Faculty Members
SHIMBA Kenta
(Associate Professor/Division of Environmental Studies)
Department of Human and Engineered Environmental Studies/Mathematical Biology and Bioengineering/Neuroengineering, Micro-fabrication
Career Summary
- 2011: B. Eng., Faculty of Engineering, The University of Tokyo (U Tokyo)
- 2013: M. Sci., Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, U Tokyo
- 2016: Ph. D., Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, U Tokyo
- 2016-2018: Research Fellow, Japan Society of Promotion of Science
- 2018-2023: Assistant Professor, School of Engineering, U Tokyo
- 2023-present: Associate Professor, Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, U Tokyo
Research Activities
Biological systems express their functions with hierarchical structures at various scales, such as molecule-cell-tissue. We aim to experimentally elucidate biological phenomena from the microscopic level and to develop experiment-based mathematical models toward understanding macroscopic biological systems. We are mainly working on cultured neuronal networks and sliced brain tissues using multi-site electrical recording of neural activity and microfabrication techniques.
Specifically, we have been (a) developing measurement techniques to evaluate neuronal functions, types, and structures in an integrated manner, (b) constructing experimental models that mimic biological functions such as pain transmission, (c) devising analysis methods to integrate acquired multi-scale data, and (d) elucidating the pathogenic mechanisms of neurological diseases using human iPS cells.
Literature
- [1] Kenta Shimba, Takahiro Asahina, Koji Sakai, Kiyoshi Kotani, and Yasuhiko Jimbo, Recording Saltatory Conduction along Sensory Axons Using a High-Density Microelectrode Array, Frontiers in Neuroscience, Vol. 16, 854637, doi: 10.3389/fnins.2022.854637, 2022.
- [2] Kenta Shimba, Kiyoshi Kotani, and Yasuhiko Jimbo, Evaluating Axon Conduction Characteristics of Cultured Sensory Neurons Toward Soft Robot Control, Journal of Robotics and Mechatronics, Vol. 34, No.2, pp.263-265, 2022.
- [3] Kenta Shimba, Kiyoshi Kotani, Yasuhiko Jimbo, Microfabricated Device to Record Axonal Conduction under Pharmacological Treatment for Functional Evaluation of Axon Ion Channel, IEEE Transactions on Biomedical Engineering, Vol. 68, No. 12, 2021.
- [4] Kenta Shimba, Koji Sakai, Shoko Iida, Kiyoshi Kotani, Yasuhiko Jimbo, Long-term developmental process of the human cortex revealed in vitro by axon-targeted recording using a microtunnel-augmented microelectrode array, IEEE Transaction on Biomedical Engineering, Vol. 66, No. 9, pp. 2538-2545, 2019.