPSON |
iPF8300 | Large-Format Inkjet Printer | CANON |
CFX96 | Real-Time PCR | BIO-RAD |
AVIZO | High Performance 3D Visualization Software | VSG |
CS150GX | Micro Ultra Centrifuge | Hitachi Koki |
CM1900 | Disinfecting Cryostats for Sectioning | LEICA |
BZ-9000 | Fluorescence Microscopy | KEYENCE |
HA-320RS | Laminator(Pouch) | MEIKO SHOKAI |
CP65 β | Ultracentrifuge | Hitachi Koki Co., Ltd. |
4D-Nucleofector | Transfection | Lonza |
IVIS Lumina II | Quantitative Fluorescent and Bioluminescent Imaging in Vivo | SPI (Caliper Life Sciences) |
FV1000MPE | Multiphoton Laser Scanning Microscope | OLYMPUS |
IDAC is always on the look-out for talented individuals who excel in their area of study and are able to find practical applications for their research. If you would like to join us for your future endeavors, please choose your area of interest to find out more about what we do and what we have to offer.
![]() Mechanisms of Aging |
![]() Overcoming Intractable Cancers |
![]() Overcoming Age-Related Brain Diseases |
![]() Achieving "Smart Aging" |
Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University 4-1 Seiryocho, Aobaku, Sendai 980-8575, Japan
Institute Map
Seiryo Campus Map
Access from Sendai Station
Subway
Proceed to the subway entrance at the lower ground level of Sendai Station. Get on the train bound for Izumi-Chuo Station. In around 4 minutes, you will arrive Kita-Yobancho Subway Station. IDAC is around 15 minutes on foot after exiting the Kita-Yobancho Subway Station. Subway trains usually operate in 3 to 13 minute intervals.
Bus
Proceed to the bus terminal right outside of Sendai Station and head toward bus stop #25. Board the Sendai city bus #899 to Shiheimachi/Kitayama-Jyunkan. Stay on the bus for around 20 minutes, then disembark at the stop labeled "Daigaku-Byoin-Mae". This bus stop is directly in front of the Tohoku University Hospital. Head north for around 5 minutes to reach IDAC. The city buses run in 20 minute intervals.
Taxi
From Sendai Station, IDAC is around 10 - 15 minutes by taxi service, and will cost around 1,500 - 2,000 yen.
Access from Sendai International Airport (SDJ)
Sendai Airport to Sendai Station via Sendai Airport Access Line will take around 30 minutes and costs 650 yen.
Join us to drive the development of new knowledge and to develop evidence-based solutions for improving the lives of millions.
The Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer (IDAC) will always be a place where the best young minds can come to find their life’s work. Help us provide more scholarships and fellowships, and at the same time bring new richness to the student experience: more opportunities to interact with professors, to engage in independent research, to participate in internships, community-focused programs, and to make new innovative discoveries.
We gratefully welcome donations for the purpose of improving and developing academic research and education at IDAC. For online donations, please click on the "Give to IDAC" button below (secure external site) and kindly mention IDAC as the beneficiary. For direct deposit donations, please contact IDAC's Office of Accounting via e-mail and/or phone.
Thank you in advance for your kind consideration and your donation.
Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University
4-1 Seiryo-machi, Sendai-shi
Aoba-ku, Miyagi-ken, 〒980-8575 Japan
Phone: +(81) 22-717-8496
Tohoku University:
- Frontier Research Institute for Interdisciplinary Sciences (New Area Creation Research Department)
- Data Driven Science and AI Education and Research Center
- Tohoku University Hospital, Department of Neurology
- Tohoku University Hospital, Department of Respiratory Medicine
- Tohoku University Hospital, Department of Ophthalmology
- Tohoku University Hospital, Department of Inspection Department and Medical Technology
- Tohoku University Hospital, Department of Urology
- Tohoku University Hospital Department of Aging and Geriatrics
- Graduate School of Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine Pathophysiology and Department of Respiratory Medicine
- Graduate School of Agriculture, Natural Products and Life Sciences
- Graduate School of Agriculture Functional Morphology
- Graduate School of Life Sciences Developmental Dynamics
- Graduate School of Dentistry, Department of Orthodontics
- Graduate School of Agriculture Functional Morphology
- Graduate School of Dentistry, Department of Oral Physiology
- Graduate School of Dentistry, Dentistry Innovation Liaison Center
- Graduate School of Dentistry, Department of Maxillofacial Oral Surgery
- Graduate School of Medicine, Department of Surgical Pathophysiology, Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine
- Graduate School of Dentistry, Informatics for Dentistry
- Graduate School of Biomedical Engineering, Oncologist Biomedical Engineering
- Graduate School of Life Sciences Molecular Cell Biology
- Graduate School of Life Sciences, Neuro-systems
- Clinical Skills Lab (Postgraduate Training Center)
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Pharmaceutical Development Research Center
- Graduate School of Engineering, Department of Materials Systems Engineering, Narishima Laboratory
Other Universities and Institutions within Japan:
- Ochanomizu University Core Research Institute of Natural Sciences
