Fukunaga Lab
Department of Biomedical Science & Engineering
Faculty of Health Sciences
Hokkaido University
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Radiation ― A Double-Edged Sword
Radiation is a well-known carcinogen to humans, yet it remains valuable for diagnosis and treatment. To uncover the molecular mechanisms behind this double-edged effect on human health, we are conducting cutting-edge research using a variety of approaches, including microbeams, animal models, and large-scale cohorts.
At the Fukunaga Lab, we study the reproductive and intergenerational effects of ionizing radiation, focusing on how biological responses depend on the spatial distribution and timing of exposure. Through this work, we aim to improve the safety of medical radiation use and strengthen the scientific basis of radiological protection.
Research Focus
Spatial Dose Distribution and Tissue Reactions
We investigate how spatially non-uniform irradiation affects spermatogenesis, fertility, and tissue recovery. Micro-beam approaches, ex vivo testis models, dosimetry, and longitudinal bioluminescence imaging using the Acr-Luc knock-in mouse model allow us to examine biological responses that conventional dose metrics may not fully capture.
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Fukunaga H, Kaminaga K, Sato T, et al. Sci Rep 2019;9(1):12618.
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Fukunaga H, Seino R, Matsuya Y, et al. MedComm 2026;7(1):e70568.
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Shirato H, Mizuta M, Matsuya Y, Yokoya A, Fukunaga H. Phys Med Biol 2026;71(14):145018.
Mitochondrial Genome Responses Across Generations
We study how preconception and in utero exposure to ionizing radiation alters mitochondrial DNA copy number, integrity, and regulation in parents and offspring. Our aim is to clarify dynamic biological signals that complement conventional assessments centered on inherited nuclear DNA mutations.
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Seino R, Kubo H, Nishikubo K, Fukunaga H. Environ Int 2025;196:109315.
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Seino R, Kubo H, Ikeda A, Fukunaga H. Free Radic Biol Med 2026;250:168-173.
Radiological Protection and Environmental and Occupational Health
Drawing on clinical and public health experience following the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear accident, we investigate radiation risks at individual and population levels and examine how scientific evidence can contribute to health protection and effective communication.
Principal Investigator
Hisanori Fukunaga, MD, PhD
Professor, Department of Biomedical Science and Engineering, Faculty of Health Sciences
Deputy Director, Center for Environmental and Health Sciences
Hokkaido University, Japan
(Hokkaido University Faculty Profile)
Hisanori Fukunaga is a physician-scientist working at the intersection of radiobiology, health physics (radiation protection), and environmental and occupational health. He is known for his research on the reproductive and intergenerational effects of ionizing radiation. He is a member of Task Group 121 of the International Commission on Radiological Protection, which reviews the effects of radiation exposure on offspring and subsequent generations and their implications for radiation protection.
He received his medical degree from Yokohama City University School of Medicine, Japan. His research direction was shaped by his clinical experience in Fukushima following the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and Fukushima Daiichi nuclear accident. He subsequently earned his PhD from Queen’s University Belfast, UK, in 2019 (Supervisor: Prof. Kevin Prise) and was appointed Professor at Hokkaido University in 2026.
He was selected for the FOREST program of the Japan Science and Technology Agency in 2021. His honors include the 2026 John D. Boice, Jr. Young Investigator Award from the US National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements, the 2022 AARR Young Scientist Award from the Asian Association for Radiation Research (AARR), and the 2020 Umegaki Award from the Japanese Society for Radiation Oncology.
A complete and up-to-date list of publications is available on researchmap.