National Institutes of Natural Sciences

National Institute forPhysiological Sciences

2021

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O

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T

INTRODUCTION

E

N

T

S

1

Outlines of NIPS
Outlines of the Institute2

A Short History of the Institute
Organization of the Institute36

Section of Mammalian Transgenesis

37

Section of Research Archives

8

Emeritus Professors/Emeritus Technical Staff/
Deceased Emeritus Professors 8
Research Departments
Department of Molecular & Cellular Physiology
Division of Biophysics & Neurobiology
Division of Membrane Physiology
Division of Structural Biology

14

10

43

Research Enhancement Strategy Office

44

45-46

Exploratory Research Center on Life and Living Systems 47

11
12

Center for Animal Resources and Collaborative Study

48

Division of Coordinator for Animal Experimentation

48

NIPS Research Fellow

49

Large Facilities and Equipments for Cooperative

Division of Cardiocirculatory Signaling

15

Division of Endocrinology & Metabolism
Division of Ultrastructural ResearchStudies

16

50-53

Facilities Shared by the Two Institutes

17

Joint Researches

Department of Fundamental Neuroscience
Division of Homeostatic Development

18
19

of Life Science

62

International Exchanges

Department of System Neuroscience

Current State
21

Division of System Neurophysiology

22

23

Division of Cerebral Integration

24

Okazaki Administration Center

67

26

69

Stuff Index
27

28

Section of International Collaborative Research Project
Supportive Center for Brain Research

30

Section of Multiphoton Neuroimaging

31

32

Section of Brain Function Information

33

Section of Cellular Electrophysiology

34

Section of Instrumental Design

68

25

Section of Advanced Research Support

Section of Electron Microscopy

64

65-66

Location

Section of Collaboration Promotion

54

29

63

Common Facilities in OkazakiCampus Map

Research Centers
Center for Research Collaboration

60-61

The Graduate University for Advanced Studies School

20

Division of Behavioral Development

54-55

56-59

NIPS International Workshop

Division of Visual Information Processing

Division of Neural Dynamics

42

Section of Health & Safety Management

Technical Division

Department of Homeostatic Regulation

Division of Cell Signaling

41

Okazaki Research Facilities（NIPS）

9

Division of Neural Development & Regeneration

13

39

40

Section of Network Management

Division of Cell Structure38

Section of Physiology & Medicine Education

8

Section of NBR Project

Section of Viral Vector Development

Center for Communication Networks

7

Director General / Vice Director General / Chief

Division of Biophotonics

35

Section of Metabolic Physiology

3-6

Advisory Committee for Research and Management

Researchers

Center for Genetic Analysis of Behavior

70-72

INTRODUCTION
The National Institute for Physiological Sciences (NIPS) is an inter-university research institute focused on researchand education in human physiology. NIPS promotes collaborative studies amongst both National and International
researchers and organizations to together help understand body functions and their mechanisms. Research at NIPS
also provides further understanding of the fundamental mechanisms causing diseases, to enable new and improved
treatments for these diseases and their symptoms.
A major focus of current research at NIPS is to understand the brain. Most developed in humans among all thecreatures, the brain is critical for how we detect, respond and adapt to our environment, through the processes of
sensation, motor control and learning and memory. However, the brain also directs our individual behaviors anddesires, and how we communicate with each other socially through language and emotions. Furthermore, the brain
also interacts with our visceral organ systems to regulate body homeostasis, and research at NIPS also aims toprovide a comprehensive understanding of the mechanisms of body homeostasis through our research on theregulation of the cardiovascular system, on whole body and cellular metabolism, on temperature control and on
how we regulate our biological defenses against damage and pathogens. NIPS strives to advance our understandingof brain function and body homeostasis, from the molecular, cellular, organ, whole body and society levels, and we
provide and develop cutting-edge research technology, including computational and mathematical approaches, toachieve these strategic goals.
The NIPS advocates the following three major missions.
The first mission of NIPS is to conduct cutting-edge research in the physiological sciences across various levels
from the molecular and cellular through to organ systems, and to integrate this multi-level information tounderstand homeostasis in the living body. As research in life sciences has become diversified and “translatable”,
NIPS aims to conduct world-leading research focused on the basic medical sciences, especially physiology and brain
sciences. To apply and develop rigorous basic research techniques necessary to answer fundamental questions is
also part of our mission.
The second mission of NIPS is to play the role of a National and International research hub. NIPS conducts
collaborations with scientists at universities and research institutes to further strengthen and enhance researchexpertise in Japan at a leading global level. To achieve this goal NIPS also encourages collaborations with foreign
researchers, and we provide and develop specialized and cutting-edge research techniques and equipment tofacilitate these collaborations. NIPS provides advanced devices in areas including electron and laser microscopy forsubcellular through to human imaging, and in transgenic animals and viral vectors. NIPS also supports advanced
research workshops in various fields to help establish and support research collaborations, discussions and advancesand sharing of knowledge. Through these activities NIPS is a hub for domestic and international researchcommunities to intercommunicate and support each other. At present, NIPS participates in a number of programsas their core organizations, such as Comprehensive Brain Science Network, Advanced Bioimaging Support andBrain/MINS Beyond.
In 2020, due to the spread of the COVID-19 infection, onsite collaborations conducted at NIPS were severely
restricted. On the other hand, new forms of collaboration, such as online workshops, have been affirmatively
attempted. New styles of collaboration which are wholly or predominantly facilitated by remote access systems will
be accelerated and streamlined for maximum efficiency.
The third mission of NIPS is to provide advanced and thorough education for young scientists. NIPS is responsible
for the 5-year PhD course in physiological sciences of SOKENDAI(The Graduate University for Advanced Studies). NIPS also
provides further education for graduate students and young
researchers from other universities and industries in Japan and
Director General
Internationally, for education through various research training
programs that include the annual NIPS Training Course and via
NABEKURA, Junichi
NIPS Internships. To further facilitate the interaction with the
MD, PhD
universities, the employment of new researchers under a crossappointment system will be accelerated.
1981 MD, Kyushu University, 1987 PhD, Kyushu University,
To understand human body functions and to apply our1987 Postdoc Researcher, Washington University, 1991
extended knowledge to support human life is our ultimate goal.
Assistant Professor, Tohoku University, 1993 Associate
NIPS will make every effort to open our institute to every Professor, Akita University, 1995 Associate Professor,
research community that can work together with us towards Kyushu University, 2003 Professor NIPS, 2013 Vice
this goal. For this purpose, your understanding and support will Director General, NIPS, 2019 Director General, NIPS andbe appreciated.
Vice President, NINS.
Specialty: Neurophysiology

INTRODUCTION ●1

Outlines of InstituteNational Institute for Physiological Sciences (NIPS) is an Inter-university Research Institute for research andeducation on human physiology. NIPS researchers are investigating human body and brain functions as well as theirmechanisms through joint studies with domestic and foreign scientists, and providing specialized techniques andlarge-scale equipment for shared use as well as education and training for graduate students and young scientists.

Organization
NAOJ, NIFS, NIBB, NIPS and IMS were reorganized into NINS by reason of enforcement of the National University
Corporation Law.
The NIPS currently comprises 4 departments, 16 divisions, 4 centers, 18 sections, Research Enhancement Strategy
Office and Technical Division.

Joint Studies
As an inter-university research institute, NIPS entertains proposals for joint studies from domestic and foreign
physiological scientists. Applications from domestic and foreign scientists are reviewed and controlled by the interuniversity ad hoc committee.

Graduate Programs
The NIPS carries out two graduate programs.
1.Graduate University for Advanced Studies
The NIPS constitutes the Department of Physiological Sciences in the School of Life Science of The Graduate
University for Advanced Studies, SOKENDAI. The University provides 2 courses, 5-year Doctor Course and 3-year
Doctor Course (transfer admission after master’s course completion). The degree conferred on graduation isDoctor of Philosophy.
2.Graduate Student Training Program
Graduate students enrolled in other universities and institutes are trained to conduct researches for fixed periodsof time under the supervision of NIPS professors and associate professors.

Exchange Programs
To activate international collaborations among physiological scientists in the Institute and foreign organizations,scientist exchange programs are conducted.

System management
Administrative Council, Education and Research Council and Executive Meeting are established at NINS to inspectsignificant matters of management, education, research and administration.
Advisory Committee for Research and Management in NIPS advises the Director-General on important matters inmanagement of the Institute.

Administration
Administration of the institutes is managed at Okazaki Administration Center of NINS.

2 ● Outlines of InstituteA Short History of the Institute
In 1960, many physiologists affiliated with the Physiolo­gical Society of Japan initiated a discussion on how toestablish a central research institute for physiological sciences in this country.
In recent years, remarkable progress has been made in the life sciences throughout the world, particularly inthe fields of molecular biology, cellular biology and physiology, and in areas concerning information processing
and regulatory systems of higher animals. In view of these developments, there was a consensus among
physiologists in Japan that a new type of research organization must be created, in parallel with the laboratories
in universities, to pursue new approaches in the life sciences.
Through discussions among the physiologists, the following characteristies of such a new institute wereconsidered to be of utmost importance.
1.
Investigators from different fields should be able to collaborate on research projects in the life scienceswith minimal restrictions.
2.
Research communication among scientists from many fields should be closely coordinated.
Specialized, large-scale equipment required for multidisciplinary research, not routinely available in3.
smaller laboratories of educational institutions, should be accessible, and proper training andmaintenance should be provided. A Committee for the Foundation of a Physiological Institute wasorganized by Drs. MOTOKAWA K., KATSUKI Y., NATORI R., TOKIZANE T., INOUE A., UCHIZONO K., and manyother leading physiolo­gists in 1965. Thereafter, in order to establish such an institute, considerable effort
was made by scientists and related government officials.
The following time table describes the history leading to the foundation of the Institute:Nov., 1967
The Science Council of Japan officially advised the thenPrime Minister, SATO Eisaku, that the establishment of an
institute for Physiological Sciences was important, andurgently necessary for the promotion of life sciences inJapan.
The Science Council of the Monbusho （the Ministry of
Education, Science and Culture） reported to the Minister

Department of molecular physiology
Division of Ultrastructure Research
Department of Cell physiology
Division of Membrane Biology
Department of Information physiology*Division of Neurobiology and Behavioral Genetics
Special Facilities for Physiological ResearchTechnical Divisionof Education, Science and Culture that two institutes forscientific research of biological sciences, namely, theApr., 1978

Institute for Physiological Sciences and the Institute forIn the second year the following laboratories were added:

Basic Biology, should be established as early as possible.

Department of Molecular physiology*Division of Intracellular Metabolism

May, 1976
The Preparing Office and the Research Council for theestablishment of Institutes for Biological Sciences wereopened in the Monbusho.

Department of Information physiology
Division of Neural Information
Department of Biological Control System
Division of Neural Control

May, 1977

Apr., 1979

The Institute for Physiological Sciences （Director-General:In the third year the following laboratories were added:

Prof. UCHIZONO K.） was officially established which,Department of Cell physiology

together with the Institute for Basic Biology, constituted

Division of Correlative Physiology

the National Center for Biological Sciences （President:*Division of Active Transport

Prof. KATSUKI Y.）. Constituents of the Institute for

Department of Biological Control System

Physiological Sciences at the time of inauguration were as*Division of Cognitive Neuroscience

follows.

A Short History of the Institute ●3

Apr., 1980

Apr., 1997

The following were added in the fourth year:

Prof. SASAKI K. was elected the Director-General of the

Department of Information physiology

Institute.

Division of Humoral Information*Division of Learning and Memory Research
Research Facilities
Division of Experimental Animals

Apr., 1998
The following were added:
Department of Cerebral Research
Division of Cerebral Structure

Apr., 1981

Division of Cerebral Circuitry

A new organization, Okazaki National Research Institutes,

Division of Cerebral Integration

comprised of three independent institutes （Institute for

A part of facilities in the complex of Physiological Research

Molecular Science, Institute for Physiological Sciences, andFacilities was reformed to the Center for Brain Experiment.

Institute for Basic Biology） was established. Previously,
these institutes had been managed inde­pendently.

Apr., 2000

However, on 14 Apr. 1981, they were adminis­tratively

Division of Experimental Animals was transferred to theamalgamated into one organization, and thereafter referred

Research Facilities as shown below. Center for Inte­grative

to collectively as the Okazaki National Research Institutes.

Bioscience・Department of Strategic Methodology

Apr., 1982
The following was added:
Department of Molecular physiology
Division of Neurochemistry

・Department of Development, Differentiation andRegeneration
・Department of Bio-Environmental Science
Research Center for Computational Science
Center for Experimental Animals

Apr., 1984

Center for Radioisotope Facilities

The following was added:
Department of Biological Control System
Division of System Neurophysiology

Apr., 2003
Prof. MIZUNO N. was elected the Director-General of theInstitute.

Apr., 1985
Prof. EBASHI S. was elected the Director-General of theInstitute.

The following were added:
Department of Developmental Physiology
Division of Behavioral Development
Division of Homeostatic Development

Oct., 1988

Division of Reproductive/Endocrine Development

The Graduate University for Advanced Studies, SOKENDAIDivision of Adaptation Development

was founded and in the Institute the School of Life
Sciences, Department of Physiological Sciences wasApr., 2004

established.

Established National Institutes of Natural Sciences（NINS）.
National Astronomical Observatory of Japan （NAOJ）,

Jun., 1990

National Institute for Fusion Science（NIFS）, National

The following were added:

Institute for Basic Biology（NIBB）, National Institute for

Department of Integrative Physiology

Physiological Sciences（NIPS）and Institute for MolecularSensory and Motor Function Research Project

Science（IMS）were integrated and reorganized into NINS

Higher Brain Function Projectby reason of enforcement of the National University*Autonomic Function Research Project

Corporation Law.
In NIPS, Division of Neurochemistry in Department of

Dec., 1991

Molecular Physiology was renamed to Division ofProf. HAMA K. was elected the Director-General of the

Biophysics and Neurobiology, Division of Humoral

Institute.

Information in Department of Information Physiology was
renamed to Division of Neural Signaling, Department of
Biological Control System was renamed to Department of

4 ● A Short History of the InstituteIntegrative Physiology, Division of Cognitive Neuro­science

Division of Cardiocirculatory Signaling

was renamed to Division of Computational Neuro­science,Center for Multidisciplinary Brain Researchand Center for Integrative Bioscience was renamed to

Research Strategy for Brain Sciences Office

Okazaki Institute for Integrative Bioscience, respectively.
The Administration Bureau turned into Okazaki Adminis­
tration Office of NINS.

Apr., 2014
Division of Developmental Neurophysiology in Depart­
ment of Information Physiology was renamed to DivisionNov., 2005of Visual Information Processing.

Division of Neurobiology and Behavioral Genetics was

The following were abolished:reformed to the Center for Genetic Analysis of Behavior.

Department of Molecular Physiology
Division of Nano-Structure Physiology

Apr., 2007
Prof. OKADA Y. was elected the Director-General of theInstitute.
The following were added:

Department of Cell physiology
Division of Correlative Physiology
Center for Communication Networks
Section of Communications and Public Liaison

Department of Molecular Physiology
Division of Nano-Structure Physiology
Department of Cell Physiology
Division of Cell Signaling
Department of Information Physiology
Division of Developmental Neurophysiology

Apr., 2016
The following were abolished :Department of Molecular Physiology
Department of Cell Physiology
Department of Information Physiology
Department of Integrative Physiology

Apr., 2008

Department of Cerebral Research

Division of Active Transport in Department of Cell Physi­

Department of Developmental Physiology

ology was renamed to Division of Neural Systematics.

Center for Multidisciplinary Brain Research

The following were abolished:

Division of Computational Neuroscience

Division of Learning and Memory Research

Division of Adaptation Development

Center for Brain Experiment
The following were added:

The following were renamed :Center for Multidisciplinary Brain Research

Divisionof Cerebral Structure‌to Division of Cell

Supportive Center for Brain Research

Structure

Center for Communication Networks

Divisionof Sensori-Motor Integration to Division of‌Integrative Physiology

Apr., 2009

Divisionof Homeostatic Development to Division of‌

Division of Intｒacellular Metabolism was abolished.

Homeostatic Development

Apr., 2011
The following was added:
Section of Health and Safety Management

The following were added :Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology
Division of Biophysics and Neurobiology
Division of Neurobiology and Bioinformatics

Apr., 2013

Division of Membrane Physiology

Prof. IMOTO K. was elected the Director-General of theDivision of Neural Systematics

Institute.

Division of Neural Development and Regeneration
Department of Homeostatic Regulation

Oct., 2013

Division of Cell Structure

Research Enhancement Strategy Office was established.

