ー About ameri ー
Message
Message from director of Advanced Medical Engineering Research Institute
Since its establishment in 2022, this institute has been advancing as an interdisciplinary research hub centered on medical-engineering collaboration. To further clarify the expertise of our research areas, we have recently reorganized into a five-division structure: Medical System Engineering, Bioanalysis, Medical AI, Nursing and Caregiving, and Food and Nutrition. By allowing each division to deepen its respective strengths while collaborating with one another, we have established a system capable of responding more flexibly to complex challenges in the field.
The research we are currently undertaking covers a wide range of areas. Examples include an AI for supporting the differential diagnosis of dementia using real-world data, the demonstration of an app providing exercise, nutritional, and psychological support for elderly individuals at home, and the development of diagnostic support technologies utilizing medical safety DX and radiological images. All of these are challenges originating directly from actual conditions in the field. We are advancing our development with the constant goal of ensuring that our laboratory’s achievements reach actual medical and lifestyle settings.
Through collaboration with a diverse range of partners—including medical institutions, companies, local governments, and universities—we aim to give back to the local community with our insights in medical engineering. Please feel free to reach out to us with any consultations regarding research and development or proposals for joint research.
Takayuki FUJITA
Director,
Advanced Medical Engineering Research Institute
Message from president of University of Hyogo
In April 2022, University of Hyogo established Advanced Medical Engineering Research Institute within Hyogo Prefectural Harima-Himeji General Medical Center as the university’s fifth affiliated research institute. Taking advantage of our location directly connected to the medical frontline, we have steadily built a research foundation over the past four years. With the recent succession of prof. Takayuki Fujita as the new director, the institute is beginning its journey under a new structure. We anticipate further development, building upon the achievements accumulated since our establishment.
At this institute, while centering on medical engineering, we have been advancing interdisciplinary research that spans from measurement, information, and bioengineering to AI, and further extends into the fields of nursing and caregiving, as well as food and nutrition, in collaboration with domestic and international academic institutions, medical institutions, and private companies. Our efforts to return these results to society through university-launched ventures and other means are also steadily taking root. With the realization of “Well-being” set forth in the SDGs as our common goal, we will continue to deepen our research.
We kindly ask all those involved for your continued support and encouragement. Let us join hands and accelerate innovation together.
Makoto KOSAKA
President,
University of Hyogo
Message from president of Hyogo Prefectural Harima-Himeji General Medical Center (Harima-Himeji GMC)
Harima-Himeji GMC is one of the largest hospitals in Hyogo prefecture, located on the same site as AMERI. The primary missions of Harima-Himeji GMC include providing emergency clinical care and advanced-specialized medical care, developing resource development, and conducting clinical studies to enhance the medical practices. With over 300 physicians, half of whom possess extensive clinical study experience and hold a PhD., we have already started the collaborative studies with AMERI. In cooperation with AMERI, I am sure that we will make advances in clinical studies for diseases that the current medicine cannot fully address. Additionally, we also aim to develop treatments procedures that can be conducted safely and with high certainty. By integrating the efforts of the two institutes, our goal is to provide better than ever medical care, nursing, and caregiving.
Yoshikazu KINOSHITA
President,
Hyogo Prefectural Harima-Himeji General Medical Center (Harima-Himeji GMC)
History
April , 2022
AMERI
Advanced Medical Engineering Research Institute (AMERI) was established, succeeding AMEC. It now comprises the faculty members from all departments of University of Hyogo. AMERI has entered into a comprehensive collaborative agreement with Hyogo Prefectural Harima-Himeji General Medical Center (HGMC).
Key Features of AMERI
- 1. Direct Contact with the Clinical Environment
-
AMERI is situated within the premises of Harima-Himeji General Medical Center. Here, faculty members of AMERI and medical professionals of HGMC are able to collaborate in the research and development of medical devices, healthcare, nursing, caregiving, and food and nutrition.
- 2. Interdisciplinary
-
AMERI is venturing into a new frontier of medical engineering by fostering connections among all departments and research institutions within University of Hyogo in clinical fields.
