The Institute for Molecular and Cellular Regulation (IMCR) at Gunma University aims toward elucidating the molecular mechanisms that govern homeostasis in living organisms, focusing on research on endocrine and metabolic systems, using a diverse range of research materials, from the cellular level to individual animals and humans. The IMCR also promotes research focusing on diseases caused by the dysregulation of homeostasis, particularly lifestyle-associated diseases, such as diabetes, dyslipidemia, obesity, and cancer.
The IMCR has its origins in the Endocrine Research Institute, which was established in 1963. When the Endocrine Research Institute was first established, it focused on research on thyroid diseases, based on the background that thyroid diseases were common in Gunma Prefecture, as a result of the lack of seaweed intake in the area owing to its geographical location. Over the years, research groups working at the Endocrine Research Institute made many important research breakthroughs, such as clarification of the mechanism of thyroid hormone production and action, and elucidation of the function of motilin, a hormone secreted from the small intestine.
Subsequently, in 1994, in response to the needs of the times, the Endocrine Research Institute was reorganized and reborn as the Institute for Molecular and Cellular Regulation (IMCR), which focuses on lifestyle-associated diseases. At present, it is the only national university-affiliated research institute specializing in endocrinology and metabolism research in Japan. In 2023, the IMCR celebrated its 60th anniversary from its start as the Endocrine Research Institute. Over the years, the IMCR has enabled researchers to perform high-quality research, by providing unique research resources and supporting the collaboration of researchers in various associated fields, from both Japan and overseas. In recognition of its outstanding contributions, the IMCR has been accredited as a National Joint Usage/Collaborative Research Center since 2010.
Although some susceptibility factors and possible causes of lifestyle-associated diseases have been elucidated to date, much about these diseases still remains a mystery. The IMCR brings together researchers who specialize in fields directly related to lifestyle-associated diseases, such as obesity and diabetes, islet hormones, such as insulin and glucagon, and adipocytes, as well as those performing cutting-edge research in the basic life sciences using various model organisms, such as nematodes, Drosophila, and yeast. Research fields have also been diversifying, with the establishment of fields such as genomic and epigenomic regulation, and lifestyle-associated disease control using intestinal bacteria.
In FY2023, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology adopted an organizational development project that includes the establishment of research units to accelerate research on human pancreatic islets and metabolism in all generations, and the IMCR is expected to further develop the achievements in basic research it has cultivated to date towards a more translational direction. Therefore, the role of the IMCR is expected to become increasingly important in the future. We hope that the collaboration of many researchers across many institutions and countries will promote the elucidation of the pathophysiology of lifestyle-associated diseases, such as diabetes and obesity, the development of effective treatments, as well as the establishment of new researcher networks. In addition to understanding homeostasis and elucidating the pathophysiology and etiology of diseases, we would like to further focus our efforts on the development of fundamental treatments for obesity and diabetes. We look forward to your continued support of the IMCR in these endeavors.