Associate Professor Yuichiro Arima of our laboratory has been selected as one of the awardees of the “Setup Research Grant” offered by the Manpei Suzuki Diabetes Foundation. On February 10, 2026, the certificate presentation and orientation session were held in our laboratory.

This grant is intended to support researchers who are engaged in studies related to diabetes and its associated fields, and who are in the process of establishing an independent research unit. The program aims to promote research that can contribute to the advancement of diabetology.

The selected research theme is “Elucidation of the reciprocal regulatory mechanisms between ketone body metabolism and glucose metabolism.” This project seeks to clarify the molecular mechanisms by which ketone bodies produced in the liver enhance glucose utilization in cardiac muscle, thereby inducing a metabolic shift from fatty acid–dominant pathways to glycolysis. By uncovering new links between glucose metabolism and ketone body metabolism, the research aims to identify novel therapeutic targets for metabolic diseases.

Following the orientation, Associate Professor Arima received the grant certificate directly from Executive Director Aonuma of the Foundation.

With this support, the laboratory plans to strengthen its cell culture systems and gene expression analysis techniques. Research findings will be disseminated through presentations at academic meetings such as the Annual Scientific Meeting of the Japanese Circulation Society and the Annual Meeting of the Japan Diabetes Society, as well as through journal publications.