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Dr. Biplab Kumar Dash, Professor Yasuomi Urano, and their research team have uncovered a novel secretion mechanism of an unconventional Parkinson’s disease-related protein mediated by autophagy and secretory autolysosomes.
Proteins are conventionally trafficked and secreted extracellularly via the endoplasmic reticulum-Golgi pathway. Some proteins that bypass this system and use unconventional mechanisms to exit the cell have been implicated in neurodegenerative diseases, inflammation, and cancer. Researchers have elucidated a novel role of autophagy mediated by the formation of “secretory autolysosomes” in the release of PARK7—a protein associated with Parkinson’s disease (PD). Their findings uncover potential pathogenic mechanisms, early biomarkers, and therapeutic targets.
Reference
Biplab Kumar Dash, Yasuomi Urano, Yuichiro Mita, Yuki Ashida, Ryoma Hirose, Noriko Noguchi, Unconventional secretion of PARK7 requires lysosomal delivery via chaperone-mediated autophagy and specialized SNARE complex, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2025, Vol. 122 No. 19
DOI :10.1073/pnas.2414790122
https://research.doshisha.ac.jp/news/news-detail-76/
https://www.doshisha.ac.jp/news/detail/001-26Qmmn.html
https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1084893
Image title: Proposed model of 6-OHDA-induced autophagy-based unconventional PARK7 secretion.
Image caption: Oxidative stress induced by 6-OHDA stimulates autophagy flux, which enhances STX17-mediated autolysosome formation, leading to the degradation of autophagosomal contents. However, in response to autophagy promotion by 6-OHDA, a subset of autophagosomes recruits ERGIC R-SNARE SEC22B. The KFERQ-like motifs of monomeric PARK7 selectively bind to HSPA8 chaperones and are recruited to the lysosomal membrane, followed by translocation into the lysosomal lumen via the LAMP2 channel. A pool of PARK7-containing lysosomes fuses with SEC22B-containing autophagosomes to form secretory autolysosomes, which then fuse with the plasma membrane mediated by a unique QabcR–SNARE complex comprising STX3/4, VTI1B, STX8, and SEC22B, releasing PARK7 into the extracellular matrix.
Image credit: Dr. Biplab Kumar Dash from Doshisha University, Japan
Source link: https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2414790122
License type: CC BY-NC-ND
Usage restrictions: Credit must be given to the creator. Only non-commercial uses of the work are permitted. No derivatives or adaptations of the work are permitted.
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Professor Kojiro Ishii's research group investigated the relationship between phase angle, an indicator of muscle quality, and found it to be associated with memory performance and dementia risk in middle-aged and older adults.
Sarcopenia has been linked to dementia risk, but previous studies have focused on older adults. researchers assessed several muscle-related indices and cognitive function in middle-aged individuals. They found that phase angle—a measure of muscle quality—was strongly associated with cognitive function, especially in women. A significant association with memory performance was also observed in both genders. It could serve as an early marker for the risk of cognitive decline in clinical screenings.
Reference
Kentaro Ikeue, Hisashi Kato, Masashi Tanaka, Hajime Yamakage, Sayaka Kato, Masayo Iwasa, Kan Oishi, Yuiko Yamamoto, Megumi Kanasaki, Izuru Masuda, Kojiro Ishii, Noriko Satoh-Asahara, Phase Angle Is a Potential Novel Early Marker for Sarcopenia and Cognitive Impairment in the General Population, Journal of Cachexia, Sarcopenia and Muscle Volume16, Issue3, June 2025
DOI :10.1002/jcsm.13820
https://research.doshisha.ac.jp/news/news-detail-75/
This achievement has also been featured in the “EurekAlert!.”https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1084858
Image title: Overview of the study exploring the link between sarcopenia and cognitive decline
Image caption: This work investigated how various indicators of muscle quality, mass, and strength were related to cognitive parameters in middle-aged and older adults. The results showed that phase angle—an indicator of muscle quality that is very convenient to measure—was strongly related to cognitive decline.
Image credit: Postdoctoral Researcher Kentaro Ikeue from Doshisha University, Japan
License type: CC-BY 4.0
Usage restrictions: Credit must be given to the creator.