Division of Cell Signaling
Division of Cardiocirculatory Signaling

Jan., 2014
The following were added:
Department of Information Physiology

Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism
Department of Fundamental Neuroscience
Division of Neural Signaling

A Short History of the Institute ●5The following was added:

Division of Cerebral Circuitry
Division of Homeostatic Development

Department of Homeostatic Regulation

Division of Visual information processing

Division of Ultrastructural ResearchCenter for Experimental Animals has also been renamed

Department of System Neuroscience
Division of Sensory and Cognitive Information

Center for Animal Resources and Collaborative Study

Division of Behavioral Development
Division of System Neurophysiology

Oct., 2019

Division of Integrative Physiology

The following were abolished:

Division of Cerebral Integration

Department of System Neuroscience

Center for Research Collaboration

Division of Integrative Physiology
The following was added:

Section of Collaboration Promotion

Department of Fundamental Neuroscience

Section of Advanced Research Support
Section of Visiting Collaboration Research Project

Division of Biophotonics

Section‌of International Collaborative Research Project
Apr., 2021
Regarding Supportive Center for Brain Research, Sectionof Viral Vector Development and Section of Primate Model
Development have reorganized to Center for Genetic
Analysisof

Behavior

andCenterfor

Research

Collaboration, respectively. Section of Primate Model
Development has been renamed to NBR Project.
Section of Evaluation and Collaboration in Center forCommunication Networks has also been renamed to

The following was abolished:
Department of Fundamental Neuroscience
Division of Cerebral Circuitry
The following were added:
Department of Molecular & Cellular Physiology
Division of Structural Biology
Supportive Center for Brain Research
Section of Cellular Electrophysiology

Section of Research Archives.
Section of Behavioral Patterns and Section of Metabolic
Mar., 2018

Physiology in Center for Genetic Analysis of Behavior were

The following were abolished :merged and Section of Multilayer Physiology was

Okazaki Institute for Integrative Bioscienceestablished.

Oct., 2018
The following were abolished:
Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology
Division of Neural Systematics
Department of Fundamental Neuroscience
Division of Cardiocirculatory Signaling
The following was added:
Department of System Neuroscience
Division of Neural Dynamics
Apr., 2019
Prof. NABEKURA J. was elected the Director-General of theInstitute.
The following were abolished:
Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology
Division of Neurobiology and Bioinformatics
Department of System Neuroscience
Division of Sensory and Cognitive Information

6 ● A Short History of the Institute

Asterisk（*） denotes adjunct division.

Organization of the InstituteNational Institutes of Natural Sciences
Executive Directors
President
Auditors

Management Council

National Astronomical Observatory of Japan

Board of Directors

National Institute for Fusion Science

Educational and Research Council

National Institute for Basic Biology
National Institute for Physiological Sciences

National Institute for Physiological Sciences

Institute for Molecular Science

Department of Molecular & Cellular Physiology

Division of Biophysics & Neurobiology
Division of Membrane Physiology
Division of Structural Biology ★
Division of Neural Development & Regeneration ※Department of Homeostatic Regulation

Division of Cell Structure
Division of Cell Signaling ★
Division of Cardiocirculatory Signaling ★
Division of Endocrinology & Metabolism
Division of Ultrastructural Research ※Division of Homeostatic Development

Department of Fundamental Neuroscience

Division of Visual Information Processing

Advisory Committee for
Research and Management

Division of Biophotonics ★

Department of System Neuroscience

Division of Behavioral Development
Division of System Neurophysiology

Director General

Division of Neural Dynamics
Division of Cerebral Integration

Center for Research Collaboration

Section of Collaboration Promotion

Research Enhancement
Strategy OfficeSection of Advanced Research Support ※Section of NBR Project
Section of Visiting Collaborative Research Project ※Section of International Collaborative Research Project ※Supportive Center for Brain Research

Section of Brain Structure Information
Section of Multiphoton Neuroimaging
Section of Electron Microscopy
Section of Brain Function Information
Section of Cellular Electrophysiology
Section of Instrumental Design

Center for Genetic Analysis of Behavior

Section of Viral Vector Development
Section of Mammalian Transgenesis
Section of Multilayer Physiology

Center for Communication Networks

Section of Research Archives
Section of Physiology & Medicine Education
Section of Network Management
Section of Health & Safety Management

Okazaki Research Facilities
National Institute for Basic
Biology
National Institute forPhysiological Sciences
Institute for Molecular
ScienceTechnical Division※ Adjunctive divisions/sections★ Exploratory Research Center on Life and Living Systems

Research Center for Computational Science
Center for Animal Resources and Collaborative Study
Center for Radioisotope Facilities
Division of Coordinator for Animal Experimentation

Organization of the Institute ●7

Advisory Committee for Research and Management
Chairman ◎ , Vice-Chairman ○Advisory Committee for Research and Management shall advise the Director-General of the Institute, upon his request,
on important matters in management of the Institute.
（Outside）
AKAHANE, Satomi 	‌Professor, Graduate School of
Medicine, Toho University
FUJIYAMA, Fumino	‌Professor, Faculty of Medicine,
Hokkaido University
HIDA, Hideki	Professor, Graduate School of
Medical Sciences, Nagoya City
University○MIYATA, Takaki	‌Professor, Department of‌Anatomy and Cell Biology,
Nagoya University Graduate
School of Medicine
Professor, Medical Institute of
NAKABEPPU, Yusaku
Bioregulation, Kyushu
University
NAWA, Hiroyuki	‌Professor, School of Medicine,
Wakayama Medical University
ONO, Kyoichi	‌Professor, Graduate School of
Medicine and Faculty of
Medicine, Akita University
Professor, Systems ‌Neuroscience,
TAKADA, Masahiko‌Primate Research InstituteKyoto University

UETA, Youichi	‌Professor, School of Medicine,‌Department of Physiology,
University of Occupational
and Environmental Health,Japan
YUZAKI, Michisuke	‌Professor, School of Medicine,‌Department of Physiology,
Keio University（Inside）◎FUKATA, Masaki
FURUSE, Mikio
ISODA, Masaki
KAWAGUCHI, Yasuo
KUBO, Yoshihiro
MINOKOSHI, Yasuhiko
NAMBU, Atsushi
SADATO, Norihiro
TOMINAGA, Makoto
YOSHIMURA,Yumiko

Professor, NIPS
Professor, NIPS
Professor, NIPS
Professor, NIPS
Professor, NIPS
Professor, NIPS
Professor, NIPS
Professor, NIPS
Professor, NIPS
Professor, NIPS

Director General/Vice Director General/Chief Researcher
Director General
Vice Director General
Chief Chairperson

NABEKURA, Junichi
NAMBU, Atsushi
KUBO, Yoshihiro

Chief Researcher / Chairperson for Cooperative Studies

Chief Researcher /Chairperson for Safety and Research
Ethics Problems

Chief Researcher / Chairperson for News and Public Affairs

FUKATA, Masaki

SADATO, Norihiro
Chief Researcher / Chairperson for Animal Experiment Problem

TOMINAGA, Makoto

Chief Researcher / Chairperson for Educational Problem

MINOKOSHI, Yasuhiko

FURUSE, Mikio
Chief Researcher / Chairperson for Special Project

YOSHIMURA,Yumiko

Emeritus Professors

Deceased Emeritus Professors

OOMURA, Yutaka
WATANABE, Akira
YAMAGISHI, Shunichi
MORI, Shigemi
OBATA, Kunihiko
KANEKO, Akimichi
MIZUNO, Noboru

IRISAWA, Hiroshi
UCHIZONO, Koji
EBASHI, Setsuro
KATSUKI, Yasuji
KUNO, Motoy
HAMA, Kiyoshi

NAGAYAMA, Kuniaki
OKADA, Yasunobu
OHMORI, Harunori
KOMATSU, Hidehiko
IMOTO, Keiji
KAKIGI, Ryusuke
KAWAGUCHI, Yasuo

Emeritus Technical Staff
OHIRA, Hitoo

8 ● Advisory Committee for Research and Management

TSUKAHARA, Nakaakira
YANAIHARA, Noboru
WATARI, Hiroshi
SASAKI, Kazuo
IKENAKA, Kazuhiro

Division of Biophysics and Neurobiology
KUBO, Yoshihiro
Professor
Biophysics
Neurobiology

TATEYAMA, Michihiro
Associate Professor
Pharmacology
Physiology

SHIMOMURA, Takushi
Assistant Professor
Molecular Physiology
Biophysics

Functioning mechanisms and dynamic structure- function relationship of ion channels,
receptors and G proteins
Ion channels, receptors and G proteins play critical roles for the excitability and its regulationof neurons. We focus on these molecules which enable brain function. From the biophysicalpoint of view, we study structure-function relationships, regulation mechanisms and dynamic
structural rearrangements of ion channels and receptors. We also study the functionalsignificance of specific features of ion channels and receptors in the brain function by making
gene manipulated mice and by studying their abnormalities in the synaptic transmission andwhole animal behavior.
Our experiments start with constructions of mutants, molecular chimeras and fluorescenttagged molecules of ion channels and receptors. We express them in heterologous expression
systems such as Xenopus oocytes or HEK293 cells. We then analyze the functional featuresand dynamic structural rearrangements by electrophysiological methods such as twoelectrode voltage clamp and patch clamp. We also use optophysiologial methods such as Ca2+i
imaging, FRET analysis under total internal reflection microscope, subunit counting by single
molecule imaging, and voltage clamp fluorometry using fluorescent unnatural amino acid.
Major target molecules are Two Pore Na+ channel (TPC), G protein coupled inward rectifier
K+ channel (GIRK), Two pore K+ channel, hERG K+ channel, ATP receptor channel P2X2, Sigma-1
receptor and various G protein coupled receptors including an orphan receptor Prrt3. We also
work, as cooperative research projects, on TRP channels, Kv1.2 channel and Opsin, as well as
on various channel toxins.
One of the characteristic features of our experimental approaches is that we utilize in vitro
expression systems such as Xenopus oocytes which enable clarification of the observation
targets, high through-put recordings and precise biophysical analyses by the two electrodevoltage clamp method. Another is that we perform simultaneous recordings ofelectrophysiology and optophysiology to approach the dynamic aspects of the function andstructural rearrangements, which is beneficial towards the understanding of the functioning
images. Taking advantages of these facilities and methodologies, we would like to promote
our research as well as cooperative research projects further.
＊ Shimomura T, Kubo Y (2019) J Gen Physiol. 151: 986-1006.
＊ Chen IS, Liu C, Tateyama M, Karbat I, Uesugi M, Reuveny E, Kubo Y (2019) Br J Pharmacol 176: 3161-3179.
＊ Kume S, Shimomura T, Tateyama M, Kubo Y (2018) J Physiol 596: 4629-4650.
＊ Tateyama M, Kubo Y (2018) PLoS One 13: e0204447.
＊ Kitazawa M, Kubo Y, Nakajo K (2015) J Biol Chem 290: 22724-22733.

Fig. 1.

Analyses of the function and dynamic

structural rearrangements of the KCNQ1/ KCNE1
K+ channel complex by simultaneous recordingsof electrophysiology and optophysiology undervoltage clamp using Xenopus oocyte expression
systems. (Nakajo and Kubo, Nature Commun(2014) )Research Departments / Division of Biophysics and Neurobiology ●9Division of Membrane Physiology
Mechanisms for synaptic transmission and synaptic disorders
We will elucidate the core regulatory mechanisms for synaptic transmission and finallyaddress the fundamental question, “How does our brain physiologically function and how is
the system disrupted in brain diseases?”. We have focused on the regulatory mechanisms for
AMPA-type glutamate receptor (AMPAR) as AMPAR plays a central role in learning andmemory formation. Based on our specific and quantitative biochemical methods, we
discovered AMPAR regulatory proteins: the DHHC palmitoylating enzymes, ABHD17
depalmitoylating enzymes and the epilepsy-related ligand/receptor, LGI1/ADAM22. So far, wehave elucidated the physiological functions of these AMPAR regulatory proteins and theimplication in the pathogenesis of brain diseases such as epilepsy and limbic encephalitis, bydeveloping new methods to screen the palmitoyl enzyme-substrate pairs, to quantify thepalmitoylation stoichiometry and to specifically visualize the palmitoylated protein, and byintegrating many methods such as super-resolution imaging, mouse genetics, andelectrophysiology. We will elucidate the molecular basis in which these AMPAR regulatory
proteins regulate synaptic plasticity and cognitive functions of mouse and human brainsusing the following our developed or cutting-edge approaches and resources.
１）Analyses of in vivo protein-protein interactions２）Screening of palmitoylating enzyme library３）Profiling of protein palmitoylation stoichiometries４）Observation of synapses with super-resolution microscopy５）Mouse models of human epilepsy with the LGI1 mutation＊ Fukata Y et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA. 118, e2022580118 (2021)＊ Yamagata A, Miyazaki Y et al., Nat. Commun. 1546 (2018)＊ Yokoi N, Fukata Y et al., J. Neurosci. 36, 6431 (2016)＊ Yokoi N et al., Nat. Med. 21, 19 (2015)＊ Fukata Y and Fukata M, Nat. Rev. Neurosci. 11, 161 (2010)

Figure (A) Unique AMPA receptor regulatory
proteins: DHHC palmitoylating enzymes, ABHD17
depalmitoylating enzymes and the epilepsyrelated ligand/receptor, LGI1 and ADAM22. A
synaptic DHHC protein locally regulates theformation and reorganization of nanodomains.
(B) Discovery of novel postsynaptic nanodomains
by palmitoylated PSD-95-specific probe andsuper-resolution microscopy. (C) X-ray crystal
structure of the LGI1-ADAM22 dimer-of-dimer
complex. (D) The acyl-PEGyl exchange gel shift(APEGS) method to quantify the palmitoylation
stichiometory.

10 ● Research Departments / Division of Membrane Physiology

FUKATA, Masaki
Professor
Neuroscience
Biochemistry
Cell Biology

FUKATA, Yuko
Associate Professor
Neuroscience
Biochemistry
Cell Biology

YOKOI, Norihiko
Assistant Professor
Neuroscience
Biochemistry
Bioinorganic Chemistry
Structural Biology

MIYAZAKI, Yuri
Project Assistant Professor
Neuroscience
Biochemistry
Bioinorganic Chemistry
Structural Biology

Division of Structural Biology

Material-Life Boundary Research Group, Exploratory Research Center on Life and Living Systems
MURATA, Kazuyoshi
Project Professor
Structural biology
Electron Microscopy

SONG, Chihong
Project Assistant Professor
Cell Biology
Structural Biology

Structural biology by cryo-electron microscopy
Living organisms are formed by biomolecules such as proteins and are maintained by theirchemical reactions. In our research division, we are studying the structure of these
biomolecules using cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) to clarify these molecular mechanisms.
Cryo-EM is a method for directly observing a biological sample with an electron microscopeby rapidly freezing and keeping it at a low temperature. This makes it possible to analyze thestructure of biomolecules that are close to the living state at the atomic level. In 2017, the Nobel
Prize in Chemistry was presented to the three researchers who led the development of cryo-EM.
The main research equipment is a 200 kV scanning transmission electron microscope (STEM)
equipped with an electron direct detection camera (JEM2100F / Gatan K2 camera) (Fig. 1, left), or a
200 kV energy filtered and a Zernike phase plate cryo-EM (JEM2200FS / DE-20 camera) (Fig. 1).
The 3D structure of biomolecules is reconstructed by single particle analysis or electron
tomography (ET) with high-end computers.
Figure 2 shows the soluble protein complex, apoferritin reconstructed three-dimensionallywith 3 Å resolution by cryo-EM single particle analysis (Kayama et al. 2021). It was able toidentify even the individual amino acid side chains.
Our research division will start this year. We welcome the participation of young researchersand graduate students who are interested in such structural biology.
＊ Song et al., PLOS Pathogens 16, e1008619 (2020)＊ Yagi-Utsumi et al., Microgravity 6, 17 (2020)＊ Okamoto et al., Structure 28, 888 (2020)＊ Yagi-Utsumi et al., Sci Rep 10, 1540 (2020)＊ Imachi et al., Nature 577, 519 (2020)

Fig. 1 200kV STEM, JEM2100F with a Gatan K2
camera (left) and 200kV Zernike-phase plate TEM
with energy filter and DE-20 cemaera, JEM2200FS(right). Gatan 626 cryo-transfer holders are used
for cryo-EM.

Fig. 2 Cryo-EM image of Apoferritin (left) and the 3D reconstructed cryo-EM map (right).

Research Departments / Division of Structural Biology ●11

Division of Neural Development & Regeneration
Mechanisms and functional significance of neurogenesis in the postnatal brain
Endogenous regenerative mechanisms of injured brain and new therapies for brain
diseases
New neurons and glial cells are continuously generated throughout life, not only at the embryonic andneonatal stages. Recent studies using experimental animals indicate that several regions of the adultbrain have the capacity to regenerate injured neural tissues. In collaboration with researchers at otherlaboratories in NIPS, we have been studying the mechanisms for cell migration and regeneration in the
postnatal brain. Our group aims to study the endogenous repair mechanisms in the brain and develop a
new strategy to promote neuronal and glial cell regeneration after injury.
＊ C. Nakajima et al., Postnatal neuronal migration in health and disease. Curr Opin Neurobiol 66: 1-9 (2021)＊ M. Akter et al., Dynamic changes in the neurogenic potential in the ventricular-subventricular zone of common marmoset during postanal brain development.
Cerebral Cortex 30: 4092-4109 (2020)＊ M. Matsumoto et al., Dynamic changes in ultrastructure of the primary cilium in migrating neuroblasts in the postnatal brain. J Neurosci 39: 9967-9988(2019)＊ N. Kaneko, et al., New neurons use Slit-Robo signaling to migrate through the glial meshwork and approach a lesion for functional regeneration. Sci Adv 4:
eaav0618 (2018)＊ H. Jinnou, et al., Radial glial fibers promote neuronal migration and functional recovery after neonatal brain injury. Cell Stem Cell 22: 128-137 (2018)

Fig.2. High-resolution three-dimensional images of migratory neuroblasts
generated by serial block-face scanning electron microscopy. Eachneuroblast possesses either a pair of centrioles (green), or a basal body
(green) with a non-extended or extended primary cilium (pink). The
localization and orientation of the primary cilium are altered depending Fig.1. Neuroblasts (red) migrate toward a lesion through a meshwork ofon the mitotic state, saltatory migration, and deceleration of neuroblasts. processes from a single astrocyte (blue), as shown by serial block-faceNucleus, Golgi apparatus, and mitochondria are shown in yellow, orange, scanning electron microscopy (SBF-SEM) (Kaneko et al., Sci.Adv 2018).
and blue, respectively.
(Matsumoto et al., J Neurosci 2019).

