Chuo University and Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (NYK) have recently launched a joint research initiative to discover novel natural products from marine organisms. This project seeks to identify previously unknown substances that may have beneficial applications for humanity, including potential new medicinal resources, from marine organisms attached to ship hulls and other surfaces, and to elucidate the effects of those substances.

Historically, natural products have played a pivotal role in the development of groundbreaking medicines, akin to the discovery of penicillin, the world's first antibiotic, from mold. Marine organisms represent a particularly rich resource for uncovering novel natural compounds with significant potential benefits for humankind.

Since 2023, NYK and the Iwasaki Laboratory at the Department of Applied Chemistry within the Faculty of Science and Engineering at Chuo University have been conducting a pilot project focused on collecting and analyzing marine organisms attached to ship hulls and similar surfaces. This endeavor led to the discovery of an unknown natural substance, the effects of which were subsequently analyzed in collaboration with Professor NOZAKI Tomoyoshi's research group at the Graduate School of Medicine at The University of Tokyo.

Preliminary results revealed that the substance inhibits the growth of Rhodesian trypanosome, the pathogen responsible for African sleeping sickness*, a disease classified as a “neglected tropical disease.” This finding was presented at the annual meeting of the Chemical Society of Japan in March 2025** by a student from the Iwasaki Laboratory.

Building on the outcomes of the initial research, Chuo University and NYK have formalized a five-year joint research agreement. Chuo University's Iwasaki Laboratory will collect marine organisms, explore unknown natural substances, and evaluate their usefulness, while NYK will primarily facilitate the collection of these marine organisms.

The selection of exploration sources is extremely important for discovering useful unknown substances. By collaborating with NYK, which operates a wide range of marine-related businesses around the world, we can obtain marine biological resources that are difficult for university researchers to obtain. We aim to discover new substances that will serve as the foundation for our healthy and prosperous lives from these rare biological resources.
-- Associate Professor IWASAKI Arihiro, Department of Applied Chemistry, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Chuo University

Our company has adopted a management policy that places sustainability at the core of our business, and we are proactively addressing social and environmental issues under the theme of “giving back to the oceans, earth, and people.” In this initiative, we have leveraged the expertise we have cultivated through our shipping business and our extensive network with shipyards and other organizations to provide researchers with access to sampling environments that would otherwise be difficult to reach on their own, thereby realizing a unique form of industry-academia collaboration that is characteristic of our company. Going forward, we will continue to collaborate with external partners, including Chuo University, to create new value that contributes to society.

* African sleeping sickness
A disease found in sub-Saharan Africa, primarily transmitted by tsetse flies. It is characterized by sleep cycle disorders, and severe cases can be fatal.
Note: Data cited from the “Infectious Diseases Topics” fact sheet on African Trypanosomiasis produced by Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare's Quarantine Station, referencing WHO (World Health Organization) data. Link:
https://www.who.int/en/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/trypanosomiasis-human-african-(sleeping-sickness)

** Abstract of presentation at the 2025 spring meeting of the Chemical Society of Japan:
Isolation and structure determination of ikeiamides, new cyclopropane-containing polyketides from a marine cyanobacterium collected at Ikei Island. Link:
https://pub.confit.atlas.jp/en/event/csj105th/presentation/A_A305-4am-08

Chuo University
＜Research-related inquiries＞
Associate Professor IWASAKI Arihiro, Department of Applied Chemistry, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Chuo University
Email: aiwasaki686[at]g.chuo-u.ac.jp

＜Public relations-related inquiries＞
Research Support Office, Chuo University
Email: kkouhou-grp[at]g.chuo-u.ac.jp

NYK Line, Ltd.
Media Relations Team, Public Relations Group
Email: NYKJP.ML.MEDIA[at]nykgroup.com

*Please replace [at] with “@” before sending.