- 3. Open-Graduate Program
-
AMERI provides courses covering medical and healthcare devices, nursing and caregiving, as well as food and nutrition for all graduate students across all the departments of University of Hyogo. Additionally, graduate students are able to engage in research at the collaborative and shared laboratories of AMERI.
- 4. Center of Collaboration in Research and Development with Medical Institute and Industries
-
AMERI actively collaborates with industries, particularly local industries, to support research and development in the field of medical and healthcare, leveraging the technologies and knowledge at University of Hyogo. Moreover, AMERI also supports the activities at Innovation Salon, where researchers from industries and medical professionals explore potential new business by discussing the needs of the medical and healthcare personnels.
Research and Education area
Medical System Engineering Division
By integrating software and hardware, we create practical medical solutions that can be used on-site, consistently covering everything from design and safety evaluation to clinical verification. We cross-sectionally integrate technologies such as embedded hardware, mechanical design, and machine learning. Through co-creation with companies and technological refinement based on feedback from the field, we aim to reduce the burden on patients and medical professionals, improve QOL, and realize sustainable healthcare.
Division Head:
Kouki NAGAMUNE
Research Keywords:
- Biosensing
- Wearable devices
- Diagnosis support systems
Possessed Technologies & Equipment:
- Cardiovascular diagnosis support via thermal fluid simulation
- Surgical instrument navigation via projection
- Sign detection and medical safety enhancement using 9DOF and capacitive sensors
Blood vessel simulation
Surgical instrument recognition
Array sensor
Bioanalysis Division
Targeting cells, molecules, proteins, antibodies, and genomic information, we integrate microelectrode devices, electrochemical measurement, structural and image analysis, and omics analysis. We create an analytical technology platform that contributes to the understanding of life phenomena and disease mechanisms, as well as medical and healthcare applications, expanding into rapid diagnostics and efficient drug discovery support. We seamlessly promote a wide range of activities from basic research to social implementation.
Division Head:
Masato SUZUKI
Research Keywords:
- Bioanalytical chemistry
- Cellular and molecular structure analysis
- Bioinformatics and omics analysis
Possessed Technologies & Equipment:
- Label-free, high-sensitivity analysis of cells using electrical measurement
- Molecular-level analysis of cell morphology using electron microscopes
- Integrated analysis of biological phenomena and disease-related information
Electrorotation device
Electron microscope
Amplification curve evaluation
Medical AI Division
By integrating medical engineering and AI, we promote the social implementation of safe and high-quality medical and healthcare systems. The innovative AI-driven diagnostic and therapeutic technologies developed by our division are deployed into clinical applications through strong partnerships with companies. By combining mutual knowledge and technology, we solve problems in the medical field and lead the development of the future healthcare industry together.
Division Head:
Naomi YAGI
Research Keywords:
- Social implementation and PoC support for medical and healthcare AI
- Hospital information systems and medical data collection
- Research and development of medical AI to support diagnosis and treatment
Possessed Technologies & Equipment:
- Image analysis and high-precision biomarker extraction AI technology
- Data collection platform construction and operation technology
- Prediction and simulation technology using computational science and AI
AI diagnosis support for baseball elbow
Heart treatment simulation
Constipation image diagnosis support
Nursing and Caregiving Division
We aim to utilize clinical practical knowledge, which is considered difficult to formalize and verbalize. Through collaboration with other divisions, we incorporate ICT, AI, and sensing technologies to advance the development of systems that contribute to decision-making support, automatic structuring of nursing narrative records, AI-supported health guidance, and the construction of medical safety environments. We are working to create mechanisms that visualize and utilize excellent nursing practices.