- Miyagi Cancer Center Research Institute, Department of Cancer Stem Cell Research
- Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science, Neuronal Circuit Formation Project
- Shizuoka University, Faculty of Science, Department of Biological Sciences
- Akita University School of Medicine, Neurosurgery
- JCHO Akita Hospital Internal Medicine
- Kyushu University, Graduate School of Thoracic Disease Research Facility
- University of Tokyo, Graduate School of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Veterinary Hygiene Laboratory
- Tokai University, Department of Biology
- Tohoku Bunka Gakuen University, Faculty of Medical Welfare
- Fujita Medical University, School of Medicine Respiratory Surgery
- National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, Human Information Interaction Research Division
- National Cancer Center Research Institute, Genome Biology Research Field
- Miyazaki University, Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine
- Yamaguchi University, Graduate School of Medicine Pharmacology
- Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Department of Gastroenterology
- Yamagata University, Graduate School of Medicine, Department of Genetic Information Analysis
- Kinki University, Faculty of Agriculture, Department of Biological Science Function, Animal Development Engineering Laboratory
- Yokohama City University Medical Center, Advanced Critical Care Center
- National Institute of Health Sciences, Medical Equipment Department
- Miyagi University, Food Industry Group, Animal Immunology Laboratory
- University of Tsukuba Medical Genetics
- Gunma University, Graduate School of Health Sciences, Department of Bioinformatics
- Tokyo Medical & Dental University, Cardiovascular Surgery, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences
- Central Institute for Experimental Animals, Marmoset Medical Biology Research Department
- Jikei University School of Medicine, Department of Respiratory Medicine
- Akita University, Graduate School of Medicine, Department of Health Sciences and Department of Physical Therapy
- Tohoku Gakuin University, College of Liberal Arts, Department of Human Sciences
- National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, Health and Medical Engineering Research Group, Artificial Organ Research Group
- Fukuoka Dental College, Functional Biochemistry Course., Infectious Biology
- National Cardiovascular Research Center, Molecular Pathology Department
- Kyoto University, Radiation Biology Research Center, Graduate School of Life Sciences, Genome Maintenance Mechanism
- University of Tokyo, Institute of Medical Science, Department of Stem Cell Therapy
- Fujita Medical University, Department of Respiratory Surgery
- National Cancer Center Research Institute, Genome Biology Research Field
- Osaka University, Institute of Advanced Co-creation
- Tokai University, Faculty of Marine Science and Technology, Department of Food Science
- The University of Tokyo, Institute of Medical Science, Advanced Medical Research Center, Cell Therapy Field
- University of Yamanashi, Comprehensive Analytical Experiment Center Resource Development Field
- Nagoya City University, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sanitary Chemistry
- Hokkaido University, Graduate School of Medicine, Department of Tissue Cytology
- Asahikawa Medical University, Advanced Medical Engineering Research Center
- Osaka Institute of Technology, Faculty of Engineering, Department of Environmental Engineering, Functional Materials Laboratory
- Hirosaki University, Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Moriwaki Laboratory
- Kyorin University, Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Clinical Engineering
- University of Tokyo, Graduate School of Engineering, Department of Bioengineering
- Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Institute for Intractable Diseases, Department of Bioinformatics and Pharmacology
- Nagoya University, Graduate School of Bioagricultural Sciences, Bird Bioscience Laboratory
- Osaka University, Graduate School of Frontier Biosciences, Mitochondrial Dynamics Laboratory
- Teikyo University Chiba Medical Center, Department of Rehabilitation,
- Ohu University, Faculty of Dentistry, Department of Oral Pathology Analysis and Control Pharmacology
- Kobe University, Biosignal Research Center, Genome Function Control Research Field
- Nagasaki University School of Medicine, Joint Research Center Biomolecular Analysis Support Division
- Tokushima University, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Department of Biomaterials Engineering
- Yamanashi University, Graduate School of Comprehensive Research, Department of Life and Environment, Developmental Engineering Laboratory
- Aichi Medical University, School of Medicine, Infectious Immunology Course
- Osaka University, Graduate School of Basic Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Department of Material Creation
- Tokyo University of Technology, Applied Biological Science Laboratory, Faculty of Applied Biology
TBA
The University of Queensland
University College London, UCL Cancer Institute, United Kingdom
The University of Sheffield, United Kingdom
Toronto General Hospital, Canada
University of British Columbia, Medical Genetics Lorincz lab