12 ● Research Departments / Division of Neural Development & Regeneration

SAWAMOTO, Kazunobu
Adjunct Professor
Neuroscience
Development andRegenerative Biology

Division of Cell Structure
FURUSE, Mikio
Professor
Cell Biology

IZUMI, Yasushi
Associate Professor
Cell Biology

OTANI, Tetsuhisa
Assistant Professor
Cell Biology

OHASHI, Masato
Assistant Professor
Molecular Cell Biology
Biochemistry
Developmental Biology

FUJIWARA, Sachiko
Project Assistant Professor
Cell Biology

Molecular basis of cell-cell junctions involved in epithelial barrier function
The Epithelium separates body compartments as a barrier and selectively transports various
substances, thereby contributing to various functions of organs and homeostasis. Ourlaboratory aims to clarify the molecular bases of specialized cell structures that are responsible
for these basic roles of the epithelium. We focus on the cell-cell junctions involved in theregulation of paracellular transport (occluding junctions), including the tight junction and its
related structures, and examine their molecular architectures, functions and dynamic
behavior. One of the characteristic features of our research is that we identify structural or
regulatory proteins of occluding junctions in our hands and characterize them. We takecombined approaches of molecular biology, physiology and morphology, including
immunoelectron and freeze-fracture electron microscopy, by using cultured epithelial cells
and model organisms. The following are ongoing projects: 1) Molecular mechanism behindthe diversity of the morphology and function of tight junctions. 2) Molecular dissection oftricellular tight junctions. 3) Physiological function of tight junctions and their related
junctional structures in vivo utilizing genetically modified mice. 4)Roles of septate junctions in
intestinal barrier function and regulation of stem cell proliferation in fruit fly.
＊ Otani et al. J Cell Biol 218, 3372 (2019)＊ Izumi et al., J Cell Sci 132(18). pii: jcs232108 (2019)＊ Oda, Sugawara et al., J Biol Chem 295, 4289 (2020)

Ssk

control

control

ssk RNAi

ssk RNAi

Roles of smooth septate junctions in the Drosophila midgut.
When the expression of a smooth septate junction-associatedmembrane protein Ssk is suppressed in the adult Drosophilagut, the intestinal barrier function is impaired, leading to theleakage of blue dye from the intestinal lumen to the body cavity
with overproliferation of enterocytes.

Molecular architecture and morphology of tricellular tight junctions.
Tricellular tight junctions (tTJs) are cell-cell junctions located at tricellularcontacts, where the corners of three epithelial cells meet. tTJs containtwo types of tTJ-specific membrane proteins, angulin family andtricellulin, and pull claudin-based tight junctions to the center oftricellular contacts.

Research Departments / Division of Cell Structure ●13

Division of Cell Signaling

Thermal Biology Group, Exploratory Research Center on Life and Living Systems

Molecular Mechanisms of thermosensation and nociception
We mainly investigate molecular mechanisms of thermosensation and nociception byfocusing on so called ‘thermosensitive TRP channels’. Among the huge TRP ion channel
superfamily proteins, there are eleven thermosensitive TRP channels in mammals (TRPV1,
TRPV2, TRPV3, TRPV4, TRPM2, TRPM3, TRPM4, TRPM5, TRPM8, TRPA1, TRPC5) whose

TOMINAGA, Makoto
Professor
Molecular and Cellular Physiology

SOKABE, Takaaki
Associate Professor
Cellular and Molecular Biology
Sensory Biology

KASHIO, Makiko

temperature thresholds for activation range from cold to hot. Because temperatures below

Project Associate Professor
（Grant Project）
Molecular and Cellular Physiology

15℃ and over 43℃ are known to cause pain sensation in our body, some of the

SAITO, Shigeru

thermosensitive TRP channels whose temperature thresholds are in the range can be viewed

Assistant Professor
Evolutionary Physiology
Molecular Evolution

as nociceptive receptors. Some of the thermosensitive TRP channels are expressed in theorgans or cells which are normally not exposed to the dynamic temperature changes. We
found that they contribute to the various cell functions under the body temperature
conditions in the normal to febrile range. Molecular and cell biological, biochemical,
developmental and electrophysiological (patch-clamp and calcium-imaging methods)
techniques are utilized to clarify the molecular mechanisms of thermosensation andnociception. In order to understand functions of thermosensitive TRP channels in vivo, we arealso doing behavioral analyses using mice lacking the thermosensitive TRP channels. In theevolutionary process, organisms are thought to have adapted the changes in ambient
temperature by altering the expression and functions of the thermosensitive TRP channels.
Accordingly, we are characterizing the thermosensitive TRP channels from various species,
which would help us to understand the mechanisms of thermosensation.
We are also investigating thermosensation in Drosophila (fruit flies) through behavioral
analyses utilizing plenty of genetical tools. In addition, since TRP channels are nociceptors, weare developing novel insecticides/repellents that could be used to control insect pests.
＊ Structural basis for promiscuous action of monoterpenes on TRP channels. Comms, Biol. 4 (1): 293, 2021.
＊ Increased TRPV4 expression in non-myelinating Schwann cells is associated with demyelination after sciatic nerve injury. Comms. Biol. 3 (1): 716, 2020.
＊ RNA sensing by gut Piezo1 is essential for systemic serotonin synthesis. Cell 182 (3): 609-624, 2020.
＊ Deletion of TRPV4 Enhances in vitro Wound Healing of Murine Esophageal Keratinocytes. Sci. Rep. 10: 11349, 2020.
＊ Temperature and sweet taste integration in Drosophila. Curr. Biol.. 30 (11), 2051-2067, 2020.

Eleven thermosensitive TRP channels

14 ● Research Departments / Division of Cell SignalingDivision of Cardiocirculatory Signaling

Cardiocirculatory Dynamism Research Group, Exploratory Research Center on Life and Living Systems
NISHIDA, Motohiro
Professor
Cardiovascular Physiology

NISHIMURA, Akiyuki
Project Associate Professor
Biochemistry

TANAKA, Tomohiro
Project Assistant Professor
Histology

Elucidation of biological functions using multilevel techniques to evaluate
cardiovascular functions and its clinical application
Our cardiocirculatory function is mainly controlled by muscular organs composed of striatedmuscles (heart and skeletal muscles) and smooth muscle (blood vessels). Our group aims to
elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying transition of the muscles from adaptation tomaladaptation against environmental stress (mainly hemodynamic load) multi-leveltechniques to evaluate cardiovascular functions (in vivo and in vitro), and work towardpractical application (e.g., drug discovery and fostering). We also investigate the mechanismof muscle repair and regeneration, and aim to develop a novel therapeutic strategy forrefractory diseases. In addition, we address the inclusive research to elucidate the mechanism
underlying maintenance and transfiguration of cardiocirculatory homeostasis via multi-organinteractions by combining non-invasive measuring methodologies of motor functions andthose cardiovascular functions.
Our laboratory has various techniques and equipments to drive the above researches.
1. Non-invasive measurements of muscular functions Echo-cardiography (mouse and rat),
Laser Doppler flowmetry (mouse), Measuring devices of motor activity (mouse), Tail-cuff(mouse and rat), blood pressure telemetry (mouse)
2. Invasive measurements of cardiovascular functions Langendorff perfusion system (mouseand rat), Mouse millar catheter (for P-V loop measurement)
3. Isolation of primary-cultured cells and experiments mechanical stretching machine, Ca2+
imaging, FRET imaging, Confocal laser microscopy, Patch-clamp recording, Plate reader(BRET assay, post-translational modification analyses)＊ A. Nishimura et al. Science Signal. 12(587). pii: eaaw1920 (2019)＊ K. Nishiyama et al. Br J Pharmacol. 176(18):3723-3738 (2019)＊ T. Numaga-Tomita et al. FASEB J. 33(9):9785-9796 (2019)＊ A Nishimura et al., Sci. Signal. 11, eaat5185 (2018)＊ T. Akaike et al., Nature Commun. 8(1):1177 (2017)＊ T. Shimauchi et al., JCI insight, 2(15). pii: 93358 (2017)

Figure. Measuring systems for cardiovascularfunctions and summary of our research using
these systems
Motor6Activity

Myocardial
Infarction

Exercise

AorticBanding

Peripheral6Artery
Disease6(PAD)

Mouse&models&for&human&disease

Multi4level6Analyses6of6cardiovascular6functions

Echocardiography

Langendorff

Laser6speckle6blood6flow6imaging

Elucidation&of&Multi3level&interactions&based&on&the&cardiocirculatory system
and&pathology3dependent&protein3protein&interactions&in&cardiovascular&diseases

Research Departments / Division of Cardiocirculatory Signaling ●15

Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism
Molecular mechanism for the hypothalamic regulation of whole body energy metabolism
Hypothalamic modulation of taste and nutrient perception
The animal body has an integrated-regulatory system for “homeostasis” that maintains a

MINOKOSHI, Yasuhiko
Professor
Endocrinology and Metabolism

NAKAJIMA, Ken-ichiro

normal, constant internal state by responding to changes in both the external and internal

Associate Professor
Neuroscience
Food Scienceenvironments. Within the central nervous system, the hypothalamus is a crucial center that

KONDOH, Kunio

regulates the homeostatic activities by integrating autonomic nervous system, endocrine

Assistant Professor
Neurosciencesystem and immune function. This division is investigating the role of hypothalamus in body

KIKUCHI, Akihiro

energy balance and central regulation of taste and nutrient perception in mammals. The main
subjects of our current research are as follows:(1) Molecular‌mechanism of the hypothalamic regulation of food intake, glucose and lipid
metabolism and taste sensations.
(2) Signaling‌
pathway for metabolic action of leptin, adipokines and myokines.
(3) Physiological‌and pathophysiological roles of AMPK in whole body metabolism.
(4) Development‌
of novel analytical method for glucose and lipid metabolism.
‌(5) Neuronal
circuits that regulate hunger-induced taste modification.
＊ Y. Minokoshi, et al., Nature 415, 339, 2002.
＊ Y. Minokoshi, et al., Nature 428, 569, 2004.
＊ T. Shiuchi, et al., Cell Metab 10, 466, 2009.
＊ S. Okamoto, et al., Cell Reports 22, 706, 2018.
＊ O. Fu, et al., Cell Reports 27, 1650, 2019.
＊ O. Fu, et al., Nat Commun 10, 4560, 2019.

Fig. 1 Discovery of neurons that induce selection ofcarbohydrate over fat.
AMP kinase-regualted CRH neurons in the PVH is necessary andsufficient to inducse selection of carbohydrate over fat after
fasting.

Fig. 2 Neuronal circuits that regulate hunger-induced taste modification.
Hypothalamic AgRP neurons regulate appetitive and aversive taste preferences via two
distinct neuronal pathways.

16 ● Research Departments / Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism

Project Assistant Professor
Biochemistry
Molecular Biology
Structural Life Sciences
Endocrinology and Metabolism

Division of Ultrastructural Research
OHNO, Nobuhiko
Adjunct Professor
Anatomy
Neuroscience
Cell biology

Ultrastructural analyses with microscopic approaches including electron microscopic 3D
reconstruction
Regulatory mechanisms and roles of mitochondrial dynamics in myelin diseases

Our goal is to understand structural changes in biological phenomena including development,functional maintenance and pathophysiology of the nervous system, and elucidate their molecularmechanisms and roles. We utilize various imaging approaches including 3D ultrastructural analyses with
serial block-face scanning electron microscopy (SBEM, SBF-SEM) and animal models, and also engage indevelopment of new technologies and many collaborative projects.
We are interested in intercellular associations of the nervous system. Among them, we would like toclarify the structural and functional changes and their molecular background in myelination and myelin
diseases. One of our focuses is on mitochondrial dynamics, which are involved in pathophysiology ofvarious diseases. We are trying to clarify the association of mitochondria and myelin diseases, anddevelop approaches for their regulation.
＊ Life Sci Alliance. 2(4). pii: e201900308 (2019)＊ Nguyen et al. Front Neural Circuits. 12:108 (2018)＊ Katoh et al. Sci Rep. 7:4942 (2017)＊ Morizawa et al. Nat Commun. 2017 8:28 (2017)＊ Ohno et al. PNAS 111:9953-8 (2014)

Figure 1. Reconstruction of serial electron microscopic images from
corpus callosum of control (a) and demyelination model (b) mice, and3D reconstruction of axonal mitochondria (c). Modified from Ohno et al.
(2014).

Figure 2. Colored electron microscopic images (upper row) and 3D
reconstruction of nuclei (middle row) and mitochondria (lower row) of
monocyte- (red) and microglia-derived (green) macrophages in amouse spinal cord of a demyelination model. Modified from Katoh etal. (2017).

Research Departments / Division of Ultrastructural Research ●17

Division of Homeostatic Development
Remodeling of Neuronal Circuits in Development and Recovery, − In vivo Imaging andElectrophysiological StudyRemodeling of neuronal circuits takes place during development, learning and recovery

NABEKURA, Junichi
Director General
Neuroscience

NARUSHIMA, Madoka

after brain damage. The main goal of our research is to understand the regulation of neural

Associate Professor
Neurosciencecircuits remodeling. In details, we are focusing on glial contribution for the function of

AGETSUMA, Masakazu

neuronal circuits. Glia has been known as a key factor to regulate neural circuits through their
physiological function. We are trying to determine their contribution onto the neural circuits
in development and learning by visualizing fine structure, controlling activity, recording
specific synaptic transmissions and analyzing function of neurons and glias in both in living
animals using multi-photon microscopy and in vitro electrophysiology.

CMOS-based ion image sensor revealed neuronal activity dependent pH changes in the living brain
Pain circuit reorganization
with activated astrocytes
as a therapeutic approach

Innovative technology development across fields
The progress of technology has brought about a breakthrough in life science. We
contributed to novel technology development through collaborative research across fields.
Recently, we revealed neural activity-dependent pH changes in the living brain with singlecell level resolution using a CMOS image sensor which we
had newly developed.
＊ Cortical astrocytes rewire somatosensory cortical circuits for peripheral neuropathic pain. Kim SK,
Hayashi H, Ishikawa T, Shibata K, Shigetomi E, Shinozaki Y, Inada H, Roh SE, Kim SJ, Lee G, Bae H,
Moorhouse AJ, Mikoshiba K, Fukazawa Y, Koizumi S, Nabekura J. J Clin Invest. 2016 May
2;126(5):1983-97.
＊ CMOS-based bio-image sensor spatially resolves neural activity-dependent proton dynamics in theliving brain. Horiuchi H, Agetsuma M, Ishida J, Nakamura Y, Cheung DL, Nanasaki S, Kimura Y, Iwata
T, Takahashi K, Sawada K, Nabekura J. Nat Commun. 2020 Feb 5;11(1):712.

18 ● Research Departments / Division of Homeostatic Development

Project Associate Professor
System Neurophysiology
Molecular ethology

HORIUCHI, Hiroshi
Project Assistant Professor
Neurophysiology
Neuroimmunology

Division of Visual Information Processing
YOSHIMURA, Yumiko
Professor
Neurophysiology

HAYASHI, Kenji

Analysis of mechanisms underlying information processing and activity-dependentfunctional developments in the neocortex
Sensory experience during postnatal development is required for the maturation andAssistant Professor
Neuroscience
Molecular Cell biology

refinement of neuronal circuits in the sensory cortex. This leads to the development of cortical

YONEDA, Taisuke

functions suitable for the living environment. To elucidate the mechanisms underlying
information processing in the sensory cortex and the experience-dependent regulation ofthat processing, we are studying the relationship between visual functions and the signaling
properties of neural circuits using rat and mouse visual cortex. To this end, we are analyzing
the visual responses of cortical neurons using multi-channel electrodes or calcium imaging
with 2-photon microscopy. Also, we are studying neural circuit properties with a combinationof laser scanning photostimulation and whole-cell patch-clamp recording methods in slice
preparations; and neural connections morphologically using modern virus tracers. The
following is a list of our main projects currently ongoing.
1. The‌mechanisms that establish fine-scale networks in the visual cortex and the role ofthese networks in visual information processing
dependent establishment of neuronal connections and visual responsiveness
2. Cell-lineage‌
3. Synaptic‌plasticity and visual response plasticity in animals at different developmental
stages and in animals subjected to the manipulation of visual experience during postnatal
development
4.‌M orphological analysis of neural circuits using trans-synaptic virus tracers
5. ‌Developmental mechanisms of visual responsiveness, plasticity, and synaptic connections
in each neuron subtypes
We are also conducting collaborative research and looking for graduate students interested
in the developmental mechanisms of brain functions.
＊ Ishikawa AW, Komatsu Y, Yoshimura Y (2018) Experience-Dependent Development of Feature-Selective Synchronization in the Primary Visual Cortex. J
Neurosci. 38(36):7852-7869.
＊ Tarusawa E. et al., (2016) Establishment of high reciprocal connectivity between clonal cortical neurons is regulated by the Dnmt3b DNA methyltransferase
and clustered protocadherins. BMC Biol. 14(1):103.

