Director, Institute for Reproductive Health and Contraception (IRHC)
Researcher, Ritsumeikan University (separate affiliation)
Current Affiliations & Roles:
Education & Career:
For a full academic history, please see my ORCID profile.
My research is driven by a consistent pursuit to understand how extracellular secreted factors regulate complex biological functions. This work culminated in the discovery of a novel signaling system, lumicrine, which controls sperm maturation in the male reproductive tract (Kiyozumi et al., Science. 2020; Kiyozumi et al., Nat Commun. 2023). Based on these findings, I am currently focused on elucidating the molecular mechanisms of reproductive control, with the ultimate goal of developing new male contraceptives.
Current Research Topics:
Background & Significance:
Sperm acquire fertilizing ability through molecular modifications during their transit through the epididymis. Recent discoveries have revealed that lumicrine signaling from the testis regulates this process. These findings provide not only new insights into male fertility, but also fundamental advances in developmental biology and cell signaling.
Application & Outlook:
Our research has potential applications in infertility diagnostics and male contraceptive drug development. By collaborating with pharmaceutical industries, we aim to translate basic findings into practical medical innovations.
Selected Original Articles:
Selected Review Articles:
For a full list of publications, please visit: PubMed - Search results for "Kiyozumi D"
Email: kiyozumi [AT] fc.ritsumei.ac.jp