About us

　Secondary metabolites produced by plants and microorganisms exhibit diverse chemical structures and a wide range of biological activities that arise from this structural diversity. Therefore, many secondary metabolites (natural products) have been used as medicines, pesticides or drug candidates.
　In our laboratory, we aim to discover new natural products, novel medicinal seeds, and new agrochemical seeds by integrating the following four research pillars.

1. Development of screening systems for pharmaceutical and agricultural research
2. Development of methods to activate cryptic or silent gene clusters in microorganisms
3. Search for new natural products and bioactive compounds from collections of our plants and microorganisms, as well as from pathogenic microorganisms including Nocardia
4. Elucidation of the molecular mechanisms of new bioactive natural products and analysis of the biosynthetic gene clusters responsible for the production of new natural products
　
　Students in our laboratory are expected to grow as researchers with perspectives in both organic chemistry and biological sciences through their research activities.

Members

・Faculty member
　Assist. Prof.
　Yasumasa Hara, Ph.D.
　ORCiD, researchmap

・Students
　-graduate-
　2nd year master’s student
　　Yuka Tarui
　　Tsubasa Horiuchi
　　Miu Mori
　
　1st year master’s student
　　Bui Cong Tri
　　Ai Kanagawa
　　Mio Kuwahara
　　So Yoshida

　-undergraduate-
　4th year student
　　Yume Okawa
　　Mao Kameda
　　Riko Nakasone
　
　3rd year student
　　Momoka Ikeda
　　Yuki Uchida
　　Honoka Shimadzu　　

Publications

Please see this page

Recruitment

　We welcome applications and inquiries from undergraduate students in Japan, students seeking admission to our graduate program from Japan and abroad, and postdoctoral researchers. Our research focuses on the discovery of natural products from plants and microorganisms, including studies of their chemical structures and biological activities, as well as culture-based approaches to natural product discovery using microbial interactions.
　Undergraduate students at Kagawa University seeking placement in our laboratory should have a strong interest in natural product research and a willingness to learn experimental techniques in natural product chemistry. Prior research experience in natural product chemistry is not required.
　Students seeking admission to our graduate program and wishing to join our laboratory should have research experience in natural product chemistry. Prior experience in the isolation and structural elucidation of natural products is particularly desirable.
　All students, including those applying from outside Japan, are required to have sufficient Japanese language proficiency for routine communication and research activities in the laboratory (approximately JLPT N3 level or higher). Applicants from outside Japan who wish to pursue graduate studies in our laboratory should first review the graduate admissions information provided by Kagawa University and the information on the Special Master’s Program in Sustainable Food Production and Management.
　Postdoctoral researchers should have a strong background in natural product research, particularly in the isolation and structural elucidation of natural products, and should be able to independently pursue their research. Postdoctoral researchers are expected to have independent fellowship support.
　If you are interested in our research, please feel free to contact us by email.

Contact to
　Assist. Prof. Yasumasa HARA
　hara.yasumasa[at]kagawa-u.ac.jp
　　Please send e-mail replacing [at] with @.