Research Topics

1. Behavioral pharmacological and molecular biological studies for investigation physiological function of novel molecules related to some psychiatric diseases.

   We are studying novel molecules including Shati/Nat8L, Piccolo and TMEM168. The pathway related to these molecules could be new target for developments of new medications.

2. Drug addiction

   There are many kinds of addictive ligands, including psychostimulant, opioids and nicotine. We are studying the mechanism of formation of addiction by them, although each addictive drug has different target in brain.

3. New animal models and medication for mental disorders

   Good animal models are required for the development of new clinical tools. Perfect reproduction of human situation of the patients with mental disorders are too difficult to use animal models. We have hypothesis that genomic and environmental condition are most important for onset of psychiatric diseases, therefore attempt better animal models.

4. Biomarker for psychiatric diseases

   In many case, psychiatric diseases including a mood disorder, cannot be diagnosed at their early stage, because of no biomarkers for these diseases. We are searching biomarkers for psychiatric diseases. When we can find new biomarkers, home or general doctors can diagnose these diseases.

5. Mechanism of senescence accelerating gene and Alzheimer disease

   We investigate what mechanism of aging and Alzheimer disease are, and how to change neuronal function by these factors. Recently we focus autophagy in the aging and Alzheimer disease and studying them using iPS cells.

6. Clinical studies based on pharmacy

   We also doing study of clinical pharmacy, focusing problems in the pharmacy service in hospital, and pharmacy education.