MOLCURE Inc. (“MOLCURE”) will participate as a co-investigator in the research and development project “Antigen-Specific Immune Digital Twins for the Creation of Generative Immunology” (provisional English title; to be confirmed), which was selected under the “AI to Redesign Scientific Exploration (ARiSE)” program promoted by the Japan Science and Technology Agency (“JST”), a national research and development agency. The project is led by Associate Professor Masahito Ohue of the Institute of Science Tokyo as principal investigator, with Kazuyoshi Ishigaki, Team Director of the Laboratory for Human Immunogenetics at the RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences, as co-principal investigator. It is one of the newly selected projects that JST announced on September 29, 2026. ARiSE is a flagship initiative that leads the concrete actions set out in the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology’s “Basic Strategic Policy for Promoting AI for Science.”
“We are honored to participate as a co-investigator in the research and development project ‘Antigen-Specific Immune Digital Twins for the Creation of Generative Immunology,’ selected under JST ARiSE. By working with the principal investigators and the participating institutions and steadily fulfilling MOLCURE’s role, we will contribute to advancing the project,” said Satoshi Tamaki, CEO and CSO of MOLCURE.
Award Overview
- Program: JST AI to Redesign Scientific Exploration (ARiSE), Strategic Target-Driven type, T2 “Strategic Target 2”
- Project: “Antigen-Specific Immune Digital Twins for the Creation of Generative Immunology”
- Principal investigator: Masahito Ohue, Associate Professor, School of Computing, Institute of Science Tokyo
- Co-principal investigator: Kazuyoshi Ishigaki, Team Director, Laboratory for Human Immunogenetics, RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences
- Co-investigators: 21
- Project period: October 2026 (planned) to March 2029
About JST ARiSE
JST ARiSE is a flagship initiative that leads the concrete actions set out in the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology’s “Basic Strategic Policy for Promoting AI for Science.” Through concentrated investment in strategic targets that make the most of Japan’s strengths, it aims to produce world-leading scientific research results and promote strategic international collaboration with world-class research institutions and researchers.
ARiSE has two research types: “Strategic Target-Driven” and “International/Convergent.” Strategic Target 2 (T2) of the Strategic Target-Driven type, under which this project was selected, looks ahead to the realization of future virtual cell and biological models and “digital twin models” of plants, animals, humans, and organs, and aims to secure Japan’s international competitiveness in high-precision, high-efficiency bioproduct development and drug discovery. To this end, it advances large-scale data acquisition and the development of AI-ready data while leveraging Japan’s strengths, with the goal of developing, within three years, a bio-generative foundation model that contributes to the highly efficient design of high-functionality bioproducts and drug discovery.
Research Project: “Antigen-Specific Immune Digital Twins for the Creation of Generative Immunology”
This project will treat T-cell receptors (TCRs) and B-cell receptors (BCRs/antibodies), which play a central role in immune responses, in an integrated manner and develop an “antigen-recognition foundation model” that learns the principles of molecular recognition common to both. The foundation model will be continuously improved through an AI-ready data platform, large-scale computing resources, and a cycle of AI prediction and experimental validation. The project also aims to build “antigen-specific immune digital twins” based on each patient’s immune information, making it possible to predict how an individual’s immune system responds to a specific antigen. In addition, it will extend to technologies that use AI to generate TCRs and antibody candidates that recognize specific antigens, aiming at applications in drug discovery, diagnostics, and vaccine development. Through these efforts, the project takes on the creation of “Generative Immunology,” a new academic field that goes beyond “understanding” immune responses to “predicting and designing” them.
About MOLCURE Inc.
MOLCURE Inc. is a leader in AI-driven drug discovery for antibodies and peptides. Our platform combines cutting-edge large language models (LLMs), physics-based simulations, and high-quality experimental data from our in-house labs. This approach enables the discovery of innovative biologics that are safer and more effective, making it possible to tackle undrugged targets that are challenging. We work with forward-thinking partners, including leading pharmaceutical companies, to accelerate R&D and help bring life-changing new treatments for patients around the world. Founded in 2013, MOLCURE is based in Japan, with headquarters in Kawasaki and a research facility in Tsuruoka. Learn more at https://molcure.com.
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