Welcome to the Iwata Lab

Welcome to the Iwata Laboratory

AMDAMD

GLAGLA

HRDHRD

In-house Software Development for Genome Analysis

The lab has been generating computer softwares to support our whole genome analysis for inherited retinal diseases.

Animal Models for Retinal Diseases

The lab has generated or worked on various animal models with human retinal diseases, such as age-related macular degeneration, inherited glacoma, and inherited retinal diseases.

Japan Eye Genetics Consortium (JEGC)

Japan Eye Genetics Consortium (JEGC) was established in 2011 for Inherited Retinal Diseases, Inherited Glaucoma and Optic Neuropathy with 30 Ophthlmology Departments and Institutions. The aim of this consortium is to perform whole short & long genome analysis to identify disease-causing mutation and elucidate molecular mechanism of diease onset.

Global Eye Genetics Consortium (GEGC)

Global Eye Genetics Consortium (GEGC) was established in 2014 as Asian Eye Genetics Consortium and later expanded to global operation. Currently 200 members form 30 Hospitals and Institutions in 30 countries iof Asia, Pacific, Europe, Africa, North America and South Americca are on board. GEGC promotes sharing of eye genetics information through Phenotype-Genotype Database "GenEye" and encourage collaborations to accelerate global eye genetics research.

International Society for Eye Research (ISER)

The Mission of ISER is to provide a unique international platform for discussion and exchange of ideas on contemporary topics in eye and vision research among its members and the broader eye/vision research community.

Springer Nature, Advances in Vision Research, Volume I ~ III, Editors: Gyan Prakash and Takeshi Iwata

Audacious Goals Initiative, National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, USA

A two-pronged approach to generating novel models of photoreceptor degeneration for regenerative cell therapy

Grant number: 1U24EY033272

From left, Yingbin Fu, PhD, Baylor College of Medicine; Michiko Mandai, MD, PhD, RIKEN Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research; Takeshi Iwata, PhD, National Hospital Organization Tokyo Medical Center; Takashi Yamamoto, PhD, Hiroshima University

Yingbin Fu and collaborators will compare two potential strategies for evaluating regeneration of the retina. In the first strategy, they will use lasers to specifically ablate photoreceptors in an advanced animal model. The second strategy will use a gene editing technology called Platinum Talen to selectively prune photoreceptors from the retina through gene disruption. The latter approach more accurately depicts the gradual loss of photoreceptors observed in inherited retinal diseases such as retinitis pigmentosa. After characterizing the anatomical changes in both ablation models, they will evaluate their ability to incorporate stem cell-derived replacement retina in host animals. The project will combine leading expertise in Platinum Talen gene editing from a team led by Takashi Yamamoto, inherited retinal degeneration and advanced animal disease models from teams led by Fu and Takeshi Iwata, and regenerative cell therapy from a team led by Michiko Mandai.