A

Pa

B

Pb
Pa

L2/3

Pb

L4
Number of events

Project Assistant Professor
Neuroscience

30

L5

20
10

100 m
0

100

200

300 pA0-100 0 100
Time (ms)Electriphysiological and morphological analyses of cortical neural circuits
A. Cross-correlation analysis of photostimulation-evoked excitatory
postsynaptic currents (EPSCs) simultaneously recorded from a pair oflayer 2/3 pyramidal neurons that were synaptically connected.
B. Visualized neurons after analysis of synaptic connections. Several
recorded neurons stained by biocytin in the primaryvisualcortex(yellow).

Research Departments / Division of Visual Information Processing ●19

Division of Biophotonics

Biophotonics Research Group, Exploratory Research Center on Life and Living Systems
Quantitative analysis and elucidation of underlying mechanism of physiological
functions by innovative bioimaging utilizing cutting-edge technologies of photonics

NEMOTO, Tomomi
Professor
Biophysics
Cell physiology

We have advanced innovative imaging methods based on nonlinear optical processes byutilizing such advanced optical technologies as near-infrared ultrashort light pulse lasers,

ENOKI, Ryosuke

adaptive optics, and nanomaterials. We also have driven applications of these methods to thelife- and medical sciences. By facilitating our original world-leading ultra-deep, superresolution, and ultra-high-speed imaging methods with a combination of genetic engineering

OTOMO, Kohei

and nanomaterials, we aim to realize less-invasive "in vivo" observation and manipulation forliving organisms and tissues to establish a quantitative visualization analysis method forphysiological functions. We will elucidate the emergence of neural functions by analyzing
neural circuits and activities, including biological rhythms and their molecular basis.
We recently developed multiphoton microscopy to realize cross-sectional fluorescenceimaging at the deepest layer in the world. As a result, we visualized neurons in the
hippocampus's dentate gyrus at 1.6 mm depth from the brain surface under anesthesia.
Noticeably, we observed the activity of hippocampal CA1 neurons at a video rate (Fig. A).
Utilizing long-term imaging technology for living cell functions, we promote research on thegeneration and the function of ultradian and circadian rhythms (Fig. C). On the other hand, toenable ultra-micromorphology for molecular dynamics in living cells, we are also pursuing
super-resolution microscopy by utilizing new laser technologies (Fig. B). In local neural circuits,
endocrine or exocrine glands, and model animals and plants, fast three-dimensional "in vivo"
imaging reveals the underlying principles of the emergence of physiological functions. Thesemethodologies also explore the molecular basis of the pathogenic mechanism of diseases
such as cancer and diabetes. (Fig. D).
These methods collaborate widely with various laboratories covering life sciences andapplied physics, material science, medicine, and pharmaceutical sciences in this research
department. By advancing imaging methodology that visualizes physiological phenomena invivo, or "as they are," and by pursuing neural cell physiology, we will weave a new tapestry ofinterdisciplinary areas. We are looking for graduate students or young researchers who canshare our passion for pioneering new academic fields. We are looking for graduate students oryoung researchers who share our passion for pioneering new academic fields.
＊ M. Inoue et al., Cell 177,1346-1360.e24 (2019).
＊ H. Ishii et al., Biomed. Opt. Express, 10, 3104-3113 (2019).
＊ Y. Wu et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 115, E9469-E9478 (2018).
＊ A. Goto et al., Front. Phys., 7, 56-1–56-9 (2019).

20 ● Research Departments / Division of Biophotonics

Fig. (A) “in vivo” video-rate imaging of neural activities of mouse CA1 neurons.
(B) Visualizing neuronal circuits controlling circadian and ultradian rhythms. (C)Two-photon nanoscopy –breaking the limit of the spatial resolution < 100 nm.
(D) Fast “in vivo” imaging of molecular orientation using second harmonic
generation.

Associate Professor
Neurophysiology
Chronobiology

Assistant Professor
Spectroscopy
Physical Pharmacy

TSUTSUMI, Motosuke
Project Assistant Professor
Biophysics
Structural Biology

ISHII, Hirokazu
Project Assistant Professor
Developmental biology
Biophysics

Division of Behavioral Development
ISODA, Masaki
Professor
Neurophysiology

GO, Yasuhiro
Project Associate Professor
Comparative Genomics
Neurogenomics

TOMATSU, Saeka
Project Associate Professor
Cognitive Neuroscience
Neurophysiology

NINOMIYA, Taihei
Assistant Professor
Neuroanatomy
Neurophysiology

NORITAKE, Atsushi
Assistant Professor
Neurophysiology
Cognitive Neuroscience

YOKOI, Isao
Assistant Professor
Neurophysiology

UEMATSU, Akiko
Project Assistant Professor
Neurophysiology

System-level understanding of social cognitive functions
There is increasing attention to social neuroscience, a discipline dedicated to clarifying the neuralbasis of social cognitive functions. In social neuroscience, studies on human subjects are surely
indispensable, as they can tell us about our social mind most directly. Yet research using nonhumanprimates is of equal importance for understanding social brain functions at the cellular andnetwork levels. Nonhuman primates are phylogenetically close to humans, they have brain
structure and function similar to humans, and they offer unique opportunities to directly record ormanipulate neural activity. Our laboratory develops novel, behavioral tasks using two monkeys
facing each other and carries out electrophysiological recordings of single-neuron activities andlocal field potentials across networks of brain regions to achieve a system-level understanding ofsocial cognition, such as decision making on the basis of behavioral information regarding the self
and others. We also perform pathway-selective blockade of neural activity using viral vectors toestablish a causal relationship between a target neural pathway and a particular social cognitive
function. Furthermore, we perform cognitive genomics studies in macaques with mutations ingenes associated with human psychiatric and neurodevelopmental disorders, thereby clarifying
the genetic basis of social cognitive functions.
＊ Isoda M (in press) Annu Rev Neurosci＊ Ninomiya T et al. (2020) Nat Commun 11: 5233
＊ Noritake A et al. (2020) Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 117: 5516-5524＊ Noritake A et al. (2018) Nat Neurosci 21: 1452-1462＊ Yoshida K et al. (2016) Sci Adv 2: e1600558＊ Yoshida K et al. (2012) Nat Neurosci 15: 1307-1312＊ Yoshida K et al. (2011) Curr Biol 21: 249-253

Multi-site, multi-electrode neural recordings forclarifying the neural basis of social cognitive
functions

Research Departments / Division of Behavioral Development ●21

Division of System Neurophysiology
Mechanism of voluntary movements

NAMBU, Atsushi
Professor
Neurophysiology

Pathophysiology of movement disorders
The brain areas, such as the cerebral cortex, basal ganglia and cerebellum, play an essential role

HATANAKA, Nobuhikoin controlling voluntary movements. On the other hand, malfunctions of these structures result inAssistant Professor
Neurophysiology
Neuroanatomy

movement disorders, such as Parkinson’s disease and dystonia. The major goal of our research

CHIKEN, Satomi

project is to elucidate the mechanisms underlying higher motor functions and the pathophysiology
of movement disorders. To explore such intricate brain functions, we apply a wide range ofneurophysiological and neuroanatomical techniques to rodents and subhuman primates such as
macaques and marmosets.
The current topics under study are as follows:1）‌Elucidation of information flows through the neuronal networks by electrophysiological andanatomical methods.
‌2）Understanding
the mechanism how the brain controls voluntary movements and higher brain
functions by electrophysiological recordings of neuronal activity in animals performing motor
tasks, combined with local injection of neuronal blockers, optogenetics or chemogenetics.
3）Elucidationof the pathophysiology of movement disorders by applying electrophysiological‌
methods to animal models of Parkinson’s disease and dystonia. Development of new
therapies by suppressing abnormal neuronal activity.
＊ M. Ozaki et al., Cereb Cortex 27: 5716-5726 (2017)＊ H. Watanabe et al., Nature Commun 11: 3253 (2020)＊ Z. Polyakova et al., J Neurosci 40: 7451-7463 (2020)＊ W. Wongmassang et al., Eur J Neurosci 53: 2178-2191 (2021)＊ I. Dwi Wahyu et al., J Neurosci 41: 2668-2683 (2021)

Frontal sections of the monkey brain showing
expression of channelrhodopsin-2（ChR2）in the
primary motor cortex (M1). Light irradiation can
successfully

inducemuscleactivity

andmovements in the upper limb as well as neuronal
activity in the M1.

Cortical stimulation in the mice model ofParkinson’s disease (PD) and L-DOPA-induced
dyskinesia (LID) evoked specific response patterns
in the external segment of the globus pallidus(GPe) and substantia nigra pars reticulata (SNr),
which may explain pathophysiology of these
conditions.

22 ● Research Departments / Division of System Neurophysiology

Assistant Professor
Neurophysiology
Neurobiology

SANO, Hiromi
Assistant Professor
Molecular Neurobiology

Division of Neural Dynamics
KITAJO, Keiichi
Professor
Computational Neuroscience
Cognitive Neuroscience

UEHARA, Kazumasa
Assistant Professor
Neurophysiology
Neuroscience

OKAZAKI, Yuka
Assistant Professor
Cognitive Neuroscience

YOKOYAMA, Hiroshi
Project Assistant Professor
Information Engineering
Neuroscience

Unravelling the functional roles of neural dynamics
The brain can be regarded as a dynamical system, which is composed of a number ofconnected nonlinear elements (e.g., neurons and glial cells) and exhibits a wide variety of
nonlinear dynamics in its activity. For instance, depending on the brain state, the human brain
exhibits transient oscillations and synchronization at various frequency bands. We investigate
functional roles of nonlinear neural dynamics such as oscillation, synchrony, metastability, andnoise-induced phenomena in perception, cognition, motor, and social functions from acomputational
neuroscience
perspective.
We
measure andanalyzescalp
electroencephalographic (EEG) signals in humans while human participants are engaged incognitive tasks, at rest, or during noninvasive brain stimulation such as transcranial magnetic
stimulation (TMS) and transcranial electrical stimulation (tES). We also analyze
electrocorticographic (ECoG), magnetoencephalographic (MEG), and functional magnetic
resonance imaging (fMRI) data in humans, as well as imaging and electrophysiological data indistinct modalities in animals. We promote computational studies by data analysis andmathematical modeling based on nonlinear dynamical systems theory, information theory,
signal processing theory, complex network analysis, and statistical machine learning theory.
We also analyze clinical data for stroke and epilepsy patients obtained from collaborators andtry to understand clinical symptoms in terms of altered neural dynamics and explore brainmachine interface applications. Moreover, we investigate the relationships between neuraldynamics and modulating factors such as autonomic nervous activity and excitation/inhibition
balance in neural circuits to understand the functional roles of neural dynamics from an
integrative perspective.

＊ Okazaki YO, Nakagawa Y, Mizuno Y, Hanakawa T, Kitajo K (2021) Frequency- and area-specific phase entrainment of intrinsic cortical oscillations byrepetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 15: 608947＊Ueda K, Nishiura Y, Kitajo K (2020) Mathematical mechanism of state-dependent phase resetting properties of alpha rhythm in the human brain. Neuroscience
Research, 4387, 1-13
＊ Kawano T et al. (2020) Electroencephalographic phase synchrony index as a biomarker of post-stroke motor impairment and recovery. Neurorehabilitation &Neural Repair, 34, 711-712＊ Okazaki YO, Mizuno Y, T. Kitajo K (2020) Probing dynamical cortical gating of attention with concurrent TMS-EEG. Scientific Reports, 10, 4959, 1-10.
＊ Glim S. Okazaki Y, Nakagawa Y, Mizuno Y, Hanakawa T. Kitajo K (2019) Phase-amplitude coupling of neural oscillations can be effectively probed withconcurrent TMS-EEG. Neural Plasticity, 6263907, 1-14

We measure neural activity in humans by the TMS-EEG concurrent recording paradigm.
Then we analyze the EEG data and mathematically model the neural dynamics tounderstand the functional roles of the neural dynamics

Research Departments / Division of Neural Dynamics ●23

Division of Cerebral Integration
Studies on Higher Function in Human Brain Using Neuroimaging Techniques

SADATO, Norihiro

The goal of Division of Cerebral Integration is to understand the physiology of human

Professor
Functional Neuroimaging
Neuroscience

voluntary movement and other mental processing including language and social interaction

FUKUNAGA, Masaki

using noninvasive functional neuroimaging technique, mainly fMRI. In particular, neuralmechanisms of the social interaction is the main focus of our research activities. Hyperscanning fMRI (3T) has been installed to evaluate two individuals as one neural network
during social interaction, combined with 7T MRI data to evaluate the detailed structures of theneural network that represent the social cognition. Multimodal approach including EEG, MEG,
TMS, and NIR is considered when appropriate.

GODA, Naokazu

NAKAGAWA, Eriof being happy, that enforces each other. Voxel-based morphometry showed trait-like

Project Assistant Professor（Grant Project）
Foreign Language Education
Psycholinguistics

anterior cingulate cortex (rACC). Functional MRI demonstrated that experimentallyinduced temporal happy feelings were positively correlated with subjective happinesslevel and rACC activity. The rACC response to positive events was also positively correlated

YAMAMOTO, Tetsuyawith its gray matter density. Thus, the rACC is related to happiness. The interaction

Project Assistant Professor(Grant Project)
Neuroimaging
Visual Neuroscience
Visual Psychology

between structure and function in the rACC may explain the trait–state interaction inhappiness.

To evaluate the neural substrates of cooperation,

we conducted a hyperscanning functional MRI
study with a joint force-production task. We
found that the cooperation, the degree ofadjustmentofindividual

motor

outputdepending on that of the partner, is mediated by
the interconnected subdivisions of the right TPJ.
(Collaboration with Associate Professor Masaki O.

Abe et al. )

24 ● Research Departments / Division of Cerebral Integration

Assistant Professor
Social Neuroscience
Neuroscience

Happiness has two aspects, a temporary positive emotion and a trait-like long-term sense
subjective happiness was positively correlated with the gray matter density of the rostral

N=26

KOIKE, Takahiko

Assistant Professor
Neuroscience
Neuroimaging
Psychophysics＊ Matsunaga M et al. Neuroimage 134:132-141 (2016)＊ Abe MO et al. Neuroimage 191:150-161(2019)

N=106

Associate Professor
Magnetic Resonance
Neuroimaging
Neuroscience

Center for Research Collaboration
KUBO, Yoshihiro
Professor
Director

OutlineThis center named “Center for Collaborative Research” was established in April 2016. It consists of 5
sections of Collaboration Promotion, Advanced Research Support, National Bio-Resource (NBR)
Project, Visiting Collaborative Research Project and International Collaborative Research Project.
(1) As a mission of the inter- university research institute, NIPS promotes and conducts collaborative
researches. The “Collaboration Promotion” section is in charge of facilitation of joint researches
utilizing the facilities of NIPS. It responds to inquiries about available research facilities and laboratories
suitable to achieve research aims, and also coordinates the joint research. Thus, it serves as a sort of“concierge” of joint research with NIPS. It also calls for requests of facilities and experimental
techniques which researchers wish to have in NIPS. To advertise the collaborative research activity of
NIPS, we organized in 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019, NIPS research meetings in universities outside of
NIPS. In 2020, one international meeting was held outside of NIPS. In 2021, we will organize one
research meeting outside of NIPS.
(2) NIPS, in cooperation with NIBB, started “Supporting Platform for Advanced Bio-Imaging” project
supported by JSPS KAKENHI in April 2016. In this framework, the “Advanced Research Support” section
serves to promote support for advanced imaging techniques using optical microscope, electron
microscope and fMRI. The 2nd activity of this section is to support “The Next Generation Brain
Research” Project. It is to organize a symposium of wide-ranged brain science researchers including
the ones belonging to MEXT priority research areas. This activity was succeeded from the former“Comprehensive Brain Science Network” ended in 2016. The 3rd one is to support the activity, as anadministration office of the core organization, of “Brain Mapping by Integrated Neurotechnologies for
Disease Studies (Brain/MINDS)” project, a large scale national project of the Japan Agency for Medical
Research and Development (AMED).
(3) NIPS has been in charge of supply of monkeys for brain science experiments, as a part of National
Bio-Resource Project. The “Primate Model Development” section in the “Supportive Center for Brain
Research” was moved to the “Center for Collaborative Research” as a new section named “National
Bio-Resource (NBR) Project”, clarifying the responsible section for the project. In 2017, the primary
responsible role of NBR Project was transferred from NIPS to the Primate Research Center in Kyoto
University. NIPS will continue to cooperatively contribute to the activity of NBR Project.
(4) The aim of the “Visiting Collaborative Research Project” section is to facilitate collaborative
researches with researchers staying in NIPS using a sabbatical leave. The section was moved from“Center for Multidisciplinary Brain Research” which was closed in 2016. In 2020, NIPS will promote thisactivity by calling for sabbatical researchers.
(5) The “International Collaborative Research Project” section is a laboratory run by a visiting professor
from abroad who stays for a significantly long time in NIPS. The laboratory is run up to for 3 years.
From 2017 to 2019, Professor Denis Le Bihan (Former Director of Neurospin in France) served as a P.I.,
and he will continue to take the role from 2020.
In summary, the “Center for Collaborative Research” plays critical roles in the promotion of various
collaborative research activities, including inter-university research, advanced bio-imaging support,
supply of monkeys for experiments, and domestic as well as international research collaborations.