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Professor Kiyotaka Nishikawa's research team has developed a tetravalent peptide that modulates a key bone resorption pathway, paving the way for effective treatments with fewer side effects.
Bone-destructive diseases often arise from overactive osteoclasts, driven by the RANK-TRAF6 signaling pathway. However, treatments targeting this pathway also affect other biological processes. Now, researchers have developed a new tetravalent peptide, CR4-WHD-tet, that fine-tunes this pathway. CR4-WHD-tet selectively inhibits signals important for late-stage osteoclast maturation without disrupting the pathway’s other essential functions. This innovative approach could lead to targeted therapies with reduced side effects for osteoporosis and similar diseases.
Reference
Masataka Anzai, Miho Watanabe-Takahashi, Hiroshi Kawabata, Yuri Masuda, Aoi Ikegami, Yuta Okuda, Tsuyoshi Waku, Hiroaki Sakurai, Keizo Nishikawa, Jun-ichiro Inoue, Kiyotaka Nishikawa, Clustered peptide regulating the multivalent interaction between RANK and TRAF6 inhibits osteoclastogenesis by fine-tuning signals, Communications Biology 8, Article number: 643 (2025)
DOI :10.1038/s42003-025-08047-2
https://research.doshisha.ac.jp/news/news-detail-74/
https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1084690
Image title: Inhibiting a specific downstream effect in the RANK-TRAF6 signaling pathway
Image caption: Rather than completely blocking all downstream signals, the peptide developed in this study focuses on inhibiting the activation of p38-MAPK. This is enough to downregulate the development of mature osteoclasts without affecting unrelated biological processes as a side effect.
Image credit: Professor Kiyotaka Nishikawa from Doshisha University, Japan
License type: Original content
Usage restrictions: Cannot be reused without permission.
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国際センター 留学生課 TEL:075-251-3257
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On March 11 (Tuesday) and 12 (Wednesday), 2025, Doshisha University, in collaboration with the University of Tübingen, held the 5th International Interdisciplinary Symposium. The symposium took place at the Kambaikan Hardy Hall and the Ryoshinkan R305 at Doshisha University.
The theme of this symposium was “Humans and AI: Coexistence and Conscience – Toward a Future Where Humans and AI Develop Together for the Improvement of Society.” Researchers from various fields at Doshisha University and the University of Tübingen engaged in multi-perspective discussions.
During the keynote speech at Kambaikan Hardy Hall, President Katsuhiro Kohara of Doshisha University delivered a lecture titled “AI and Conscience: From the Perspective of Religious and Cultural Diversity.” During his lecture, President Katsuhiro Kohara emphasized the importance of constructing environmental ethics in light of the ongoing societal shift from natural and cultural environments to a digital one. He discussed how this transition calls for thoughtful consideration of environmental ethics in the midst of these changes. Professor Katja Schenke-Layland, Designated Vice President of the University of Tübingen, spoke about the Tübingen AI Center, a hub for AI in Europe, and the ELLIS-Institute Tübingen, a European network of excellence focusing on fundamental science, technological innovation, and societal impact. She highlighted how these initiatives are creating excellent research environments to attract top-level machine learning researchers from around the world.
In Panel 1, discussions were held on the transformative effects of large language models (LLMs) on communication and community-building, social robots and their role in communication, and the potential of AI’s massive visual data processing and modeling of neural processes. Ethical challenges in communication were also discussed.
On the following day, Panel 2 focused on the applications and developments of AI in space technology and medical sciences, while Panel 3 addressed legal issues surrounding regulation in marketing and organoid intelligence.
The symposium saw a total of 110 participants, including graduate students, engaging in lively discussions. New connections were formed in each of the thematic panels. The DU-UT Symposium is expected to contribute to the further development of research collaboration between both institutions.
“AI and Conscience: From the Perspective of Religio-cultural Diversity”
Professor Katsuhiro KOHARA, Th.D., President, Doshisha University
“Artificial Intelligence in Tübingen – Highlights and Perspectives”
Professor Dr. Katja SCHENKE-LAYLAND, Designated Vice President, University of Tübingen.
