Itaru Hamachi is a Professor at Kyoto University, where he leads research in bioorganic chemistry and chemical biology. His research integrates synthetic chemistry, supramolecular chemistry, and biological chemistry to develop molecular tools for analysing and controlling biological systems.
The Hamachi Laboratory is widely known for developing ligand-directed chemistry, protein labelling methods, and chemical approaches for studying biomolecules in live cells and complex biological environments. These strategies have enabled selective modification, imaging, and functional regulation of endogenous proteins.
He received his Ph.D. from Kyoto University under Professor Iwao Tabushi. After beginning his academic career at Kyushu University, he held positions in the laboratories of Professors Toyoki Kunitake and Seiji Shinkai before joining Kyoto University.
His work has made major contributions to chemical biology by demonstrating how synthetic molecules can be designed to operate selectively in living systems. His research continues to connect fundamental molecular design with biological and biomedical applications.