About

I have been appointed as the Director of the Institute of Brain Science since April 2021. This institute was established in October 2019 under the leadership of Dr. Makoto Michikawa, former Dean of the Graduate School of Medical Sciences (the first Director). In addition to the Department of Glial Cell Biology, Neurotoxicology, and Developmental and Regenerative Neurobiology, which had been active since its predecessor, the Institute for Molecular Medicine, the Department of Neurocognitive Science and Neurodevelopmental Disorder Genetics have been newly established. In addition, an endowed laboratory in Cognitive Function and Pathology was established in 2021 with support from the City of Nagoya.

A year and a half has passed since the establishment of the Institute, and we have gradually built up a structure as a research institute engaged in basic neuroscience, especially in the elucidation of the pathology of brain diseases and the development of prevention and treatment. The number of researchers is gradually increasing, and we are receiving more competitive research grants and publishing more papers. We would like to promote the exchange of information and joint research within the institute by designing ways for researchers to interact with each other, which is often lacking in the COVID-19 related crisis. Furthermore, we need to further strengthen our research capabilities by collaborating not only with researchers on campus including those at our affiliated hospitals but also with other research institutions and companies in Japan and abroad.

In the Core Laboratory, which is located in the building of the Institute, the latest imaging equipment as well as equipment for analyzing cognitive and motor functions of mice will be installed as shared equipment of the university. The Biobank, scheduled to open in FY2021, will be able to store biological samples such as blood along with medical information and utilize them for medical research. These facilities are expected to be used not only for neuroscience, but also for a variety of medical and life science research at Nagoya City University, as well as for collaborative research with researchers outside the university.

We aim to promote basic research in neuroscience and to translate the results into clinical applications. We also hope to provide education and research guidance in neuroscience to young scientists, and to foster internationally active neuroscientists.

We will make a concerted effort to provide a place where researchers can enjoy their research, demonstrate their abilities, and grow, and to contribute to the development of neuroscience.

We sincerely appreciate your cooperation and support for the development of the Institute of Brain Science.