Professor Katsunobu KIHARA, Ph.D., Vice President, Doshisha University
Professor Dr. Katja SCHENKE-LAYLAND, Designated Vice President, University of Tübingen.
Professor Katsuhiro KOHARA, Th.D., President, Doshisha University
Professor Yoko AKIYAMA, Ph.D.
Director, Doshisha EU Campus at Tübingen University
Professor Tomoyuki HIROYASU, Ph.D.
Associate Professor Takamasa IIO, Ph.D.
Professor Teppei MATSUI, Ph.D.
Professor Dr. Jessica HEESEN
Professor Dr. Regina AMMICHT QUINN
Visiting Professor Kazunari SHIBATA, Ph.D.
Professor Dr. Andrea SANTANGELO
Professor Dr. Katja SCHENKE-LAYLAND
Professor Dr. Carsten EICKHOFF
Professor Masaya IKEGAWA, M.D., Ph.D.
Professor Tsuneo MATSUMOTO
Professor Noriko KAWAWA
Professor Dr. Jessica HEESEN
Dr. Alina WERNICK
Media contact |
Organization for Research Initiatives & Development Doshisha UniversityKyotanabe, Kyoto 610-0394, JAPAN |
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Michael McGuire, at the Department of English, Faculty of Letters, and the colleague indicated that an automated speech recognition system shows promise for making language testing more accessible and scalable.
While elicited imitation (EI) tests can effectively measure language proficiency by having learners repeat complex sentences, they require time-consuming human scoring. McGuire and his colleague have developed a fully automated system that combines EI for speech recognition with a computational scoring metric. Their study showed that the automated system produced nearly identical overall scores to human raters, suggesting that this approach could enable efficient, large-scale language assessment and potentially transform educational practices.
Reference
Michael McGuire, Jenifer Larson-Hall, Assessing Whisper automatic speech recognition and WER scoring for elicited imitation: Steps toward automation, Research Methods in Applied Linguistics, Volume 4, Issue 1, 2025,100197, ISSN 2772-7661,
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rmal.2025.100197
This achievement has also been featured in the “EurekAlert!.”
https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1080114
Title: Comparison between the proposed computer-automated assessment method and the established manual scoring method
Caption: The good linearity depicted in this plot indicates excellent agreement between manual scoring and fully automated scoring, showcasing the potential of the proposed system.
Credit: Michael McGuire from Doshisha University, Japan
Image license: CC BY 4.0
Usage restrictions: You are free to share and adapt. Attribution is required.
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The research team, including Shumpei Hara, Associate Professor at the Faculty of Science and Engineering, Doshisha University discover a unique “meandering motion” in viscoelastic fluids, opening possibilities for energy-efficient heat exchangers and cooling systems.
In a step towards advancing fluid dynamics for industrial applications, researchers unveil a meandering motion of turbulence observed in viscoelastic fluids flowing over a backward-facing step. According to the study, under certain conditions, these fluids exhibit wavelike movement, which enhances heat transfer efficiency. This breakthrough holds promise for industrial applications of fluid-based thermal management, providing energy-efficient systems.
Reference
Shumpei Hara, Ryusuke Ii, Shohei Onishi, Takahiro Tsukahara, Yasuo Kawaguchi, Inertia-viscoelastic meandering motion in a backward-facing step flow, International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer 242 126793-126793 June 2025
DOI : 10.1016/j.ijheatmasstransfer.2025.126793
https://research.doshisha.ac.jp/news/news-detail-71/
https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1079126
Image title: Instantaneous streamwise velocity fields with Galilean transformation by the half bulk velocity in the x-y plane
Image caption: Visualization of instantaneous streamwise velocity fields in the x-y plane for different Weissenberg numbers (Wi = 0.0, 0.019, 0.022). The meandering motion emerges at higher Wi, enhancing turbulence and heat transfer in the backward-facing step flow.
Image credit: Dr. Shumpei Hara from Doshisha University, Japan
Image link: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0017931025001346?via%3Dihub
License type: CC BY 4.0
Usage restrictions: You are free to share and adapt. Attribution is required.
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Dear First-Year Students, Congratulations on your enrollment at Doshisha University!
We are conducting this survey to gain perspective on the educational background and characteristics of the entering class of new students.
