Center Overview
The use of hydrogen as an energy source is gaining attention as the key to solving the so-called 3E trilemma of Economy, Energy, and Environment. Focusing on the effect of hydrogen gas in suppressing ischemia-reperfusion injury, we have demonstrated the potential for hydrogen gas inhalation therapy to be therapeutically effective in various situations in emergency and critical care medicine, and have served as a pioneering and strategic research hub for the realization of hydrogen medicine. We have established the Center for Development of Hydrogen Gas Therapeutics to strengthen interdisciplinary, inter-university collaborations, promote integrated non-clinical and clinical research based on industry-academia partnerships with a view to clinical applications, and aim for regulatory approval of hydrogen gas and hydrogen medical devices.
Keywords and Main Research Themes
Hydrogen medicine, integrated non-clinical and clinical research, inter-university collaboration with veterinary universities
Fiscal Year 2020 Business Plan
■ Background, Rationale, and Goals for Activities Continuing from FY2019
(1) Pioneering Medical Device Development
Through industry-academia-government collaboration, we will explore concrete pathways for hydrogen generators and hydrogen-mixed gas supply devices to be approved as medical devices eligible for insurance reimbursement.
We aim to enhance Keio's strengths as a comprehensive university and further develop collaborative efforts with the Faculty of Science and Technology and other departments (joint research with Professor Einaga of the Faculty of Science and Technology).
In cooperation with companies possessing various technologies related to hydrogen gas (Taiyo Nippon Sanso Corporation, Doctor's Man Co., Ltd.), we will provide ideas for utilizing their technologies in clinical settings and actively pursue the joint acquisition of intellectual property.
(2) Pioneering Preclinical Research
We will conduct preclinical trials not merely for the sake of animal experimentation as a science, but with the clear goal of clinical development.
We will create highly reproducible and precise disease model animals using microsurgery techniques and conduct animal management and evaluation of the efficacy and pharmacology of hydrogen gas inhalation as an integrated system. To this end, we will utilize a collaborative laboratory based on an inter-university collaboration platform consortium with Nippon Veterinary and Life Science University to systematically manage and operate experimental animals.
We aim to discover new molecular mechanisms regarding the medicinal effects of hydrogen and to acquire new use patents for hydrogen gas.
We will promote information exchange among researchers, as well as the recruitment and support of new researchers.
(3) Clinical Research
We will advance a multicenter, randomized, controlled trial to investigate the efficacy of hydrogen inhalation therapy for patients resuscitated from out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.
We will examine the results of the interim analysis to clarify the path toward regulatory approval.
■ New Activity Goals, Content, and Background for FY2020
We will proceed with collecting the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic data necessary for the regulatory approval of hydrogen gas.
For example, using pigs, we will clarify the tissue distribution and changes in drug concentration of hydrogen gas after a single inhalation administration.
Hydrogen gas concentration in the blood will be measured using gas chromatography at the Japan Molecular Hydrogen Promotion Association (JHyPA).
We will verify through precise animal experiments whether hydrogen-rich beverages exert a pharmacological effect, a point that has been questioned given that intestinal bacteria produce large amounts of hydrogen gas.
Fiscal Year 2019 Business Report
■ Implementation Details, Research Outcomes, and Degree of Achievement Against the Business Plan for the Fiscal Year
The multicenter, randomized, controlled clinical trial to verify whether hydrogen gas inhalation improves neurological outcomes in patients with post-cardiac arrest syndrome has been designated as a specified clinical research study under the Clinical Research Act
https://jrct.niph.go.jp/detail/1945/jRCT/1 (Certification No. CRB3180017)
As of January 22, 2019, 59 cases have been registered (target number of cases is 360: 180 in the hydrogen inhalation group and 180 in the control group_HYBRID II TRIAL http://www.hybrid2.org/ Efficacy of hydrogen gas inhalation therapy for patients after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest).
In a joint study with Taiyo Nippon Sanso, we elucidated the mechanism of hydrogen gas efficacy in a rat model of hemorrhagic shock and reported it in the journal *Shock*.
Similarly, in a joint study with Taiyo Nippon Sanso, we created a 5/6 nephrectomy renal failure model and verified the therapeutic effect of one-hour daily hydrogen gas inhalation on hypertension.
In a joint study with Doctor's Man Co., Ltd., we developed a technology to resuscitate marginal donor organs after circulatory arrest (a method of injecting hydrogen gas into an organ preservation solution using a hydrogen-absorbing alloy canister).
The results of this research have been announced in a press release .
Achievements in Social Contribution, Including Published Papers, Conference Presentations, and Events
English Papers
Kobayashi E, Sano M. Organ preservation solution containing dissolved hydrogen gas from a hydrogen-absorbing alloy canister improves function of transplanted ischemic kidneys in miniature pigs. *PLoS One*. 2019 Oct 1;14(10):e0222863. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0222863. eCollection 2019.
Yamamoto R, Homma K, Suzuki S, Sano M, Sasaki J. Hydrogen gas distribution in organs after inhalation: Real-time monitoring of tissue hydrogen concentration in rat. *Sci Rep*. 2019 Feb 4;9(1):1255. doi: 10.1038/s41598-018-38180-4.
Conference Presentations
2019 ORGAN DONATION CONGRESS 14 - 16 NOVEMBER 2019
INTERCONTINENTAL FESTIVAL CITY, DUBAI, UAE
Kobayashi E, Sano M. Organ preservation solution containing dissolved hydrogen gas from a hydrogen-absorbing alloy canister improves function of transplanted ischemic kidneys in miniature pigs.
The 55th Annual Meeting of the Japan Society for Transplantation
October 10-12, 2019
Hiroshima International Conference Center
Motoaki Sano, Hydrogen Gas and Transplant Medicine
The 46th Annual Meeting of the Japanese Society for Organ Preservation and Biology
Friday, November 8, 2019
Venue: Fukushima Medical Device Development Support Centre
Motoaki Sano, A Study on the Efficacy of Hydrogen Gas in Hemorrhagic Shock
The 46th Annual Meeting of the Japanese Society for Organ Preservation and Biology
Friday, November 8, 2019
Venue: Fukushima Medical Device Development Support Centre
Motoaki Sano, Application of Hydrogen Gas to Transplant Medicine
Press Release, October 2, 2019
Resuscitating Marginal Donor Organs After Circulatory Arrest - Development of a Hydrogen Gas Preservation Solution Using a Hydrogen-Absorbing Alloy Canister -
Members
Project Members
Principal Investigator
Motoaki Sano
Associate ProfessorSchool of Medicine, Department of CardiologyJunichi Sasaki
ProfessorSchool of Medicine, Department of Emergency and Critical Care Medicine