Professor and Chairman of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Yamanashi, Japan.

Professor Sen Takeda’s main research field is the cell biology of cilia and flagella, especially on the primary cilia that serve as a cellular antenna for sensing milieu exterior. Professor Takeda uncovered the molecular mechanism for the determination of left-right asymmetry with special references to vertebrate nodal cilia.

Professor Takeda launched a new lab at the University of Yamanashi, and in addition started developing several interesting interdisciplinary research collaborations, including the Faculty of Engineering. One of the most interesting directions is a development of cancer diagnosis machine (PESI-MS/SVM), which combines direct ionization of specimen and machine learning. This novel machine enables the diagnosis of cancer in a matter of minutes with an accuracy of over 90% by making the most of database comprising mass spectra linked with the diagnosis of pathology. As this utilizes all the data fed into the learning machine, information overlooked in conventional reductionism, it can, therefore, detect subtle changes in tissues.

Professor Takeda has numerous collaborations in applying this machine in a clinical setting.