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Student life2023.10.03Karen ShibayamaMy research primarily revolves around elucidating the neural underpinnings of acquiring relative pitch using functional brain imaging. While there are established assessment and training methods for absolute pitch, relative pitch, to some extent, is cultivated through daily musical activities, yet the specifics remain elusive. Relative pitch holds particular significance in music comprehension, as it forms the foundation of the relational aspects between musical pitches. In our experiments, we administer various behavioral tests, including tasks related to auditory perception, while simultaneously monitoring the participants’ brainwave activity. I engage in experiments every day, anticipating the discernible shifts in brain activity that stem from our training sessions. -
Young Scientists2023.09.28Yuka KoikeI earned an MD degree from Niigata University, followed by intensive neurology training, during which I served at various hospitals in Niigata Prefecture, including Niigata University Medical and Dental Hospital. Concurrently, I embarked on my PhD research journey, focusing on unraveling the molecular pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases. After earning my PhD, I continued my academic pursuits at Mayo Clinic Florida. I am presently involved in neurodegenerative disease research in the Department of Molecular Neuroscience while also practicing as a neurologist. -
Student life2023.09.26Alfi Raudatil JannahMy laboratory focuses on neurodegenerative diseases. We work on clinical and molecular genetic researches. My current research interest is around tauopathies. Tauopathies are clinically, morphologically, and biochemically heterogeneous. They are characterized by the aggregation of tau into paired helical filaments (PHFs) and neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs). Using biosensor cells, my research focuses at the tau seeding capacity of certain tauopathies; comparing from one tauopathies to another and from one brain region to another using proteomic approach. -
Student life2023.09.20Chihiro YagiMy professor in the Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery mentioned a proposal to conduct research on the relationship between the sense of balance and brain functions with the assistance of BRI researchers. I believed that being involved in research at BRI would provide me with invaluable experience. -
Young Scientists2023.09.20Godfried DougnonI completed my Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Sciences at Kyoto University, where I primarily focused on investigating the sedative, anxiolytic, and antidepressant properties of naturally occurring chemical compounds. I joined the Brain Research Institute (BRI) in 2022 because of my interest in brain disorders, and since, I have been a part of some fascinating studies on Alzheimer's disease, as well as neurodevelopmental disorders like autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), using drug-induced or genetically engineered zebrafish and mouse models. -
Careers after BRI2023.01.01Chihiro NakamotoI have studied mainly molecular biology, biochemistry, and behavioral analysis at BRI Professor Kenji Sakimura's laboratory for eight years, including my master's, PhD and postdoc. -
Young Scientists2022.12.01Satoshi MiyashitaDr Miyashita earned his PhD from Waseda University and worked as a research fellow at Dept of Biochemistry & Cellular Biology, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry. He joined BRI's Dept of System Pathology for Neurological Disorders in 2021, where he carries out his research on neural development and brain disorders with bioinformatic approach. -
Careers after BRI2022.12.01Hiroki KitauraWhen I first joined BRI as a graduate student, I was doing research on functional brain imaging and electrophysiology under the mentorship of Dr Katsuei Shibuki in Dept of Neurophysiology. My doctoral thesis was electrophysiological analysis of the plasticity on neural networks in the rat cerebral cortex using the patch clamp technique. I then advanced my research to study the reorganization of the active dependent brain functional map in mouse somatosensory cortex in vivo. After my PhD, I engaged in functional brain imaging using MRI in mice supervised by Dr Hironaka Igarashi (Center for Integrated Human Brain Science) and later joined Dept of Pathology (Dr Akiyoshi Kakita's lab) to work on imaging analysis of epileptogenicity using surgical samples. -
Female Scientists2022.11.01Kanako OdaResearch using genetically modified animals has become an indispensable tool for producing human diseases and elucidating their mechanisms. The main tasks of my research are to create genetically modified animals for the assigned research and to preserve them as bioresources. -
Student life2022.11.01Kohei IkarashiMy research focuses on the mechanism to reconstruct neural circuits following stroke. Stroke causes damage to neural circuits of the brain and spinal cord, resulting in various aftereffects. Our lab studies -
Student life2022.11.01Natsuki AkiyamaMy major research interests are cerebral ischemia, tau protein accumulation, and neuroprotection. Stroke causes dynamic changes in the brain. Cerebral infarction causes motor paralysis, speech impairment, and cognitive decline, and these symptoms are the result of dynamic environmental changes in the brain after the infarction. -
Student life2021.10.01Kazuki KoderaParkinson's disease and autism spectrum disorder are the key focus of my research. I analyze a gene whose function is not yet understood. This gene may be related to the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease and I repeat steadily basic molecular biology experiments. As for autism research, I'm looking for ways in which the characteristics of zebrafish can help us to understand the mechanisms of autism. -
Student life2021.02.01Shoji SaitoMy research interest is to elucidate the pathophysiology of cerebral vascular disease and to establish a novel treatment. I generate genetically modified model mice for diseases using transgenic mice and viral vectors and analyze them. -
Student life2021.02.01Ramil GabdulkhaevResearch in our lab is concentrated around the pathology of the diseases of the human nervous system. The area is quite broad and includes a study of neurodegenerative diseases, neoplastic processes, various malformations, and autoimmune diseases, to name a few. My current research interest is around neuropathology of REM sleep behavior disorder (or RBD). -
Careers after BRI2021.02.01Manabu TohmiDr Tohmi obtained his PhD from Niigata University, under the supervision of BRI Prof Hiroyuki Nawa, then joined BRI Prof Katsuei Shibuki's lab to continue his work on the visual cortex. He later transferred to the Technical University of Munich, Germany and is currently working at University of Virginia, USA. In this interview, Dr Tohmi shares his experience at BRI and his current work.
