Papers
7
Total Citations
300
H-Index
6
About
Takashi Kumasaka is a structural biologist and beamline scientist whose career has been defined by pioneering contributions to high-throughput protein crystallography infrastructure at SPring-8, Japan's premier synchrotron radiation facility. Working primarily within the RIKEN Structural Genomics initiative, Kumasaka has played a central role in automating and streamlining the complex pipeline of macromolecular X-ray crystallography, enabling researchers worldwide to determine protein structures with unprecedented efficiency. His most influential work, cited nearly 100 times, established the operational framework for RIKEN's dedicated structural genomics beamlines (BL26B1 and BL26B2), integrating robotic sample changers, database-driven scheduling software, and automated data collection into a cohesive system. His development of the Beamline Scheduling Software (BSS) and sophisticated sample management systems for handling vast numbers of frozen crystals further cemented this infrastructure, collectively attracting over 130 citations. Kumasaka also pioneered mail-in data collection services, democratizing access to synchrotron facilities by allowing users to submit crystals remotely. His more recent work on in situ crystal screening and ligand discovery reflects a continued commitment to advancing structural biology tools. Across his career, Kumasaka's technical innovations have fundamentally shaped how structural genomics is conducted at large-scale facilities.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
- 1
- 2
- 3Sample management system for a vast amount of frozen crystals at SPring-866 citations · 2004
- 4Mail-in data collection at SPring-8 protein crystallography beamlines48 citations · 2008
- 5
- 6RIKEN structural genomics beamlines at SPring-86 citations · 2002
- 7SPring-8 Structural Biology Beamline2 citations · 2010