26

Section of Advanced Research Support

27

Section of NBR Project

28▲ ▲ ▲ ▲ ▲Section of Collaboration Promotion

Section of Visiting Collaborative Research ProjectSection of International Collaborative Research Project

29

Research Centers /Center for Research Collaboration ●25

▲Section of Collaboration Promotion

National Institute for Physiological Sciences (NIPS) is an inter-university research institute,

KUBO, Yoshihiro

which organizes some of the latest large experimental equipment and devices that are

Professor
Biophysics
Neurobiology

difficult for other universities or research institutes to purchase, maintain, manage, or operate,

NISHIO, Akiko

such as serial block-face scanning electron microscope (SBF-SEM) , multiphoton excitation
microscopes, dual functional magnetic resonance imaging (dual fMRI) , 7-tesla ultra highmagnetic field MRI machines, and magneto- encephalography (MEG) systems, with the aim ofproviding facilities and technical support for researchers on a nationwide basis. NIPS also
actively develops, produces, and provides viral vectors for neuroscience research withtechnical support, as a center for the production of high-quality viral vectors that are difficultfor individual research laboratories to create or purify.
Section of Collaboration Promotion has been organized as a consultation counter to help
researchers belonging to other universities or research institutes throughout Japan smoothly
launch joint research projects in NIPS. Its aim is to support researchers who maintain passive
attitudes toward such projects for various reasons, including unestablished research networks
or lack of knowledge about methods to embody their ideas as studies. In addition to these,
NIPS also offers research techniques and device utilizations to corporate researchers who aim
to develop new technologies or products.
The primary purpose of us is to promote liaison between researchers in diverse research
fields and NIPS. It comprehensively performs activities to support joint research and enhance
its recognition, such as setting up exhibition booths to introduce joint research in NIPS at
meetings of related academic societies and research meetings held outside NIPS.

26 ● Research Centers /Section of Collaboration Promotion

Project Assistant Professor
Neurophysiology
Cognitive Neuroscience▲Section of Advanced Research Support

KANO, Masanobu
Adjunct Professor
Neurophysiology

TAKADA, Masahiko
Adjunct Professor
Neuroanatomy

MARUYAMA, Megumi
Project Associate Professor
Neurophysiology
Environmental Physiology

Advanced Bioimaging Support (ABiS)
Advanced Research Support has operated the administrative office of ABiS (FY2016–2021 Grant-in-Aid
for Scientific Research on Innovative Areas ― Platforms for Advanced Technologies and Research
Resources) since FY2016. ABiS is a framework for supporting cutting-edge imaging techniques(observation of samples and data analysis) using various types of microscopy and MRI, for research
conducted by core organizations such as the National Institute for Physiological Sciences (NIPS) and the
National Institute for Basic Biology (NIBB). Through the collaborative research that these institutes promote,ABiS is forming a network withdomestic partner organizations toprovide custom-made support forbioimaging techniques.

JISEDAI-NOU Project
Advanced Research Support has also operated the administrative office of the JISEDAI-NOU Project since
FY2016. This project, which is led by members of the brain science–related Grant-in-Aid for Scientific
Research on Innovative Areas, promotes efforts that support the brain science community, including
planning symposia with a focus on cultivating young researchers, disseminating related information via amailing list, and operating a website. It will contribute to
the promotion of brain research by taking advantageof the established community that developed over thecourse of the Comprehensive Brain Science Network
Project (FY2010–2015, Grant-in-Aid for Scientific
Research on Innovative Areas).

Brain/MINDS Beyond
From November 2018, the National Institute for Physiological Sciences (NIPS) has been adopted as thecore organization of the newly launched AMED program, the Strategic International Brain Science
Research Promotion Program (Brain/MINDS Beyond). This program aims at contributing to the flight ofthe brain research globally by enhancing collaboration with the domestic projects of other countries
across the world. This office, serving as the core organization and operation secretariat, coordinates thedomestic efforts for the international promotion of brain science research. It also works in close
coordination with other programs by the AMED,
the Brain Mapping by Integrated Neurotechnologies
for Disease Studies (Brain/MINDS).

Research Centers / Section of Advanced Research Support ●27

▲Section of NBR Project

The promotion of National Bio-Resource Project "Japanese monkey"

NAMBU, Atsushi

The improvement of monkey quality and the development of pathogen detection
systemThis laboratory has been organized since 2002 for acceleration of National Bio-Resource
Project (NBRP) “Japanese monkey”. National Institute for Physiological Sciences (sub-corefacility) and Kyoto University Primate Research Institute (core facility) together keep promoting
the project.
NBRP “Japanese monkey” has been established as a stable breeding of and supply system
for Japanese macaques for laboratory use. We have performed the projects with emphasis on
the followings: (1) establishment of the breeding system, (2) provision of monkeys forresearchers in Japan, (3) collection of data characteristic of the Japanese macaque, and (4)integrative administration of NBRP "Japanese monkey".
The Japanese macaques have high cognitive abilities and hand dexterity. Therefore, thisanimal species has been used for research into higher brain functions and various neurologicaldiseases.
We have administered this resource project while coordinating with researchers. We havecollected data about Japanese macaques for the improvement of monkey quality. One of ouraims is the development of detection systems for various pathogens in the Japanesemacaque, including B virus and Simian retrovirus, in order to supply a high-grade biologicalresource.
＊ 中村克樹，他，ナショナルバイオリソースプロジェクト「ニホンザル」の現状と課題 . 霊長類研究 33 巻 (2017)＊ T. Isa et al., Japanese Macaques as laboratory Animals. Exp. Anim. 58 (5), 451-457 (2009)

Japanese&monkey&user&network
Joint&meeting

Genetics(and(((
Genomics

Behavior(and(
Ecology

SubCcore&facility
Core&facility
National&Institute&of&
Kyoto&Univ.
Partnership
Natural&Sciences
Primate&Research&
National&Institute&of&
Institute
Physiolosical Science

National&Institute&of&
Genetics

Kagoshima&
Univ.
Yamaguchi&
Univ.

SupplySteering(
committee

Board&of&supply&Primate&Society&of&
Japan

Publicity

Hokkaido&
Univ.
Tohoku&Univ.

Board&of&disease

Okayama&
Univ.

Biosafety
National&Institute&of&
Infectious&Disease,&
Institute&for&Virus&
Research&Kyoto&
Univ.

28 ● Research Centers / Section of NBR Project

AIST

Osaka&
Univ.

RIKEN

    
Kyoto&
Univ.

ToyamaUniv.
Tokyo&
Med.&and&Dent.&Univ.
 

Tokyo&
Univ.

Laboratory(
Animal(ScienceJapanese&
Association&for&
Laboratory&Animal&
Science,&JALAS,&
JALAP

Professor
Neurophysiology

▲Section of International Collaborative Research Project

LE BIHAN, Denis
Visiting Professor
Neuroscience

Introduction of the Section of International Collaborative Research ProjectIn FY2014, the National Institute for Physiological Sciences (NIPS) established the Section ofInternational Collaborative Research Project and welcomed Dr. Ravshan Sabirov, an adjunctprofessor, to run the section until FY2016. In FY2017, we invited Dr. Denis Le Bihan to join as a
new Principal Investigator of the section. He is a leading authority on Magnetic ResonanceImaging (MRI) and is well-known around the world as an inventor of the revolutionary
imaging method called diffusion-weighted imaging. In 2007, Dr. Le Bihan founded NeuroSpin,which belongs to the Life Science Bureau, a basic research division of France's Commissariat àl'énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives (CEA). The institute conducts brain researchusing MRI at a very high level of technological sophistication and is also leading thedevelopment of the world's highest-performance MRI instrument, the Human-oriented 11.7
Tesla Device. NIPS has promoted exchanges with Dr. Le Bihan to advance collaborative
research that takes advantage of the strengths of both institutes, with the primary goals of
introducing the Human-oriented 7 Tesla Device and applying it to neuroscience research.
Accordingly, CEA and NIPS signed a memorandum of understanding on academic researchcooperation on January 13, 2017. As part of this collaborative research, Dr. Le Bihan readily
agreed to become an adjunct professor of NIPS. His mission is to promote international
collaborative research using ultra-high field MRI. We will continue collaborative research withresearchers inside and outside NIPS in collaboration with the Division of Cerebral Integration,
which is also a part of NIPS. These efforts are expected to make a major contribution to thedevelopment of MRI imaging technology and brain science in Japan. Two international
projects with Seoul National University (South Korea) and National Health Research Institutes(Taipei) are ongoing together with Division of Cerebral Integration.

7T ultra high field MRI research of molecular brain
imaging Section of International Collaborative
Research Project�
Development of 7T Myelin Water Imaging(MWI)

Development of 7T Diffusion Spectrum
Imaging (DSI)

Dept. of Eng., Seoul National University

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Research Centers / Section of International Collaborative Research Project ●29Supportive Center for Brain Research
OutlineISODA, Masaki
Professor
Director

The Center for Brain Experiment was reorganized into the Supportive Center for Brain
Research in April 2008 to expand its role of supporting brain science research at the
NIPS. The new center was initially comprised of six sections: Sections of Brain Structure
Information, Brain Function Information, Multiphoton Neuroimaging, Electron
Microscopy, Instrument Design, and Ine Marine Laboratory. In 2010, the Ine Marine
Laboratory completed its mission and was closed. In 2012, two sections - the Section ofViral Vector Development and the Section of Primate Model Development - were newly
opened. The mission of the former was to develop and distribute viral vectors, and themission of the latter was to breed and supply Japanese macaques, both to researchers
for brain research purposes. In April 2016, the Section of Viral Vector Development was
relocated to the Center for Genetic Analysis of Behavior. At the same time, the Sectionof Primate Model Development was changed its name to the NBR Project and relocatedto the Center for Research Collaboration. In April 2021, the Section of Cellular
Electrophysiology was created.
Brain science is one of the hottest research fields worldwide, of course including
Japan, and recent progress in this field is amazing and surprisingly rapid. The NIPS is
now widely recognized as an important hub for brain science research in Japan, andmost NIPS researchers are engaged in some way in the relevant field. The mission of the
Supportive Center for Brain Research is not only to support intramural studies at the
NIPS, but also to play a role in promoting fruitful collaborations in the neuroscience
community both in Japan and abroad through joint researches.

31

Section of Electron Microscopy

32

Section of Brain Function Information

33

Section of Cellular Electrophysiology

34

Section of Instrument Design

54▲ ▲ ▲ ▲ ▲Section of Multiphoton Neuroimaging

30 ● Research Centers /Supportive Center for Brain Research▲Section of Multiphoton Neuroimaging

Associate Professor
Biophysics
Neuroscience

Imaging activation of signaling molecules in living cells by 2-photon fluorescence
lifetime imaging microscopy
Our state of the art two-photon fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopes allows us toimage protein activity and protein-protein interaction in living cells in deep tissue such as
brain slice and brain of living mouse. We accept the collaborative research using thefluorescence lifetime imaging microscope for imaging the activity and interaction of various
signaling proteins. We also accept students to pursue the PhD degree, especially, the students
who are interested in molecular imaging.
In addition to the cutting-edge microscope techniques, we try to develop novel fluorescentproteins and light-controllable signaling proteins. By far, we succeeded in visualizing theactivities of signaling proteins in dendritic spine of hippocampal neuron by using two-photon
microscopy by combining the photo-activatable probes, new fluorescent proteins,
electrophysiology. These techniques will enable us to reveal the system of neural networks
and underlying molecular mechanisms in a living mouse neuron.
Our mission is to reveal “missing-links” underlying between molecular functions andphysiological functions in a living body. We believe that the development & application of
optical imaging methods will reveal the biological system at the cellular level.
＊ Shibata et al. Nature Communications 2021
＊ Murakoshi et al. Scientific Reports 2019
＊ Saneyoshi et al. Neuron 2019
＊ Chen Xi et al. eLife 2018
＊ Murakoshi et al. Neuron 2017
＊ Hedrick et al. Nature 2016
＊ Murakoshi et al. Nature 2011

xy-Scanmirrors

Ti:Sapphire laser

Scan lensLaser pulse~100 fs~12 nsPhotodiodeCollector lensPhotocurrent

PC

Tube lensObjective lens

2.35
ns
Fluorescence
lifetime image

PMT

MURAKOSHI, Hideji

Dichroic
mirror2-photon
excitation

2.60

Figure 1. Two-photon excitation is the phenomenon that two photons of half energy than needed for one photon excitation can excite a fluorescentmolecule. The advantages of 2-photon excitation are 1) Because infrared light is used for excitation, it minimizes excitation-light scattering in the tissue
2) Because 2-photon excitation happens only at the focal point of an objective lens, the background signal is strongly suppressed. These effects enable
us to image cells and subcellular structures in deep tissue with high spatial resolution. Recently, the combination of 2-photon excitation andfluorescence lifetime imaging method enabled us to image the protein-protein interaction or structural change of protein in deep tissue such as brainslice. The fluorescence lifetime is measured by counting the arrival time of signal photon at the detector upon a laser pulse. After making histogram of
lifetimes at each pixel by repeating this measurement, the pixel-by-pixel lifetime image is constructed in a pseudocolor format.

Research Centers / Section of Multiphoton Neuroimaging ●31

▲Section of Electron Microscopy

Support for electron microscopy

FURUSE, Mikio

Ultrastructures of tissues, cells and macromolecules are observed using transmission or
scanning electron microscopes (JEOL JEM1010, Hitachi HT-7700, Zeiss Σ IGMA). The facility

Professor
Cell Biology

MURATA, Kazuyoshi

also provides instruments for their specimen preparations, i.e. ultra-microtome (Leica UC7),

Project Professor
Structural biology
Electron Microscopy

high-pressure freezing device (BAL-TEC HPM010), and freeze fracture and replica machine

KUBOTA, Yoshiyuki(BAL-TEC BAF060), vacuum evaporator (JEOL JEE-400), etc. For digital image analysis, image
processing software and volume rendering software (FEI Amira) are available. Serial block-face
SEMs (Gatan 3view/Zeiss Σ IGMA/VP & MARLIN; Fig. 1) and Array tomography SEM system(Zeiss ATLAS5) have opened since 2013 (Fig. 1), which reveal 3D structures of biological thickspecimens. The SBF-SEMs, especially, are used for many collaborative projects.
Fig. 1 Serial block-face SEM (SBF-SEM) Gatan 3view - Zeiss
S Σ IGMA/VP

Fig. 2

Transmission electron microscope (TEM) JEOLJEM1010 equipped with 2kx2k CCD camera

32 ● Research Centers / Section of Electron Microscopy

Associate Professor
Neuroanatomy
Neuroscience

URAKUBO, Hidetoshi
Project Assistant Professor（Grant Project）
Computational neuroscience▲Section of Brain Function Information

SADATO, Norihiro
Professor
Functional Neuroimaging
Neuroscience

INUI, Koji
Adjunct Professor
Neurophysiology
Psychiatry

CHIKAZOE, Junichi
Associate Professor
Neuroscience

Research on functional-anatomical mapping of the primate brain
The mission of the Section of Brain Function Information is to support collaborative studies
using high field magnetic resonance imaging（3T and 7T）and to promote research on
functional-anatomical mapping of the primate brain. We are actively promote collaborative
studies ranging from basic research and development of MRI to clinical applications as well as
studies on establishing standards for MRI procedures, including safety, applications, andquantitative analyses of the images. We are now trying to develop an algorithm toquantitatively and statistically handle image data of the brain generated by MRI. In addition tocollaborative research, training junior researchers in MRI applications and basic neuroscience
research are promoted.
Recently, we focus on the combination of functional MRI and deep learning. Specifically, we
built artificial intelligence that could predict the price of art. We further apply individual
optimization to the AI, which results in making the AI mimic individual’s preferences (Publicly
offered research group in “Correspondence and fusion of artificial intelligence and brain
science”). In our lab, students can learn how to analyze functional MRI data as well as how to
use deep learning.
＊ J. Chikazoe and S. Konishi,“Functional neuroimaging approaches to human memory”,＊ Memory in Social Context: Brain, Mind, and Society, T. Tsukiura and S. Umeda Ed.. Springer. (2018)＊ JA Brooks, J Chikazoe, N Sadato, JB Freeman, "The neural representation of facial-emotion categories reflects conceptual structure", Proceedings of the
National Academy of Sciences 116 (32), 15861-15870 (2019)＊ J Chikazoe, DH Lee, N Kriegeskorte, AK Anderson, "Distinct representations of basic taste qualities in human gustatory cortex", Nature communications 10(1), 1-8 (2019)＊ RM Todd, V Miskovic, J Chikazoe, AK Anderson, "Emotional Objectivity: Neural Representations of Emotions and Their Interaction with Cognition", Annual
review of psychology 71, 25-48 (2020)

A schematic figure of transfer learning for vision-value converter, based on VGG 16. We used the same structure for vision-tocategory transformation as VGG16 and added new layers for category-to-value transformation.

Research Centers / Section of Brain Function Information ●33

▲Section of Cellular Electrophysiology

Promotion of Research Collaboration by Supporting Electrophysiological Studies
Electrophysiological technique is beneficial to address electrical properties of excitable cells, tissues,and organs (such as the brain and heart) with a high temporal resolution. This section aims to promote a
better understanding of cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying body and brain functions
through collaboration with other research groups by supporting their electrophysiological studies. The
following are ongoing projects.

1) Neuronal information processing in the tripartite synapse
Tripartite (three-part) synapses are defined by physically and functionally interactive structures among
pre- and post-synaptic elements, and their surrounding glial processes. We focus on the role ofneurotransmitter transporters in the integration of neuronal information in the tripartite synapse. We also
analyze genetically modified animals to understand the pathophysiology of neurological disorders suchas rapid-onset dystonia with Parkinsonism (RDP), alternating hemiplegia of childhood (AHC), and CAPOS
syndrome. In addition to classical techniques including electrophysiology, immunohistochemistry, andpharmacology, our laboratory recently introduced photo-releasable caged compounds.

