Outline
Psychiatric and neurological disorders attributable to disorders of higher brain functions, such as cognition and emotion, are an issue of high social demand in Japan, which is increasingly affected by a declining birthrate, aging, and social tension. This Research Area aims at the creation of a novel technology for prevention, diagnosis, and therapy for psychiatric and neurological disorders.More specifically, it targets research towards evidence-based objective diagnosis and curative therapy based on the understanding of molecular pathogenesis of psychiatric and neurological disorders that engender higher brain function disorders. Exemplary research objects include: development of diagnostic methods using, for example, biological markers, which are available as an objective index from biochemical or molecular genetic points of view, or functional markers such as non invasive brain imaging technology; analysis of animals used in disease modeling reproducing gene mutation or environmental change;and search for and identification of target molecules towards innovative drug development for implementing basic treatment. This Research Area also deems important those studies that aim at organic fusion of different research areas or study methods, including clinical study for disorders vs. fundamental study like brain science, psychiatric disorder study vs. neurological disorder study, and intermediate phenotype analysis studies like brain imaging vs. gene analysis study, to advance these studies.
Strategic Sector
Creation of Innovations toward the Development of Diagnosis and Treatment of Psychiatric and Neurological Disorders based on Elucidation of Complex and Higher Brain Functions
Research Projects
Research Director | Affiliation | Research Project |
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Yasuo Ihara | Professor, Doshisha University | Development of anti-amyloid and anti-tau therapeutics based on the molecular mechanism of Alzheimer's disease |
Toru Takumi | Professor, Hiroshima University | Integrative reasearch on neuropsychiatric behavioral diseases |
Toru Nishikawa | Professor, Tokyo Medical and Dental University | Elucidation of Molecular and Cellular Basis of Synapse-Glia System Dysfunction in Schizophrenia toward Creation of Novel Strategies for its Diagnosis and Treatment |
Nobuyuki Nukina | Lab Head, RIKEN | Development of Comprehensive Therapies for Polyglutamine Diseases |
Hidehiro Mizusawa | Professor, Tokyo Medical and Dental University | Development of diagnosis and treatment based on the molecular pathomechanism of Purkinje cell degeneration. |
Research Director | Affiliation | Research Project |
---|---|---|
Hiroshi Onodera | Assisatant Director, National Hospital Organization Nishitaga Hosipital | Novel Approach to ReconstructNeuronal Circuits after Spinal Cord Injury and Brain Diseases |
Nobumasa Kato | Professor, Showa University | Identifi cation of Molecular Mechanism and Development of Novel and Curative Pharmacological Treatment for Dysfunction of Social Reciprocity in Autism |
Masami Kojima | Leader, National Institute of Advanced Science and Technology (AIST) | Development of Diagnosis and Treatment Techniques for Patients with Sever Intractable Depression and Insensitivity to Antidepressant Treatment Based on Molecular and Cellular Researches on BDNF and Depression |
Gen Sobue | Professor, Nagoya University | Development of Molecular Targeted Therapy for Sporadic ALS Based on Creation of Animal Models |
Research Director | Affiliation | Research Project |
---|---|---|
Kaoru Inokuchi | Professor, University of Toyama | Development of PTSD Remedy based on the Molecular Mechanisms underlying Fear Memory Formation |
Takeshi Iwatsubo | Professor, The University of Tokyo | Comprehensive Study for the Development of Disease-modifying Therapies for Alzheimer's Disease |
Kozo Kaibuchi | Professor, Nagoya University | Elucidation of Molecular Pathogenesis of Schizophrenia by Analyzing Susceptibility Genes |
Ryosuke Takahashi | Professor, Kyoto University | Elucidation of Parkinson's Disease (PD) Gene Networks and Establishment of Strategies for Treating PD |
Tsuyoshi Miyakawa | Professor, Fujita Health University | Identification of Endophenotype in Psychiatric Disorders using Genetically Engineered Mice |
- Research Area Website
- http://www.sss.jst.go.jp/english/index.html