Division Head:
Hiroshi ONO
Research Keywords:
- Health and medical data analysis
- Nursing quality evaluation systems
- Medical safety systems
Possessed Technologies & Equipment:
- Natural language processing technology for medical and nursing text data
- Algorithm development technology for visualizing clinical practical knowledge and supporting decision-making
- Technology for constructing medical safety and quality evaluation systems through multi-professional and engineering collaboration
Infant medical training simulator
Food and Nutrition Division
Through precision nutrition using the latest technologies such as comprehensive analysis of metabolites and biomonitoring, we accumulate evidence leading to new nutritional therapies and put them into practice. Furthermore, by combining scientific analysis of food physical properties and texture with the evaluation of mastication status, we aim to develop and socially implement food support programs for people with mastication and swallowing difficulties.
Division Head:
Mikiko ITO
Research Keywords:
- Nutritional assessment methods
- Comprehensive analysis of metabolites, metabolic nutrition therapy
- Development of novel foods, support for people with mastication and swallowing difficulties
Possessed Technologies & Equipment:
- Nutritional assessment (InBody, indirect calorimeter, vascular endothelial function measuring instrument), nutritional survey, nutritional intervention
- Mechanism analysis using animal models
- Metabolome analysis, proteome analysis
- Texture measurement, palatability based on sensory evaluation, masticability evaluation using masticatory muscle electromyography
Development of highly functional foods
Microscopic image of starch
Food physical property evaluation
Organization
Advanced Medical Engineering Research Institute
Director
Professor Takayuki Fujita
Deputy Director
Professor Kouki Nagamune
(Medical System Engineering Division)
Assistant Director
Associate Professor Masato Suzuki
(Bioanalysis division)
Research Coordinator
Toshiki Okamoto
Yukio Hamaguchi
Innovation Salon
Salon Manager
Professor Yutaka Hata
Deputy Salon Manager
Professor Reiko Sakashita
Professor Hayato Uchida
Research Administrator
Mitsuo Fujita
Members
Medical System Engineering Division
Professor: Kouki Nagamune (Engineering) – Division Head
Professor: Osamu Kawanami (Engineering)
Professor: Takao Sato (Engineering)
Professor: Naohisa Takagaki (Engineering)
Professor: Yutaka Hata (Information Science)
Professor: Masaru Higa (Engineering)
Professor: Takayuki Fujita (AMERI)
Associate Professor: Shinichiro Yamamoto (Engineering)
Assistant Professor: Fumiya Kidena (Engineering)
Bioanalysis Division
Associate Professor: Masato Suzuki (Science) – Division Head
Professor: Yasuhiro Go (Information Science)
Professor: Atsuo Miyazawa (Science)
Professor: Tomoyuki Yasukawa (Science)
Associate Professor: Yuri Nishino (Science)
Assistant Professor: Yuji Isozaki (Science)
Medical AI Division
Associate Professor: Naomi Yagi (AMERI) – Division Head
Professor: Syoji Kobashi (Engineering)
Professor: Tadamasa Takemura (Information Science)
Professor: Ryo Haraguchi (Information Science)
Professor: Essam Rashed (Information Science)
Assistant Professor: Honoka Irie (Information Science)
Nursing and Caregiving Division
Associate Professor: Hiroshi Ono (Nursing) – Division Head
Professor: Hayato Uchida (Human Science and Environment)
Professor: Yuko Kawasaki (Nursing)
Professor: Reiko Sakashita (Nursing)
Associate Professor: Rie Oe (Nursing)
Associate Professor: Manabu Nii (Engineering)
Lecturer: Eiko Nakanishi (Nursing)
Food and Nutrition Division
Professor: Mikiko Ito (Human Science and Environment) – Division Head
Professor: Kaoru Sakamoto (Human Science and Environment)
Professor: Makiko Nakade (Human Science and Environment)
Professor: Masaru Yoshida (Human Science and Environment)
Professor: Miki Yoshimura (Human Science and Environment)
Assistant Professor: Ryoko Shimada (Human Science and Environment)
Assistant Professor: Sarasa Tanaka (Human Science and Environment)
Access
Advanced Medical Engineering Research Institute (AMERI)
Address
Education and training Bld.3F Harima-Himeji General Medical Center,
3-264, Kamiya, Himeji 670-0836 JAPAN
TEL/+81-79-280-1248
FAX/+81-79-280-1247
MAP