2) Regulation of neural network activity
Neurons form complex networks between them and send information to multiple brain areas. We areinvestigating how neural network activity related motor function is regulated in the cortex and the basal
ganglia system. We approach these questions using electrophysiology, computer simulation, andbehavior analysis. We also analyze how neurotransmitters including dopamine regulate intrinsic
membrane properties of cells and reward related behaviors as a research collaboration.
＊ T. Otsuka, Y. Kawaguchi, Commun. Biol, 4, 495 (2021).
＊ S. Satake, S. Konishi, Eur. J. Neurosci. 52, 3002-3021 (2020).
＊ K. Ikeda, S. Satake et al., J. Physiol. 591, 3433-3449 (2013).
＊ T. Otsuka, Y. Kawaguchi, J. Neurophysiol. 110, 795-806 (2013).

(A) Network activity evoked by optogenetic stimulation. ChR2-Venus was selectively expressed in cortical L2/3 pyramidalcells. During light stimulation, membrane potential oscillation was induced in L5 pyramidal cell.
(B) Reconstruction of cortical FS interneurons. Electrically connected FS cells, confirmed by negative current injection to one
of two cells, were simultaneously recorded. ● indicates electrical connection site.

34 ● Research Centers / Section of Cellular Electrophysiology

YOSHIMURA, Yumiko
Professor
Neurophysiology

SATAKE, Shin'Ichiro
Assistant Professor
Neurophysiology

OTSUKA, Takeshi
Assistant Professor
Neuroscience

Center for Genetic Analysis of Behavior
TOMINAGA, Makoto
Professor
Director

OutlineCenter for Genetic Analysis of Behavior produces gene-modified rat/mouse using
TALEN and CRISPER/Cas9, etc. The center also provides virus vectors for cell typespecific gene modification. The center has facilities to monitor behavior, neuronal
activity and metabolism in those gene-modified rat/mouse, which are open for thecollaboratory use from researchers of all over the world.
This center consists of the following 3 sections.
・Section of Mammalian Transgenesis
・Section of Viral Vector Development
・Section of Multilayer Physiology

36

Section of Mammalian Transgenesis

37

Section of Multilayer Physiology

38

▲ ▲ ▲

Section of Viral Vector Development

Research Centers /Center for Genetic Analysis of Behavior ●35

▲Section of Viral Vector Development

Collaboration by providing viral vectors
Functional analysis of specific neural pathways by using viral vectors
Development of the viral vector system useful for analysis of brain functions
A viral vector, which is available to various animal models, is an excellent genetic tool, andat present, it becomes one of most important experimental technologies to analyze brain
functions. We set up a system to produce a large amount of high quality viral vectors, AAV andlentiviral vectors. In response to requests, we provide these viral vectors and promote thecollaboration.
Brain functions are controlled by complex neural circuits. To understand brain functions, it isnecessary to clarify the function of specific neural pathways forming complex circuits. We
have succeeded in developing the novel gene transfer system, a dual viral vector system using
highly efficient retrograde gene transfer viral vectors, enabling the functional analysis of
specific neural pathways (Fig. 1). By using this system, we analyze the function of specificneural pathways forming the cortico-basal ganglia loop. In addition, we have succeeded indeveloping a novel retrograde gene transfer system based on the AAV vector.
＊ H. Sano et al., J. Neurosci. Methods. 345, 108887 (2020)＊ K. Kobayashi et al., J. Neural. Transm. (Vienna). 125, 67 (2018)＊ K. Kobayashi et al., Front. Neuroanat. 11, 65 (2017)＊ K. Kobayashi et al., Neurosci. Lett. 630, 45 (2016)＊ K. Kobayashi et al., Methods. Mol. Biol. 1382, 175 (2016)

Figure 1. Gene transfer into specific neural pathways using viral vectors. Conditional gene expression in specific neural pathways becomes possible byusing a dual viral vector system combining retrograde gene transfer (RGT) viral vectors and AAV vectors. These useful viral vectors are available tocollaborators.

36 ● Research Centers / Section of Viral Vector Development

NAMBU, Atsushi
Professor
Neurophysiology

KOBAYASHI, Kenta
Associate Professor
Molecular Neurobiology

▲Section of Mammalian Transgenesis

HIRABAYASHI, Masumi
Associate Professor
Laboratory Animal Science

KOBAYASHI, Toshihiro
Associate Professor
Stem Cell Biology
Developmental Technology

Development of Advanced Reproductive / Transgenic Technologies in Laboratory
Animals
Genetically modified animals such as transgenic and knockout animals are essential tools
for current life science research. In particular, recent progress on gene editing technologies
including CRISPR/Cas9 system has enabled us to generate desired such animals more
efficiently and rapidly. Our facility, Section of Mammalian Transgenesis, routinely generates avariety of genetically modified mice and rats according to requests from internal and external
laboratories. In addition, we have developed novel reproductive and developmental
technologies using early rodent embryos and the stem cells. One of our current projects is anapplication of our techniques to regenerative medicine. Recently, as a collaborative research,
we have established “blastocyst complementation” method which can create a specific organfrom pluripotent stem cells in organ-deficient animals. Through developing new technologies
and generating model animals in various mammalian species, we aim to understand theunderlying mechanisms on stem cell self-renewal/differentiation, early embryo development
and organogenesis, which would contribute to future regenerative medicine as well as life
science research.
＊ T. Kobayashi et al., Nat Commun. 12, 1328 (2021).
＊ T. Kobayashi et al., Development. 147, e183798 (2020).
＊ T. Goto et al., Nat Commun. 10, 451 (2019).
＊ M. Hirabayashi and S. Hochi, Methods Mol Biol. 1874, 313 (2019).
＊ T. Yamaguchi et al., Sci Rep. 8, 15289 (2018).

Fig. 1. Analysis of germline development using Prdm14 gene-modified rats. A) Venus expression allows to observe thekinetics of PGCs in Prdm14-H2BVenus knocked-in rats. B) Transcriptome analysis (8,966 genes) clarifies the gene
expression profile of rat PGCs at different stages of fetal development (E7.25 to E15.5). F: female; M: male. C) Prdm14 KO
males have atrophied testes in which both Leydig cells and Sertoli cells are present, but vasa-positive germ cells areabsent.

Research Centers / Section of Mammalian Transgenesis ●37▲Section of Multilayer Physiology

In vivo analysis of neuronal, metabolic activity and behavioral pattern in mice and rats
This section analyzes the in vivo neuronal and metabolic activity, and behavioral pattern in mice andrats which were modified by their related genes and by exposure to various environmental conditions.
This section performs the following examinations:• ‌Single unit recording from motor related brain regions in an awake state.
• ‌Regional neural activity detected as intrinsic signals with taking the advantage of light fluorescentdynamics of flavin or hemoglobin.
• ‌Energy intake and expenditure in free-moving animals.
• ‌Body temperature, heart rate and blood pressure in free-moving animals.
• ‌Non-invasive echo-graphic imaging of tissue structure-function relationships (liver, kidney and bloodvessels), 4-dimensional changes in cardiac functions, and capillary blood flow (brain and umbilicalcord) using anesthetized mice.
• ‌Mouse temperature preference assay with thermal gradient ring.
• ‌Behavioral analysis for the evaluation of emotion, learning and memory: Open field, Elevated plus
maze, Forced swimming, Rota-rod, Inhibitory avoidance, Fear conditioning, Morris water maze, etc.
(See the figures below.)＊ Yamagata, Y, et al. (2018) eNeuro 5: e0133-18.2018 1-15.
＊ Yamagata, Y, Nairn, A.C. (2015) Brain Res. 1625: 314-323.
＊ Yamagata, Y, et al. (2013) Brain Res. 1507: 1-10.
＊ Yamagata, Y, et al. (2009) J. Neurosci. 29: 7607-7618.

We perform a number of behavioral analyses in mice to explore physiological functions of specific genes andmolecules.

38 ● Research Centers / Section of Multilayer Physiology

NISHIJIMA, Kazutoshi
Professor
Laboratory Animal Science
Reproductive Technology
Metabolism

YAMAGATA, Yoko
Assistant Professor
Neurochemistry
Neuroscience

Center for Communication Networks
FUKATA, Masaki
Professor
Director

Outline
The center provides information of NIPS programs and activities to the public,
scientific community, medical profession, and media through WEB, publication,
conferences and symposium. Science education activities and Institutional review
processes are also coordinated. The center maintains infrastructures of LAN as well as
WEB-based services.

40

Section of Physiology and Medicine Education

41

Section of Network Management

42

▲ ▲ ▲

Section of Research Archives

Research Centers /Center for Communication Networks ●39

▲Section of Research Archives

The Institute has made the self-evaluation and peer review every year since 1993. In
addition, the Institute started editing a volume of annual plans and annual reports every year
since 2004. The section was opened in 2007 to perform more efficient evaluation processes.
For efficient accumulation of historical events in the institute, this section also takes care ofarchiving the documents that describe the activities of the Institute.
The section was reorganized to be responsible for collecting and archiving various kinds of
documents in 2016.
The collection includes the database of documents related to the foundation of theInstitute, which was completed owing to the great contribution of Professor Emeritus Shunichi
Yamagishi. It also includes the text version of “Oral History” stated by Professor Yamagishi.

40 ● Research Centers / Section of Research Archives

▲Section of Physiology and Medicine Education

TOMINAGA, Makoto
Professor
Molecular and Cellular Physiology

Developing materials and system for ‘step-by-step studies of human life sciences’
The material is presented in very small steps, approximately 10-fold more steps thanconventional materials. At each step, straight-forward images are presented, so that thelearners ‘get the image’, as well as few-choice questions, to provide an immediate opportunity
to use the learned information. This system was developed by the previous NIPS visiting
professor, Dr. Masato Shibuya (a professor of Junior College of Kagawa Nutrition University).

Developing materials and system for ‘step-by-step studies of brain science’‘step-by-step studies of brain science’, another e-Learning subject, was developed for theBrain Science Course Group of SOKENDAI (The Graduate University for Advanced Studies) with
Dr. Yoshihisa Kudo (a professor emeritus of Tokyo University of Pharmacy and Life Science).
And the part about neuroscience of the above ‘step-by-step studies of human life sciences’
was provided to the students who take ‘step-by-step studies of brain science’ as a supplement
teaching aid. Students take the e-Learning-based exams in the end of each semester. Upontaking ‘step-by-step studies of brain science’, students are supposed to learn basic brain
science completely.

Research Centers / Section of Physiology and Medicine Education ●41

▲Section of Network Management

Computer services and network supports are now indispensable for research activity. In this section,
we manage the “Computer System for Data Analysis in Physiology”, which is a software sharing system
for Numeric Computation, data analysis, visualization, mathematics, statistics and electronic design. Threetechnical staffs support high-speed and reliable network for intra-/internet services such as E-mailcommunication, Web services, and peripheral devices for in-house information network. Technologicaldevelopments for the best use of these facilities are also underway（ Fig. 1）
Ensuring information security is also an important part of our work. We have revised our information
security policy in line with our research and are making efforts to maintain the security level by raisingawareness among users. In addition, we also cooperate with CSIRT to prevent security incidents, takecountermeasures, monitor them, and respond to them when and after they occur.
Fig.1. Computer System for Data Analysis in
Physiology & Network Servers

42 ● Research Centers / Section of Network Management

Section of Health and Safety Management
TOMINAGA, Makoto
Professor
Molecular and Cellular Physiology

OutlineNIPS is sincerely trying to promote the security and health of researchers and workers,
particularly considering the environments of laboratories and offices. Recently, NIPS has
had to focus on resolving some serious problems, for example, storing several drugs
such as narcotics properly, and safely maintaining several machines such as those using
lasers. To avoid accidents caused by such drugs and machines, NIPS is conducting a
regular annual medical examination for all researchers and workers. Considering how
important this problem is, the Section of Health and Safety Management was foundedin 2011 under the direct management of the Director-General. This section is mainly
conducting the following four activities:
1. ‌‌Work to prevent accidents and health problems of workers at NIPS.
2. ‌‌Education related to safety and hygiene for workers.
3. ‌‌Regular medical examinations.
4.‌‌Investigation of problems causing labor accidents in order to prevent them.
Monthly meetings are held to smoothly conduct the regulatory procedures. In
addition, this section has been involved in the activities for infection prevention ofcorona virus from 2020.

Section of Health and Safety Management ●43

Research Enhancement Strategy Office
Research Enhancement Promotion Project

NAMBU, Atsushi
Professor
Neurophysiology

National Institutes of Natural Sciences (NINS）has been selected as one of 20 Universities and 3 Inter-

KUBO, Yoshihiro

University Research Institutes in the Program for Promoting the Enhancements of Research Universities

Professor
Biophysics
Neurobiology

funded by Monbukagakushou（MEXT）, which started from September 2013. Research Enhancement

FUKATA, Masaki

at NINS and each of 5 Research Institutes, including NIPS, respectively. At NIPS, Research Enhancement

Professor
Neuroscience
Biochemistry
Cell Biology

Strategy Office （manager: vice director of NIPS） has been composed of by 7 units, 1） Research

MINOKOSHI, Yasuhiko

Promotion Headquarters and Research Enhancement Strategy Office of this program have been settled

Surveillance and Analysis, 2）Evaluation, 3）Research Animal Management, 4）Promotion of Outreach

Professor
Endocrinology and Metabolism

Activity, 5) International Cooperation, 6） Promotion of Gender Equality, and 7）Industry-Academia

YOSHIMURA, YumikoCollaboration. Specially Appointed Professor, Project Associate and Assistant Professors were assigned toProfessor
Neurophysiology

Evaluation Unit, Research Animal Management Unit and Promotion of Outreach Activity Unit. Each unit

KITAJO, Keiichi

promotes its activity to facilitate own research and research collaboration to achieve NIPS mission.

Professor
Computational Neuroscience
Cognitive Neuroscience

URANO, Toru
Specially Appointed Professor
Laboratory Animal Science
Bacterial Infectious Disease

Collaboration with overseas universities and research institutes
Promotion of joint utilization and joint research
Recruitment of brilliant researchers from other countries

Collaboration with universities and research institutes
Promotion of joint utilization and joint research

MARUYAMA, Megumi

Universities
Support for the Promotionof International Advanced
Research

Support for the Promotion of
Joint Utilization and
Joint Research in Japan

NINS
Companies

Enhancement of Research Capabilities of NINS

Goal1: Encourage cutting-edge academic research in the ﬁeld of natural sciences throughinternational joint research-strengthen joint research with world s most advanced research institutes in the world
developing the world s most advanced research instrumentsGoal2: Contribute to the enhancement of research capabilities of universities, etc. in Japan using theworld s most advanced research environment for joint utilization and joint research
Dissemination of Information and Enhancement of
Public Relations in Japan and Abroad

Encouragement of interaction with publicdissemination of information in English
and international announcements

44 ● Research Enhancement Strategy Office

Support for Researchers(for young, female or foreign researchers)

Improvement of support system fordiversiﬁed research environment

Research
Institues

Project Associate Professor
Neurophysiology
Environmental Physiology

NISHIO, Akiko
Project Assistant Professor
Neurophysiology
Cognitive NeuroscienceTechnical Division
Outline
The Technical Division is an organization of technical staffs to support research activities in National
Institute for Physiological Sciences（NIPS）. This organization is under the direction of the DirectorGeneral of NIPS. It is organized in a management system with Head, Assistant Head, Section Chief, Unit
Chief, Assistant Unit Chief and Staff.
The division is composed of the technicians, who are covering a wide diversity of fields, such as electric
circuitry, mechanical machine tooling, computing, gene engineering, biochemical analysis, cell culture,
microscope, raising and reproduction of gene-implanted animals and so on.
The division is divided into two sections, one is for Departments and the other is for Research Centers.
The personnel belonging to the Departments support mainly the researchers in the Departments. Thosebelonging to the Research Center or Laboratory are maintaining and controlling common researchequipment for use in joint research projects by scientists of inside and outside of the institute.
In addition to these technical supports, the division is conducting common operations（maintenanceand control of equipment, machinery and other installations, and management of research meeting andsupply shops）.
Beside the division conducts self-study activities by organizing technical research meeting and by
publishing technical reports, in order to improve the technical abilities of individual members. A technicalcommittee is organized to allow the institute to obtain new technologies vital to the research and to
dissolve technically challenging subjects.
Every year, "Operation Report Meeting" is held to promote the mutual understandings of technicaloperations and to exchange general information in the division.
The Annual Meeting of Technical Research is held for the purpose of exchanging technologicalinformation among technicians working in all universities and research institutes in the country. In themeeting, discussions are made through oral presentations, panel exhibitions and lectures with technicalpractice.
These study activities and technical research meetings conducted at the division are summarized andpublished in "Annual Report of Technical Division" and in "Annual Report of Technical Research Meeting."