The results of this survey will be used to develop policies and measures that can be implemented to improve the university's educational programs, including classes and the overall learning environment.
By completing this survey, you can help enrich campus life at the university for yourself and others. We appreciate your cooperation in completing this important survey.
Every year in November, we conduct a "Student Learning Experience Survey" for first-, second- and third- year students.
When the survey period approaches, details will be announced on the university website, etc. Please check the contents and answer the survey.
The feedback information will be provided to the respondents of the "Student Learning Experience Survey" in March 2026, together with the responses to the "New Student Survey".
Survey Period | 0:00 (JST) Apr. 1 to 23:59 (JST) Apr. 21, 2025 |
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Survey Target | 2025 entry undergraduate students |
Survey Method | Microsoft Forms Please answer from the URL below. https://forms.office.com/r/nx9J7G36a9 ※To access the website, you will need your Doshisha University user ID, which can be found on the “User ID Notification” provided to you. ※Please refer to the attached flyer for more detailed access information. |
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日本語版のニュースはこちらをご覧ください。
To Students:
The classes of the spring semester in AY 2025 begin with on-demand classes starting on Friday, April 4th, and face-to-face classes on Friday, April 11th as per the academic calendar. Please continue to regularly check “Announcements from the University” on the Doshisha University Electronic Tutorial System (DUET), the Doshisha University Web Portal, the websites of the university and your faculty/school/graduate school, etc., in order not to miss any important information or necessary notices from the university.
(Reference)
Period of Advanced Registration |
Mar. 24 (Mon.) - Apr.7 (Mon.) 5:00 pm ※Varying depending on the course. Please refer toCourse Registration Schedule ( in Japanese) for details. |
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Course Registration Period | Apr. 8 (Tue.) - 9 (Wed.) 5:00 pm |
Period of Confirmation of Registered Courses and Acceptance of Corrections | Apr. 15 (Tue.) - 17 (Thu.) |
Application Withdrawal Period | The specific period will be posted on the university’s website at a later date. |
Regardless of the class format, it is important to carefully read the program guide, registration guidelines, etc. for your faculty/school and make a solid course registration plan.
For course registration, check in advance whether the courses for which you will register require general registration or advanced registration.
Doshisha Co-op website: “Information on Purchase of Textbooks for Doshisha University Students”
・Audio or video recording of the classes
・Copying the materials distributed during a class
・Downloading the videos stored on servers for viewing
・Lecture materials are protected by copyright. Do not share or publicly disclose them without permission.
・Do not share emails or chat exchanges with instructors on the internet or do not forward them without permission.
・When participating in two-way online classes using a webcam, be mindful of your background. If there are items you don’t want to show, consider using a virtual background.
*Information on copyright and privacy protection is explained in the texts for the Information Ethics & Network User Certification Examination. Please also review our website on copyright (in Japanese).
Starting date | March 13, 2025. |
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e-class Login |
※Please access Web Single Sign On and select e-class.
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Current students at Doshisha Univeristy will be peer supporters to help you start a new life successfully.
This program is targeted for international students (full time students, special students, students at the Center for Japanese Language and Culture, and students at the Center for Global Education).
The supporters assist you on and off campus as your friends.
For further details, please check the document below titled "Details of Peer Support Program for International Students".
To apply for the program, please click Application Form or scan the QR code in the flyer.
Application deadline is 17:00 on April 28th(Mon.), 2025.
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国際センター 留学生課 TEL:075-251-3257
国際センター 留学生課(京田辺) TEL:0774-65-7453
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This is an important announcement for those who hold “STUDENT” status AND who was accepted to Doshisha University via the examination OTHER THAN the “Examination for International Students” regarding a status of residence and request for scholarships. Please be sure to check the details below and submit the web forms by the deadline.
By 5:00 p.m. JST. Monday, April 7, 2025
Please make sure to check the details of how to submit this web form on the web page of orientation for newly enrolled international students.
Please insert and paste the images of "Residence Card" and "Student ID Card" in the document above and upload it via the following web form. (In order to use the web form, the user ID and password issued by Doshisha University are required. )
By 5:00 p.m. JST. Monday, April 7, 2025
Please make sure to check the details of how to submit this web form on the web page of orientation for newly enrolled international students.
