教員紹介

NAKAMURA Mako

Profile

Outline Activities

○Research activities
【Research on developmental process of "smooth muscle" and "skeletal muscle" to solve the world's food problems.】
There is concern about food shortages due to global population growth. Chicken muscle, which is the subject of my research, is a meat part and a valuable source of protein for human beings. However, while meat (skeletal muscle) is commonly consumed, the internal organs (smooth muscle), which are called by-products of livestock production, are not yet fully utilized. Therefore, we are conducting research on the formation process of chicken smooth muscle with the aim of "increasing the number of meat parts obtained from a single poultry," "making waste gastrointestinal tract parts edible," and "developing cultured meat technology”. At the same time, we aim to apply our research results to the health science field, such as maintaining muscle strength in an aging society, preventing sarcopenia, improving the contractile function of the digestive tract, and clarifying the mechanism of uterine myoma.

○Educational activities
【Promotion for the development of "international human resources" from high school students to doctoral students.】
・ QURIES program for high school students
・ QFC-SP high school-university connection program for fostering researchers
・ cross-university initiatives to build an education and research platform at Kyushu University
such as joint online courses with overseas universities (COIL) and double degree programs, etc.

Global food problems cannot be solved by one university or one country. I would like to set the Ito Campus up as a platform to send human resources to companies and universities around the world, both in Japan and overseas, to create an ecosystem for collaborative solutions.

Message

My current career is supported by the experience I gained during my language training in Canada during my second year of undergraduate studies, my overseas research internship at an American company during my first year of master's studies, and my five years of work as a postdoctoral researcher in the United States after completing the doctoral program.
I want Kyushu University students to be curious, to look overseas, to realize the fun of research, and to take on new challenges that may lead to any kind of development, and I conduct my education and research every day thinking about what I can do to make them feel that way.
Students who are interested in the global research and educational activities of the Animal Life Science Laboratory, which I lead, are welcome to contact me.

Educational Activities

Undergraduate School

(Bilingual courses):​
Genetics and Evolution​
Genetics and Biodiversity ​
Genetics and Developmental Biology​
Gene Techniques

Graduate School

(English taught courses):
Agricultural Problem-Based Learning I
Agricultural Problem-Based Learning II
Cross-Cuttings Themes in Animal & Aquatic