Technical Division ●45

Head :

Unit Chief :Staff :

OKAWARA, Hiroshi

MORI, Masahiro

WATAKABE, Yuki

Research Infrastructure
Technical Unit

Fundamental
Neuroscience Technical
Unit

Assistant Head：

Assistant Unit Chief :Staff :TOGAWA, Morio

ISHIHARA, Hiromi

INAGAKI, Mariko

Departments Technical
SectionHomeostatic Regulation
Technical Unit

Center forCommunication Networks
Technical Unit

Section Chief :Assistant Unit Chief :Staff :YOSHIMURA, Nobuaki

TAKAHASHI, Naoki

YAMANAKA, Midori

Research Centers
Technical Section

System Neuroscience
Technical Unit

Center for Experimental
Animals Technical Unit

Unit Chief :Assistant Unit Chief :Staff :YAMAMOTO, Tomomi

YAMADA, Gen

TAKAHASHI, Nobuaki

Molecular & Cellular
Physiology Technical Unit

Supportive Center for
Brain Research Technical
Unit

Center for Experimental
Animals Technical Unit

Unit Chief :Assistant Unit Chief :FUKUTA, Naomi

MURATA, Yasuhisa

Homeostatic Regulation
Technical Unit

Center forCommunication Networks
Technical Unit

Unit Chief :Assistant Unit Chief :TAKAGI, Masahiro

KUBOTA, Mitsuko

Fundamental
Neuroscience Technical
Unit

Center for Experimental
Animals Technical Unit

Unit Chief :Assistant Unit Chief :SATO, Shigeki

KAMIYA, Emi

System Neuroscience
Technical Unit

Center for Experimental
Animals Technical Unit

Unit Chief :Staff :YOSHITOMO, Miki

INAHASHI, Hiroki

Center for Research
Collaboration Technical
Unit

Molecular & Cellular
Physiology Technical Unit

Unit Chief :Staff :SANBO, Makoto

KANO, Yuichiro

Center for Genetic
Analysis of Behavior
Technical Unit

Homeostatic Regulation
Technical Unit

Unit Chief :HIROE, Takeshi

Center for Experimental
Animals Technical Unit

46 ● Technical Division

Staff :HIRAYAMA, Yuya

Homeostatic Regulation
Technical Unit

Exploratory Research Center on Life and Living Systems
Okazaki Institute for Integrative Bioscience ended in FY 2017.
A new research center “Exploratory Research Center on Life and Living Systems(ExCELLS)” was launched in FY 2018.
ExCELLS consists of 21 research groups, and the following 5 research groups also
belong to the National Institute for Physiological Sciences.
・Thermal Biology Group

Division of Cell Signaling (See P. 14)・‌Cardiocirculatory Dynamism Research Group

Division of Cardiocirculatory Signaling(See P. 15)
・Biophotonics Research Group

Division of Biophotonics (See P. 20)

・Material-Life Boundary Research Group

Division of Structural Biology (See P. 11)

・Cognitive Genomics Research Group

Exploratory Research Center on Life and Living Systems ●47

Center for Animal Resources and Collaborative Study
The Center for Animal Resources and Collaborative Study is one of the top-class experimental animal
centers in Japan. The center was reorganized from the Center for Experimental Animals in FY2019 to

MINOKOSHI, Yasuhiko
Professor（Director）

NISHIJIMA, Kazutoshi

institutes. In the terrestrial and aquatic animal sections, multiple species including mouse, rat, marmoset,

Professor
Laboratory Animal Science
Reproductive Technology
Metabolism

Japanese macaque, fish, and amphibians are maintained and supplied for experimentation.

URANO, Toru

further enhance collaborative study based on animal research as a common facility of the interuniversity

To enhance and support collaborative animal researches involving domestic and foreign researchers,
the principal responsibilities of the center include (1) the appropriate breeding of rodents and otherSpecially Appointed Professor
Laboratory Animal Science
Bacterial Infectious Disease

experimental animals, (2) embryo transfer and cryopreservation for genetically modified mouse lines, (3)development and refinement of diagnostic testing methods, microbial containment, and disease
prevention strategies, (4) provision of information related to the techniques of animal experimentation as
well as promotion of education and awareness with regard to ethical considerations and regulations
related to the study of experimental animals. The new building in “Myodaiji” area, which is equipped withthe state-of-the art system including individually ventilated cages rack and experimental rooms forcollaboration studies, was completed in September, 2020. We are capable of supplying high quality
animal care and resources to researchers to reach the best research achievements in the world.

Division of Coordinator for Animal Experimentation
The Division was established in 2008 under the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC)
covered with 3 Institutes in Okazaki (Current with National Institutes of Natural Sciences).
The important role of animal-based research in the life science, especially physiological science fieldhas been extensively increasing in the world. On the other hand, it is needed to clarify the socialtransparency, ethics and animal welfare in the animal experiments based on several rules including ‘Law
for the humane treatment and management of animals’，’Standard relating to the Care and Managementof laboratory animals and relief of pain’, ‘Fundamental guideline for proper conduct of animal experimentand related activities in academic research institutions under the jurisdiction of MECSST’ and domestic
Standard. Accordingly, this Division is responsible for the following activities.
and training of the researchers
1. Education‌
2. Review‌and approval of the animal experiment plans‌and self-assessment of animal experiments
3. Self-evaluation
4. Information disclosure regarding animal-based research48 ● Center for Animal Resources and Collaborative Study / Division of Coordinator for Animal Experimentation

TOMINAGA, Makoto
Professor
Molecular and Cellular Physiology

NIPS Research Fellow
The NIPS Research Fellows are young researchers with advanced research capabilities through operational
expense subsidies for a certain period in order to have them be engaged in specific joint research projects, andto develop and promote research activities.

FU, OuSUITO, Takuto

YAMAMOTO, Mariko

Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism

Division of Cell Signaling

Division of Visual

Neuroscience,
Food Science

Molecular Biology
Lipid Biochemistry

Information Processing

Neuroscience

HIRAZAWA, Ki-ichi
Division of Biophysics &Neurobiology

Molecular Physiology
Biophysics

NIPS Research Fellow ●49

Large facilities and equipments for cooperative studies
OutlineAs a mission to be the inter-university research institute, NIPS conducts joint studies with researchers
from domestic or foreign universities and other research institutes. NIPS provides specialized equipment,
large-scale equipment, and research facilities, and develops new equipment for morphological andfunctional 4D imagings of various organs such as the brain.

▲

Magnetic Resonance Imaging System (MRI: 3 tesla, 7 tesla)

MRI is an imaging technique that utilizes the nuclear
magnetic resonance of the hydrogen atom. Not only toimage the anatomical details of the brain, but MRI also
allows exploring the neural substrates of human cognitive
function by the visualization of the task-related changes inregional cerebral blood flow（functional MRI）. For over a
decade, we have been working on 3T MRI to investigate
higher brain function of a human (The first 3T machine
installed in 2000 was shutdown in 2018). To simultaneously
measure the neural activities of two participants during their social interaction, we have recently installed
dual functional MRI system with two 3T MRI. Furthermore, ultra-high field (7T) MRI system has been
installed.

In 2016 and 2017, cooperative study projects using 7T machine were performed for the

purpose of technical assessment and development. As we have confirmed stable operation in 2018, it will
be fully provided for cooperative studies.

50 ● Large facilities and equipments for cooperative studies

▲

Magnetoencephalography (MEG)

Magnetoencephalography（MEG）has a potential to measurebrain activities with better temporal and spatial resolution in
milliseconds and millimeter, respectively, compared with othermethods such as functional magnetic resonance imaging.

Event-

related magnetic fields following various kinds of sensory
stimulation are mainly analyzed. Also, background brain activities（brain waves）in various conditions can be analyzed.

▲

Phase Contrast Electron Cryomicroscopy

Phase contrast electron cryomicroscopy is an electron microscope
developed for observing close-to-life state biological samples with a
combination of rapid freezing and ice embedding sample
preparation methods. Biological specimens up to 200 nm
thicknesses can be observed with high-resolution and highcontrast. Ultrastructure analyses of protein molecules, viruses,bacteria, cultured cells and frozen tissue sections are performed
with this novel microscopic system.

Large facilities and equipments for cooperative studies ●51

▲Serial Block-Face Scanning Electron Microscope (SBF-SEM)

Serial block-face scanning electron microscope（SBFSEM）is an advanced 3-D nano-imaging equipment.
Two different types of SBF-SEM are available; highresolution and wide-area types. Resin-embedded
biological specimens are sliced by a diamond knife
equipped inside the chamber, and the block-faceimages are acquired by scanning electron microscopy（SEM）. 3-D structures of the specimens are finallyreconstructed from the acquired serial block-faceimages. 3-D structures of large biological specimens
like a brain tissue can be visualized at the resolution ofseveral nanometers.

▲

Multiphoton excitation microscopy

Multi-photon excitation is a method to visualize living tissue by exciting the fluorescence moleculeswith the tightly focused near-infrared femtosecond pulse laser. Since the longer wavelength is used for
multi-photon excitation, it has a superior deeper tissue penetration and reduced phototoxicity comparedwith single-photon excitation. Our 2-photon microscopes have the top level specification for deep tissue
imaging and can be applied to the imaging of neurons and glial cells in deep tissues such as mouse brain.
Recently, we also developed a 2-photon fluorescence imaging microscope which can be applied toimage protein-protein interaction and the protein activity.

52 ● Large facilities and equipments for cooperative studies

‌▲

Analytical equipment for in vivo neuronal, metabolic andphysiological parameters in mice and rats
We analyze the following physiological parameters inmice and rats:
1） Single unit recording from motor-related brain
regions in the awake state, 2）Regional neural activity
detected as intrinsic signals with taking the advantage
of light fluorescent dynamics of flavin or hemoglobin, 3）
Energy intake and expenditure in free-moving animals, 4）
Body temperature, heart rate and blood pressure in
free-moving animals, 5） Non-invasive echo-graphic
imaging of tissue structure-function relationships (liver,kidney and blood vessels), 4-dimensional changes in
cardiac functions, and capillary blood flow (brain andumbilical cord) using anesthetized mice, 6） Mousetemperature preference assay with thermal gradient ring.

Large facilities and equipments for cooperative studies ●53

Facilities Shared by the Two Institutes
OutlineNational Institute for Physiological Sciences and National Institute for Basic Biology
are shar­ing facilities which are innovative for conducting biological researches, butrather expensive to be supported only by one institution.

▲

Section of Electron Microscopy

See P. 32▲

Instrument Design Room

Custom-designed equipments, which are not commercially available, can be constructed in this room.
The machine shop is equipped with various types of machines such as milling machines and drill presses.
3D-printer and a samall laser cutting machine also work, and laboratory equipment can be manufactured.
The electronic shop is equipped with various types of test instruments used for construction andmeasurement calibration of electronic devices.
Machine shop equipments（Instrument Design Room）

54 ● Facilities Shared by the Two Institutes

▲Functional Genomics Facility

The Functional Genomics Facility is a division of NIBB Core Research Facilities and organized jointly by
NIBB and NIPS for promoting DNA and protein studies. The facility maintains a wide array of core researchequip­ments, from standard machinery like ultracentrifuges to cutting edge tools such as next generation
DNA sequencers, which amount to 70 different kinds of instruments. Our current focus is supporting
functional genomics works that utilize mass spectrometers and DNA sequencers.
Next generation DNA sequencers (Functional Genomics
Facility)▲

Spectrography and Bioimaging Facility

Spectrography and Bioimaging Facility is a division of NIBB Core Research Facilities. It assists bothcollabo­rative and core research by managing and maintaining research tools that use “Light”, such as the
Okazaki Large Spectrograph, confocal microscopes, two–photon micro­scopes, and other imaging
equipments. We also hold technical seminar and training session about microscopes and bioimaging toprovide useful information to users.
Okazaki Large Spectrograph（Spectrography
and Bioimaging Facility）

Large facilities and equipments for cooperative studies ●55

Joint Researches
Outline
The National Institute for Physiological Sciences（NIPS）, an inter-university research institute, carries out generalcollaborative research, planned collaborative research that focuses on the most important theme at the time, andcooperative research using large facilities.
As the following table shows, many collaborative studies are conducted each year and have produced promising
results. In 2021, the institute plans to carry out 118 cooperative research projects, and 44 cooperative experiments.
Another one of principal pillars of the corporative studies at NIPS is the NIPS research meeting. Unlike normal
academic meetings, here, most of these meetings include oral presentations, giving plenty of time for Q&A.
The small number of participants also allows detailed discussions to take place. Twenty-one meetings were held
last year, and 28 meetings are planned for this year. The number of NIPS research meetings greatly outnumbers
those hosted by the other two research institutes in Okazaki, and in fact, they have become a highly important baseorganization. In the past, the meetings have helped establish new scientific research funded study groups, and haveeven established activities such as academic conferences. The NIPS International Workshop has been running since2008. Research meetings are inviting overseas researchers, who present their work in English, have shown positive
potential for the future of science. In 2020, one International Workshops was conducted.
1. General collaborative project
The general collaborative projects and planned
collaborative projects involve studies carried out by
researchers from outside universities or research
institutes, and professors or associate professors fromwithin NIPS. About a total of 30 to 40 projects havebeen selected in the past, but in 2020, 122 projects had
been selected as part of a move to raise the number ofcooperative studies.
2. Planned collaborative project
Planned collaborative project themes are selected by
NIPS, which are based on requests from researchers.
Until 2007, there were two themes, “Physiological andneuroscientific studies into genetically modified model
animals” and “Biomolecular sensors and physiological
function.” Additional themes were added in 2008, with
“Functional and morphological analyses of cells andtissues by multi-photon microscopy” and “Medical andbiological applications of phase-contrast cryo-electron
microscopy”（name changed to “Medical and biologicalapplications of cutting-edge electron microscopy” in2011）, and in 2009 with, “Behavioral analysis of mouseand rat”. Also, “Analysis of metabolic physiology formouse and rat” began in 2011, while “Transfection
study with primates,” “Analysis of fluctuations infunction research in life science,” and “Multidisciplinary
study of neural information” began in 2012. Also,“Transfection study with viral vector neurologicalsystem” was started in 2013. Furthermore, “Purificationof supra-molecular complexes and analyses of theirconstituents by mass spectrometry” was started in2016, and “Analyses of dynamic aspects of the function
and structure of membrane proteins” in 2017. “Multidimensional fluorescence imaging analysis with amulti-point scanning microscope” and “Elucidation of
the pathology of mental/neurological disease byanalysis of neural activity dynamics” in 2021. All these
themes cover the most talked about scientific topics

56 ● Joint Researches

today, and are areas where NIPS is considered to be afrontrunner in Japan. We expect to receive many new
proposals.
Two projects, ”Analysis of fluctuations in function
research in life science” and “Multidisciplinary study ofneural information” were closed in 2015, due to thefinish of the related NINS projects.
“Behavioral analysis of mouse and rat” was closed
due to the shutdown of the Section for Behavior
Patterns. In 2016, NIPS performed only the collaborative
experiments carried over from last year.
In regards to the proposal agenda, long discussions
had been carried out at both faculty meetings and work
meetings in 2012. The agreed requirements are as
follows.
‌Proposals should clearly state the aim and1）
experimental design of the research project andshould be completed within five years. However,depending on the state of the research, an
extension period may be granted after the initial
five years.
‌Proposals should specifically state the research area
2）of interest. Broad themes will not be accepted.
‌There will be a limit to the number of proposals
3）
accepted. Each general collaborative research area
category and research facility will accept fiveprojects each at most, in principle.
The details of the planned collaborative research are
as follows.
“Physiological and neuroscientific analysis ofgenetically modified model animals.”
Since genetically modified model animals are
extremely effective for gene function analysis at
individual level, they are widely used in the field of life
sciences. The recent engineering required to createsuch model animals has taken huge leaps forward; e.g.,a new genome-editing tool (CRISPR/Cas9 system) canrelatively easily cut arbitrary sequences on the genome.

tissues, to more or less their true state with 1 nm spatial

Section of Mammalian Transgenesis at the Center for

resolution. On the other hand, SBF-SEMs are used for

Genetic Analysis of Behavior in NIPS has established thethe studies of ultrastructural analysis of thick biologicallatest technology such as the CRISPR/Cas9 system

specimens,

capable of providing endogenous genetic modification

embedded in the plastic resin are sliced by a diamond-to mice and rats. Our staffs familiar to not only
physiology and brain science but also reproductive
biotechnology, have greatly contributed to researchers
all across the country by providing technology to create
genetically modified model animals. We can support
cooperative studies by providing the technologies todevelop adoptive models such as transgenic or knockout mice and rats. In the calendar year of 2020, we havecreated a total of 14 transgenic or knock-out mouseand rat lines under 13 collaborative research projects.
We will continue to work on the requested creation ofgenetically modified model animals by applying the
new genome-editing tools. Twelve projects are now
scheduled in 2021.

knife and imaged by SEM continuously. Finally, thethree-dimensional ultrastructure of the specimens isrebuilt at dozens of nanometer resolution. The programsupport studies by using these states of the art electron
microscopes. In 2020, 22 projects were carried out, and18 are now scheduled in 2021.

“Analysis of metabolic physiology for mice and rats.”
The Section of Metabolic Physiology was set up in
2010, and the planned collaborative research project,“Metabolic physiology analysis of mice and rats,” hadstarted in 2011. Since then, researchers from within andoutside NIPS have been looking at the following topics
concerning genetically modified animals.
‌Measuring neural activity of individual neurons
1）
associated with motor function while awake.
‌Circuit behavior imaging of flavin and hemoglobin2）
intrinsic signals in the brain using voltage-sensitivedyes.
3）‌Measuring food intake and energy consumption
during free movement.
4）‌Measuring body temperature, pulse rate, and bloodpressure5）‌‌Non-invasive echo-graphic imaging of tissue
structure-function relationships (liver, kidney andblood vessels), 4-dimensional changes in cardiac
functions, and capillary blood flow (brain and umbilicalcord) using anesthetized mice.
‌Mouse temperature preference assay with thermal
6）
gradient ring (only for mice).
Eleven collaborative research projects withresearchers outside NIPS were conducted in 2020, and11 projects are now scheduled in 2021.
”Ultrastructure analysis of biological specimens by
cutting-edge electron microscopy.”
One phase-contrast electron microscope (PC-TEM)
and two serial block-face scanning electron
microscopes (SBF-SEMs) are mainly used for this joint
research program. PC-TEM developed by NIPS shows
the best performance when combined with a rapidfreezing sample preparation method. Under thiscondition, it is possible to study three-dimensional
structures of unstained biological specimens, including
isolated proteins, viruses, bacteria, cultured cells, and

like

a

brain

tissue.

