All biological phenomena are governed by remarkably intricate and sophisticated mechanisms. This complexity exists across all hierarchical levels—tissues, cells, and molecules—but is especially pronounced at the cellular and molecular scales. One major factor contributing to this complexity is the limitation of conventional measurement techniques. Traditionally, biological analyses have been performed at the population level, making it difficult to directly examine the characteristics of individual cells or molecules. As a result, such approaches tend to focus on averages, which obscures the true behaviors of single entities and hinders a deep understanding of biological systems.

To address this, our research aims to develop and apply original technologies capable of measuring biological phenomena at the single-cell and single-molecule levels. Specifically, we focus on: (1) parallelized solid-state nanopore measurement systems for label-free, real-time detection of single biomolecules; (2) bio-nanopore-based single-molecule peptide sequencing technologies; (3) droplet microfluidics for the discovery and generation of functional molecules; and (4) single-molecule fluorescence imaging to visualize the dynamics of biomolecules. These techniques provide access to previously inaccessible molecular behaviors, offering powerful tools for revealing the hidden layers of biological complexity.

We believe the greatest value in life science research lies not in merely applying existing technologies to known phenomena, but in developing novel measurement methods that make previously invisible biological events observable. Indeed, approximately 30% of Nobel Prizes in the life sciences have been awarded for innovations in measurement techniques, underscoring the fundamental role that technical breakthroughs play in advancing scientific knowledge.

In our laboratory, we emphasize the independence and creativity of undergraduate and graduate students. Our goal is to nurture researchers who can autonomously explore biological questions using measurement methods they themselves have developed. Through this process, we aim to advance life science research that is truly original, data-driven, and grounded in direct observation of nature.