Areas of Interest
The goal of research group is to elucidate chromatin regulatory mechanisms engaged in development and function of the brain. Chromatin deregulation has emerged as a major cause of neurodevelopmental disorders such as intellectual disabilities, autism spectrum disorders, and schizophrenia. Post-translational modifications of histones have been recognized as a "language" describing a variety of nuclear events. Numerous mutations associated with neurodevelopmental fall into such histone modification regulators. Accurate interpretation of the histone modification network, therefore, appears to be essential for proper brain development and function. However, little is known about what chromatin regulators do in the brain and how these mutations lead to neurodevelopmental disorders. Our group aims to reveal molecular underpinnings of histone regulation in the brain, thereby understanding of the roles of chromatin in normal and pathological brains.
Honors & Awards
- Scholarship for Academic Excellence. Japan Student Services Organization (2001-2003)
- Graduate Student Scholarship. Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (2003-2006)
- Japan Society for Promotion of Science Postdoctoral Fellowship for Research Abroad (2008-2010)
- Jane Coffin Childs Memorial Fund (2008-2010)
- Cooley's Anemia Foundation Research Fellowship Award (2013-2015)
- Basil O'Connor Starter Scholar Research Award (2014-2016)
Credentials
- B.S., University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan (2001)
- Ph.D., University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan (2006)
- Postdoctoral Fellow, Harvard Medical School and Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA (2012)