FY2025 The STAR Special Award for Science Tokyo Advanced Researchers Decided

Just as the telescope gave rise to heliocentrism, the microscope to bacteriology, and the atomic clock to GPS, advances in measurement technology have been a driving force behind scientific discovery and societal transformation. Today, data is acquired across all spatiotemporal scales, from black hole imaging to single-molecule imaging, yet advanced measurements are inherently accompanied by fundamental challenges such as noise, missing data, and disturbances. In other words, extracting useful knowledge directly from raw data is extremely difficult. Our research focuses on developing mathematical techniques for recovering and extracting signal information with high reliability, validity, and explainability from such incomplete measurement data. Specifically, we have worked on developing constrained optimization algorithms for measurement data analysis, providing theoretical guarantees for plug-and-play algorithms that fuse optimization techniques with deep learning, establishing robust analysis methods for satellite remote sensing, and extending these approaches to measurement technologies in diverse fields such as X-ray CT and NMR spectroscopy. Going forward, we aim to establish a “proximal splitting-based DC optimization framework” centered on Difference-of-Convex (DC) models as the key to resolving the dilemmas faced by current mathematical optimization techniques, while simultaneously deploying this framework across diverse measurement domains including remote sensing, materials imaging, spectroscopic microscopy, and fluid measurement. By driving this feedback loop between theory and application and realizing the virtuous cycle of “mathematics guiding measurement, and measurement nurturing mathematics,” We aspire to bring a Measurement × Information paradigm originating from Japan to the world and deliver a lasting impact on the science and technology of the future.

Shape memory alloys are metals with the remarkable property that even if they are bent, they return to their original shape when heated. They are already used in applications such as medical stents and eyeglass frames. However, important aspects of their underlying mechanism are still not fully understood. My research addresses the fundamental question: why are metals able to “remember” their shape? The goal is to clarify the operating principle of this phenomenon at a deeper level.

Behind the visible change in shape, what kinds of changes occur inside the metal? I carefully observe and analyze these internal processes and organize the findings into principles that can clearly explain the behavior. By understanding the essence of how shape memory works, materials that have traditionally been developed through experience and trial-and-error can be transformed into materials that can be designed intentionally and predictably. For example, this knowledge can lead to the development of new shape memory alloys that respond reliably to smaller temperature changes, maintain their performance over long periods, or withstand repeated deformation. Such materials are expected to find applications in minimally invasive medical devices, robotic actuators, lightweight movable components in aerospace systems, and energy-saving mechanisms across various industries. Metals that can “move on their own” in response to temperature or environmental changes may play an important role in building a more sustainable society. By advancing both the fundamental understanding of the underlying principles and the exploration of new functionalities, I aim to further expand the potential of shape memory alloys and contribute to the design of innovative materials that benefit society.

Within our bodies, various immune cells circulate in the blood to protect us from invading pathogens. Among them, basophils are an extremely rare population, accounting for about 0.5% of circulating white blood cells. Although they were discovered more than 140 years ago by the German pathologist Paul Ehrlich, their role remained largely unknown for many years due to their rarity. Using basophil-selective depletion system in mice, our group has demonstrated that basophils act as “initiators” of inflammation, orchestrating other inflammatory cells and playing a critical role in the development of allergic diseases such as atopic dermatitis, despite their small numbers.
We further applied a cutting-edge technology known as single-cell RNA sequencing, which enables the analysis of gene expression in individual cells. Using this approach, we clarified how basophils develop and mature in the body and identified a novel precursor population termed “pre-basophils.” In addition, single-cell analysis of inflamed skin and lung tissues revealed that basophils do not function solely as pathogenic drivers of allergy. Depending on the context, they can also act to suppress inflammation.
These findings highlight the potential of basophils as a novel therapeutic target for allergic and inflammatory diseases. By continuing to leverage advanced single-cell technologies, we aim to further unravel the complex biology of basophils and translate these insights into new strategies for allergy treatment.