In our laboratory, we aim to elucidate how animals have evolved highly sophisticated mechanisms for homeostasis and learning.
To this end, we employ a variety of approaches, including genetic manipulation and imaging techniques such as fluorescence and electron microscopy at the cellular and tissue levels.
As we go about our daily lives, countless molecular reactions are constantly taking place both inside and outside our cells. These dynamic molecular processes underpin a wide range of essential biological functions—enabling us to adapt to environmental changes, respond to external stimuli, and learn new information.
However, much remains unknown about exactly which molecular reactions occur, where, when, and how they take place in living organisms. As a result, effective treatments for many conditions—including numerous neurological disorders—have yet to be discovered. In light of these challenges, we focus our research on two major themes:
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The mechanisms of neural circuit formation and functional regulation
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The mechanisms of inter-organelle interactions in mammalian cells.
Through these studies, we seek to uncover how molecular reactions regulate cellular functions and tissue dynamics in the living body.
