Current Projects

The Asai Lab is dedicated to finding effective and safe treatment options for patients who are born with liver diseases. 

Currently, we focus on:

• Progressive familial intrahepatic cholestasis (PFIC)
• Glycogen storage disease
• Biliary atresia
• Urea cycle defects (OTC deficiency)

Search for disease mechanisms in PFIC (Progressive Familial Intrahepatic Cholestasis)

We aim to reveal the disease mechanisms of PFIC using iPSCs and mouse models. 

Establish effective and safe “gene” therapies 

In collaboration with industry partners, we aim to establish novel gene therapies for genetic liver disease using iPSC-based disease models.

Reveal disease process of glycogen storage disease type 4

We aim to reveal the cause of severe liver fibrosis and dysfunction in GSD IV. 

Discover new etiology of biliary atresia

In collaboration with international children’s hospitals, we aim to investigate the novel etiology of biliary atresia. 

Search for exosome factors that induce systemic inflammation

In collaboration with experts in exosome biology, we aim to reveal the mechanisms of systemic manifestation of liver diseases.