International Conference on Hydrogen Medicine and Biology. H2 Tokyo 2025

For years, we have been active contributors to the development of hydrogen medicine, moving the field from basic research to translational research in cardiovascular and renal disorders. Our work focuses on the therapeutic potential of molecular hydrogen (H₂) in protecting organs from ischemia-reperfusion injury, oxidative stress and inflammation.

A central theme of our study was the evaluation of hydrogen inhalation therapy in preclinical models of cardiac arrest and resuscitation. In rodent studies, administration of 2% hydrogen during cardiopulmonary resuscitation markedly reduced mortality and helped preserve neurological function. These results provided a strong biological rationale for moving toward clinical applications and drew attention to hydrogen as a new adjunctive strategy in critical care.

An important part of our study was hydrogen inhalation therapy in patients after successful resuscitation following cardiac arrest. Preclinical rodent studies have shown that inhalation of 2% hydrogen mixed with oxygen during resuscitation markedly improves survival and reduces neurological damage. These findings were translated into a multicenter, randomized, double-blind clinical trial in patients after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. Prof. Mamoru Suzuki will discuss these results at the conference as an invited speaker.

In addition to evaluating efficacy, we extensively analyzed the pharmacokinetics of hydrogen in vivo. In large animal models, our team elucidated how hydrogen is distributed in the bloodstream following various delivery routes, including inhalation, infusion of hydrogen-enriched solutions and oral delivery. The study showed that systemic delivery comes with challenges such as dilution and lung excretion, highlighting the importance of optimizing both the route of delivery and the timing of administration. Such analyses have proven crucial in designing rational therapeutic protocols and understanding the limitations of hydrogen distribution in clinical settings.

In addition to research in the area of acute care, we also analyzed applications in nephrology. We co-developed innovative devices that dissolve hydrogen in dialysis fluids using capillary membranes for gas separation. This technology enables efficient, „bubble-free” delivery of hydrogen, which can help reduce oxidative stress and chronic inflammation in hemodialysis patients. These advances demonstrate hydrogen's potential not only in emergency medicine, but also in the long-term management of chronic diseases. I will talk about these results in a conference seminar.

Bottom line: our experience has helped solidify hydrogen medicine as a translational field - from laboratory discovery to clinical applications. The lecture will highlight the journey from basic research to clinical trials, current challenges in systemic delivery, and prospects for the development of hydrogen therapies in various areas of medicine, showing how rigorous experimental and pharmacological research can open the way to innovative therapies.

Biography (translation):
Prof. Motoaki Sano graduated from Keio University School of Medicine and gained clinical experience at Keio University Hospital. From 2000, he worked at Baylor College of Medicine (cardiology) in the US for five years. After returning to Japan, he was a lecturer and then an associate professor in the Department of Cardiology at Keio University School of Medicine. In December 2023, he became a professor at Yamaguchi University. In 2017, he established the Hydrogen Gas Therapy Development Center at Keio University, focusing on innovative therapies using hydrogen inhalation. He specializes in internal medicine, cardiology, nephrology and anti-aging medicine. He has received numerous awards, including the Sato Award (Japanese Circulation Society), the Japanese Heart Failure Society Scientific Award and the Takayasu Mikito Award (Japanese College of Angiology).

COI / Funding: research support and scholarship donations and a joint patent application (Doctor's Man, Inc. and TAIYO NIPPON SANSO) were mentioned.
Mention of a clinical trial: HYBRID II Trial (jRCTs031180352).

Hydrogen is the most common element in the universe - accounting for about 75% of total mass. On Earth, molecular hydrogen (H₂) is found in a variety of environments (from extreme to urbanized) and plays important roles in numerous natural processes, especially in the biogeochemical cycles of hydrogen in the atmosphere, water and soil. H₂ metabolism in animals, plants and microorganisms should be considered an important factor affecting human health - especially in the context of the possible presence of genes with „hydrogen-forming” potential in the genomes of humans and other animals.

Recent studies have shown that H₂ can be used to significantly promote plant growth and development, increase stress resistance, increase yield and quality, and extend the shelf life of agricultural products. These benefits can promote reduced use of pesticides and fertilizers in crop production and food processing, as well as reduced post-harvest food losses - resulting in lower production costs and higher profits for farmers.

In China, hydrogen farming technologies have progressed from laboratory research to large-scale farm-to-supermarket trials. These trials include a variety of crops, including rice, strawberries, blueberries, tomatoes and grapes. Successful applications point to a promising future for hydrogen farming.

The concept goes beyond the mere production and processing of agricultural products and food. It envisions a future in which hydrogen energy and biology can be integrated with renewable energy sources, machinery and equipment manufacturing, crop and animal production, post-harvest storage and fixation, processing and transportation. Such integration could create a more comprehensive and sustainable hydrogen agriculture industrial chain.

Biography (translation):
Prof. Shen Wenbiao is a full professor in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (College of Life Sciences) at Nanjing Agricultural University (NAU) in China and founder of the Gasotransmitter Research Group. Since 2011, his early research indicated that molecular hydrogen (H₂) may act as a signaling molecule in plants, involved in development and responses to abiotic and biotic stresses. Over the past decade, the team has focused on hydrogen agriculture and the biological functions and signaling pathways of H₂ under controlled conditions. Field and laboratory research has attracted international interest and collaborations (including with Air Liquide). Currently, the main focus is the identification and functional analysis of regulatory genes and proteins related to hydrogen metabolism in plants (and more recently in animals). In 2025, the team described observations suggesting that H₂ production (induced by anaerobic conditions) may be a universal phenomenon in eukaryotic organisms, including humans and other animals, and hypothesized that hydrogen metabolism may have been previously underestimated. Prof. Shen has published more than 190 peer-reviewed papers in Molecular Plant, Current Biology, Plant Physiology, Plant Journal, among others.

COI: lack of.