Comprehensive Research Facilities
In addition to human creativity and effort, the utilization of comprehensive research facilities and equipment is essential for conducting outstanding medical sciences research.
Our university's Graduate Graduate School of Medicine includes the Center for Integrated Medical Research, constructed in 2001, and the Clinical Research Building, newly established in 2008. Within these research facilities are the Collaborative Research Resources, the Laboratory Animal Center, and the RI Center for world-leading, cutting-edge research.
The Collaborative Research Resources (Laboratory Animal Center) facilitates the housing and experimentation of animals ranging from small animals like mice to medium- and large-sized animals. At the Collaborative Research Resources (Core Instrumentation Facility Unit), researchers can access over 200 types of research instruments necessary for various life science studies, including omics, imaging, and disease models. These instruments include microarray analysis systems, next-generation sequencers, cell sorters, laser confocal microscopes, super-resolution microscopes, X-ray micro-CT scanners, histological analysis systems, and electron microscopes.
Furthermore, researchers can utilize the Kitasato Memorial Medical Library, which is renowned for its extensive collection and access to over 11,000 medical sciences-related electronic journals, one of the largest collections in Japan.
A research environment is in place where all these resources are available to researchers, including students in the master's programs of the Graduate Graduate School of Medicine and the Doctoral Programs, who can use them after completing certain procedures and receiving technical guidance.
In these vibrant research facilities, the Shinanomachi Research Park is operated as a multidisciplinary, integrated research hub, bringing together not only our university's basic and clinical medical sciences research groups but also external research institutions and corporations. This environment fosters new ideas through interactions not only between internal research staff and graduate students but also with external and corporate researchers. Moreover, collaborations with Faculty of Pharmacy and pharmaceutical companies provide opportunities to learn firsthand about the process of commercializing research outcomes, such as new compounds, and the procedures related to patenting new drugs and intellectual property. Motivated individuals can take the initiative to utilize these resources, enabling a wide variety of research approaches.
Research Environment and Features
We are enhancing our shared research facilities, centered around the Collaborative Research Resources (Collaborative Research Resources), to support cutting-edge research. We provide everything from general-purpose instruments to advanced experimental equipment and specialized analytical devices, covering a wide range of research fields such as imaging, multi-omics analysis, and animal experiments. Our experienced technical staff supports the realization of high-quality, efficient research.
Core Instrumentation Facility Unit (Core Facility)
The Core Instrumentation Facility Unit aims to further vitalize research by providing a wide range of research equipment and facilities to researchers both within and outside the Keio University University School of Medicine. Over 100 types of advanced research instruments necessary for biomedical science research are available for use. Specifically, in addition to general-purpose equipment essential for life science research, cutting-edge imaging systems such as X-ray nano-CT, multiphoton excitation microscopes, and laser confocal microscopes, including near-infrared, are in operation. Additionally, the shared support web system, Keio.SimpRent.jp, offers a highly convenient environment for users, covering everything from equipment information and reservations to usage fee payments. SimpRent can be browsed without an account, so we encourage you to utilize it from the initial stages of research planning to the final presentation of results.
Laboratory Animal Center (Laboratory Animal Center)
The Laboratory Animal Center manages and operates the shared animal experiment facilities under the School of Medicine Animal Experimentation Committee. The shared animal experiment facilities are equipped with amenities that consider animal welfare and are used for the housing and care of small rodents as well as medium- and large-sized animals. The center supports life science and medical sciences research by providing animal operating rooms for various procedures on medium- and large-sized animals, and by offering support for developmental engineering and genetic modification technologies, primarily for small rodents.
Electron Microscope Laboratory (Electron Microscope Laboratory)
The Electron Microscope Laboratory offers transmission and scanning electron microscopes and peripheral equipment for shared use to analyze ultrastructures. In addition, a multi-beam scanning electron microscope is available, allowing for high-speed, nanoscale imaging of wide-ranging serial tissue sections. Users can operate the equipment themselves or take advantage of our contract services, which cover everything from sample preparation to observation.