Please fill in the "Scholarship Recommendation Request Form (Excel)" above and access the web form below, enter your personal information: faculty or graduate school, contact information, and upload the "Scholarship Recommendation Request Form (Excel)". (In order to use the web form, the user ID and password issued by Doshisha University are required. )
By 5:00 p.m. JST. Thursday, April 4, 2025
Students who took the exam for International Students, ILA, ISTC or Business School (GBMS), etc. and who were already selected to receive this scholarship or receive a notification of "not granted" don’t need to submit this form.
You must meet all the conditions below.
Please fill in the word file above and upload it to the web form. (In order to use the web form, the user ID and password issued by Doshisha University are required. )
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Dr. Hirotsugu Azechi and Dr. Susumu Takahashi, Graduate School of Brain Sciences, develop Virtual Marker Tracking (vmTracking) to study the movement patterns of multiple animals in crowded spaces.
Understanding the movement patterns of animals is crucial for analyzing complex behaviors. However, accurately tracking the poses of individuals in crowded and densely populated environments remains a major challenge. Azechi and Takahashi have developed ‘Virtual Marker Tracking’ (vmTracking), which assigns virtual markers to animals, enabling consistent identification and posture tracking even in crowded environments. Their findings offer a simple, effective solution for tracking multiple animals in complex spaces for precise behavioral studies.
Reference
Azechi H, Takahashi S (2025) vmTracking enables highly accurate multi-animal pose tracking in crowded environments. PLoS Biol 23(2): e3003002.
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pbio.3003002
https://research.doshisha.ac.jp/news/news-detail-70/
This achievement has also been featured in the “EurekAlert!.”https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1074166
Title: vmTracking enables accurate identification in crowded environments
Caption: Conventional markerless tracking methods struggle with body part misestimations or missing estimates in crowded spaces. In vmTracking, markerless multi-animal tracking is performed on a video containing multiple individuals. The resulting tracking output may not always be fully accurate. However, since some of these markers are extracted and used as virtual markers for individual identification, high overall accuracy at this stage is not required. By applying single-animal DeepLabCut to the generated virtual marker video, more accurate pose-tracking results can be obtained compared to conventional methods.
Credit: Hirotsugu Azechi from Doshisha University, Japan
Image license: Original content
Usage restrictions: Cannot be used without permission
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The research team, including Yasuomi URANO and Noriko NOGUCHI, professors at the F Graduate School of Life and Medical Sciences reveal that 25-hydroxycholesterol induces a particular type of cell death called ferroptosis, which could be implicated in several degenerative diseases.
Oxysterols, molecules derived from cholesterol, play crucial roles in our bodies but can also contribute to various diseases. Now, researchers from Japan have discovered that 25-hydroxycholesterol (25-OHC) triggers a specific type of cell death called ferroptosis in nerve-supporting cells. The study reveals that 25-OHC disrupts cellular protective mechanisms and antioxidant systems. These findings could lead to new diagnostics and treatments for conditions, like amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, where elevated 25-OHC levels have been observed.
Reference
Yasuomi Urano, Anan Iwagaki, Arisa Takeishi, Nazuna Uchiyama, Noriko Noguchi, Downregulation of the SREBP pathways and disruption of redox status by 25-hydroxycholesterol predispose cells to ferroptosis. Free Radical Biology and Medicine, Vol. 228, pp 319-328, 16 February 2025,
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2025.01.010
For more details, please see the website of Organization for Research Initiatives and Development, Doshisha University.
https://research.doshisha.ac.jp/news/news-detail-69/
This achievement has also been featured in the “EurekAlert!.”
https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1074198/
Image title: Overview of the proposed mechanism of 25-OHC-induced ferroptosis
Image caption: This image summarizes the main findings of the study, showing the multifaceted effects that exposure to 25-hydroxycholesterol (25-OHC) has on Schwann cells.
Image credit: Professor Yasuomi Urano from Doshisha University, Japan
License type: CC BY 4.0
Image source link:
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0891584925000103?via%3Dihub
Usage restrictions: You are free to share and adapt but credit must be given to the creator.
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