The

specimens“Functional and morphological analyses of cells andtissues by multi-photon excitation microscopy.”
Two-photon excitation fluorescence microscope is aless invasive method for studying the microscopic
structure and functions of cells in deep tissues of
biological organisms. Currently, our institute has three
upright two-photon excitation microscopes, and these
allow us to observe the structure in depth of one
millimeter with a spatial resolution of a micrometer.
Since the maintenance of two-photon microscope iscomplicated, NIPS is the only institute which canprovide the opportunity for collaborative research withthe high-quality experience. Furthermore, we recently
build the two-photon fluorescence lifetime microscope
system which enables us to observe the intermolecularinteractions and the activity of signaling protein in aliving cell in the deep tissue. We are also working on
single-molecule imaging using quantum dot in a
combination of a fluorescence microscope. Using these"cutting-edge methods," we have conducted thecollaborative researches. Recent successes are
particularly in vivo Ca2+ imaging, and long-term
imaging of neurons in living mice.
In 2020, three planned collaborative projects werecarried out, and three were scheduled in 2021. We also
discussed collaborative research with over ten groups
andintroduced
ourmulti-photon
excitation
microscopes to over ten groups.
“Development and supply of viral vectors and genetransfer to primates.”
Advances in technology to control molecularfunctions or change neural activity by inserting certain
genes into primate brains using virus vectors can leadto major possibilities. Getting to do such research,however, requires a long list of equipment and facilities
to enable researchers to develop do things such as
develop vectors, or insert vectors. A planned
collaborative research project “Transfection study withprimates” was launched in 2012 so that researchers
could share their resources, and work together tounravel mysteries about higher brain functions andpathological conditions. In 2013, five projects werecarried out, and five projects were carried out in 2014.
The key point of the experiments is the developmentof suitable viral vectors. Also, viral vectors are useful,

Joint Researches ●57

not only for primates but also for other animals. Thus, avarious cell physiological functions, including circadianplanned collaborative project “Gene transfer into therhythms,

nervous system using viral vectors” was started in 2013.

multicolor, and super-resolution observations. One is

In Section of Viral Vector Development, we promote

now scheduled in 2021.

withhigh-speed

3D,

ultra-long-term,

the collaboration with many laboratories by providing
various serotypes of AAV vectors, conventional lentiviral
vectors, and highly efficient retrograde gene transfer
vectors. Moreover, we proceed with the collaboration
to exploit the more advantageous viral vectors. Up to2014, we provided more than 100 viral vectors for otherlaboratories and performed two planned collaborative
research in 2013, and 4 in 2014. At present, very
intriguing research results are being obtained. In 2015,
the two projects were merged as “Development andsupply of viral vectors and gene-transfer to primates. ”
The three examples of the achievements are as follows.
1) Virus vectors helped to identify system circuits thatcompensated motor functions after spinal cord injury
in macaque monkeys. 2) Virus vectors revealed theproperty of subnetwork composed of excitatory andinhibitory neurons in layer 5 of the rat frontal cortex. 3)
Virus vectors identified a specific subset of neurons
commanding the dietary preference for carbohydrate
over fat in mice.
In 2020, 18 research were performed, and 19 are now
scheduled in 2021.
“Purification of supra molecular complexes andanalyses of their constituents by mass spectrometry.”
To understand the function of proteins in vivo, it isnecessary to identify the constituents of supra
molecular complexes precisely. Therefore, there are
gradually increasing needs for the support to perform
purification of protein complexes from tissues and cells,
and to identify constituents of the complex and thetarget antigens in auto- immune diseases by mass
spectrometry. This project was newly started in 2016 torespond to the needs. In 2018, 2019 and 2020, one
research in each was performed, and two are now
scheduled in 2021.
”Analyses of dynamic aspects of the function andstructure of membrane proteins”
Functional membrane proteins such as ion channels
and receptors are strictly designed molecules. They, atthe same time, show dynamic changes of the structureand function depending on the situation. To analyze
the dynamics aspects by electro-physiological andopto-physiological experiments using in vitro
expression systems, we perform this planned
collaborative project. We conducted 3 research projects
in 2020, and 3 are scheduled in 2021.
“Multi-dimensional fluorescence imaging analysis witha multi-point scanning microscope”
Joint research with the original multi-point scanningconfocal/two-photon
microscopeispromoted.
Conducted are quantitative visualization and analysis of

58 ● Joint Researches“Elucidation of the pathology of mental/neurologicaldisease by analysis of neural activity dynamics”
To study the relationship between human and animal
neural activity dynamics and the pathology of various
mental and neurological diseases by combining unit
recording,
local
field
potentials(LFPs),
electrocorticography(ECoG),
scalp
electroencephalography (scalp EEG), functional
magnetic
resonance
imaging(fMRI),
andmagnetoencephalography (MEG) are utilized in a multilayered manner. In particular, we analyze neural activity
dynamics such as vibration, synchronization, andfluctuation. Five are now scheduled in 2021.
3. NIPS research meeting
In 2020, more than 1000 researchers took part in a
total of 21 meetings. Due to COVID-19, almost all
meetings were forced to run on the WEB. In 2021, 28
meetings are being planned. In FY2021, 28 meetings
are scheduled to be held, but as of March 2021, there is
no prospect of convergence, and it is expected that theevents will mainly be held online. Despite of thepandemics, the country’s best researchers gathered totake part in serious discussions about the meeting’s
theme.
The discussions often lead to new collaborative
research project ideas both within and outside theinstitute or even new researching funding. For example,
the Glial Young Researcher Meeting in 1994 – 1996 had
led to the priority area（B）“Glial cell role in the neuraltransmission regulation mechanism” discovery, andlater on, the became the priority area“ Glial Neural
Network.” Another example would be the Biomolecularsensor related NIPS research meeting held in 2008,
which lead to the Grant-in-Aid for scientific research onpriority area “Cell Sensor.” The establishment of twopriority areas in 2015, “Thermal biology” and“Oscillology” was also triggered by the activity of NIPS
research meeting. Also, synapse research meetings andresearch meetings on pain have all helped progress inresearch communities across Japan, and have led to theestablishment of new fields.
In 2016, one NIPS research meeting was held at
Kyushu University. Traditionally, NIPS research meetings
had been held in Okazaki area. We aimed to contributeto the physiological research communities located in
the Kyushu area, and to the functional enhancement of
the universities there. As this trial-run meeting won
popularity, we conducted one in Tohoku and anotherin Tokyo area in 2017, and in Nagoya and Tokyo in
2018, and one in Osaka in 2019. NIPS International
Workshop was conducted on the WEB in 2020 (see 4.

NIPS International Workshop).
More recently, there have been some debates goingon about whether it was useful or not to holdresearching meetings on the same topic every year.
As a result, the meeting application guidelines wererevised and put into use from 2013. The revised
guidelines are as follows.
‌Research meetings: This research debate meeting1）
will aim to create a new research field or develop
a new technology, and will only involve up to 100
participants, one of which must be a Professor or
Associate Professor from NIPS. NIPS will provide
some financial support to pay for travel expenses.
‌Meeting Duration: Up to three days.
2）
3）‌Meeting Venue: Meetings will take place within the
Okazaki area, where the National Institutes for
Natural Sciences is based. The Okazaki ConferenceCenter is available for use, and reservations can bemade by contacting the International Research
Support division（ TEL: 0564-55-7138）.
4）‌Research report: The organizer is required to submit
a report to the Institute head within 30 days after
the meeting has ended.
‌Other: Researching meeting themes may only be5）repeated for three consecutive years. If you wish tocontinue research meetings on a theme for morethan three years, please submit an agenda that has
included new points of discussion.
4. NIPS International Workshop
To promote the international efforts at NIPS, the NIPS
International Workshop was launched in 2008. The
workshop invites renowned scientists from around theworld, and a wide-range of participants from aroundthe country. All presentations and discussions are held
in English. In 2015, one International Workshop washeld. The themes were TRPs and SOCs --Unconventional
Ca2+ Physiology--”. In 2016, two NIPS international
workshops were conducted, “Towards elucidation ofmemory engram,” and “The 4th International
Symposium on Salivary Glands in Honor of Niels
Stensen”. In 2017 and 2018, no International Workshops
was conducted. In 2019, two workshops were held. In
2020, one workshop was scheduled in Kyushu but
conducted on the WEB because of COVID-19 (see 3.
NIPS research meeting). In 2020, one workshop is
scheduled in Sendai.
5. ‌Cooperative study by functional imaging（combined
study of 2011’s cooperative study by functional
magnetic resonance imaging and cooperative study
by Magnetoencephalography）
Until 2011, NIPS had been conducting two individual
cooperative studies on its large-scale functional
imaging machines, the magnetic resonance imaging
machine, and the magnetoencephalography machine.
However, as it became apparent that many researchers
used both machines, it would be more efficient foreveryone if the two studies were combined into one in2012. In 2020, 41 projects were carried out, and 44 arenow scheduled in 2021.
Magnetic resonance imaging involves two research
themes,“non-destructive

three-dimensional

observation of living organisms” and “structure andenergy state observation of organic activity, including
brain activators.” Currently, the institute has a 3 Tesla
machine in 2000, which is twice as powerful as thestandard 1.5 Tesla machine, and has a considerable
advantage when measuring cerebral blood flow inbrain activator tests. Another characteristic is that it iscapable of running primate brain activation tests. On
top of this, it systematically processes all experimental
designs, image data, and statistical image analysis,
making it more than just a high-resolution image
machine, but something that produces high-quality
data that researchers need. In 2010, the two machines
were interlocked, becoming a dual system capable ofanalyzing
brain
function
relatedtosocialcommunication. A new 7 Tesla magnetic resonanceimaging machine for a human was introduced in 2014,
and the operation was started in 2015. In 2017, twocooperative study projects using 7T machine were
performed for the purpose of technical assessment anddevelopment, and five were conducted in 2018. As wehave confirmed stable operation, it is now fully
provided for cooperative studies.
In 1991, the first 37 channel magnetoencephalography(MEG) machine in Japan was installed at NIPS and hassince been a pioneer for MEG studies, even getting
recognition from the international community. At thesame time, researchers from universities and institutes
without a MEG machine took part in collaborative
studies with NIPS, many of who discovered fascinating
results. Even today, NIPS is the only institute providing
researchers the opportunity to use the MEG machine incooperative studies using large facilities. In 2002, a newwhole-head type MEG machine was installed, allowing
clinical test measurements impossible at otheruniversities to be made at NIPS. Cooperative MEG study
themes either come under, “higher brain function
investigations such as judgment, memory, andlearning”
or,“sensory
andmotorfunction
investigations”. A significant problem that is likely tocome up shortly is how to use the MEG machine
simultaneously with other techniques such asfunctional magnetic resonance imaging （fMRI）,
transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and nearinfrared spectroscopy (NIRS).

Joint Researches ●59

NIPS International Workshop
11.5.1 “Holistic understanding of cardiovascular system by mechanistic analysis ofphysiological and pathological conditions”

The above-mentioned NIPS International Workshop (Organizer: Prof. Hitoshi Kurose (Kyushu University, Graduate
School of Pharmaceutical Sciences), Caretaker: Prof. Motohiro Nishida) was held online for two days from Dec. 25 to
Dec. 26, 2020. It was mainly organized by next-generation young researchers who are working on cutting-edge
researches such as mechanisms underlying the maintenance and transfiguration of cardiovascular metabolisms andfunctions from molecule/organelle to systems. Seven foreign active (&young) researchers were invited from South
Korea (4), Canada (1), Thailand (1), and Malaysia (1), and 12 speakers from Japan (2 of them were lecturescommemorating the retirement of Profs. Kurose and Ryuji Inoue (Fukuoka University School of Medicine)). In
addition, 15 graduate students and young researchers gave oral presentations. There were 135 participants(including 9 from overseas) in total. In this workshop, we covered the following topics: cardiovascular functions andenergy metabolism, signal transduction, organelle quality control, multi-organelle crosstalk, aging, practicalapplication of iPS-derived myocardium, and drug discovery. We held this workshop online in consideration of the
new coronavirus infection (COVID-19) pandemic, but the exchange of opinions was as lively as face-to-face meeting.
The relationship between mitochondria quality control and metabolic reprogramming is extremely important for
the repair and regeneration of the heart. Leading researchers in this field are Prof. Woong Sun (Korea University,
Korea), Prof. Jin Han (Inje University, Korea), Prof. Naotada Ishihara (Osaka University), Prof. Wataru Kimura (RIKEN),
Prof. Shigeru Yanagi (Gakushuin University). They introduced their cutting-edge research achievements. Dr. Yun Seok
Kim (Seoul National University, South Korea) suggested an innovative therapeutic strategy targeting lipophagy forthe treatment of Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis. Honorary Prof. Ryuji Inoue (Fukuoka University) presented his historyof electrophysiological discovery of receptor-operated cation (ROC) influx in blood vessels and introduced TRP
channel group as the molecular entities of ROC channels and their unique electrophysiological properties. He alsoestablished a mathematical model to express what he found from many years of his research and what he still can
not understand. Prof. Kurose introduced his achievements on elucidating the roles of heterotrimeric G protein family
in cardiac remodeling and the development of new drugs targeting proton-sensing GPCRs. We really enjoyed thisexciting workshop.

60 ● NIPS International Workshop

NIPS International Workshop
Holistic understanding of cardiovascular system by mechanistic analysis of physiological and pathological conditions
Date: December 25-26, 2020.
Venue: Online (Caretaker: Motohiro Nishida)
Organizer: Prof. Hitoshi Kurose (Kyushu University, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences)
Number of speakers: 2 Memorial lecturers, 16 symposists (Incl. 7 foreign speakers), 15 oral presentations
Program
Memorial Lecture
Speaker

Title

Ryuji Inoue(Fukuoka University, Japan)

From receptor-operated Ca2+ channels to TRP channels–my personal challenge to understanding elusive but
fascinating molecules

Hitoshi Kurose(Kyushu University, Japan)

G protein selectivity of antagonists

Symposium
Speaker

Title

Taichiro Tomida(Toho University, Japan)

Regulatory mechanism of cell fusion in skeletal
myogenesis

Hiroyuki Kawagishi (Shinshu University, Japan)

Postnatal loss of gp130 caused impaired cardiac
contractility accompanied by inhibition of physiologicalproliferation of cardiomyocytes

Teruki Sato
(Akita University, Japan)

B38-CAP is a bacteria-derived carboxypeptidase which
resembles SARS-CoV-2 receptor ACE2 enzyme activity
and suppresses hypertension and cardiac dysfunction inmice

Ippei Shimizu(Niigata University, Japan)

Senocule-induced sync-aging promotes pathologies in
cardiovascular disorders

Hyoung Kyu Kim(Inje University, South Korea)

Tetrahydrobiopterin enhanced cardiac mitochondrial
biogenesis via NOS-independent CaMKK2/PGC-1 αpathwaySupachoke Mangmool(Mahidol University, Thailand)

Adenosine Receptor: Therapeutic Target for Treatmentof Cardiac Fibrosis

Amira Hajirah Abd Jamil(University of Malaya, Malaysia)

Energy Metabolism in the Hypoxic and Diabetic hearts

Yun Seok Kim(Seoul Natl Univ. / Dongguk Univ., South Korea)

LXR α Inhibition of Autophagy in Hepatocytes: Impact
on Fatty Liver Disease

Yukiko Himeno(Ritsumeikan University, Japan)

Reproducing variable action potential configurations ofhiPS-CMs by applying parameter optimization to amathematical cardiomyocyte model

Woong Sun
(Korea University, South Korea)

Prevention of mitochondrial impairment by inhibition ofprotein phosphatase 1-Drp1 cascade in amyotrophic
lateral sclerosis

Mariko Omatsu-Kanbe(Shiga Univ. of Med. Sci., Japan)

Property and possible role of cardiac progenitors
atypically-shaped cardiomyocytes

Jin Han(Inje University, South Korea)

BH4 activates CaMKK2 and rescues the cardiomyopathic
phenotype in rodent models of diabetes

Tsukasa Shimauchi(Laval University, Canada)

Role of PARP1-PKM2 axis in the pathogenesis of Right
Ventricular Failure associated with Pulmonary Arterial
Hypertension

Naotada Ishihara(Osaka Univ. / Kurume Univ., Japan)

Dynamic regulation of mitochondrial membrane incellular signaling and differentiation

Shigeru Yanagi(Gakushuin University, Japan)

Protective roles of MITOL against myocardial senescenceand ischemic injury partly via Drp1 regulation

Wataru Kimura(RIKEN, Japan)

Metabolic adaptation in the regulation of cardiomyocyte
cell cycle ~how mammals deal with a mismatch between
development and birth timing?

NIPS International Workshop ●61

The Graduate University for Advanced Studies School of Life Science
In recent years, it has become necessary to train

departments; Department of Genetics (based on NIG

scientists, who are highly skilled and creative, to(National Institute of Genetics)), Department of Basic

support the promotion of creative research andBiology (based on NIBB (National Institute for Basic

pioneer in leading scientific areas, which is a strong

Biology)), and Department of Physiological Sciences

demand in our country.

(based on NIPS (National Institute for PhysiologicalAccording to the increasing internationalization of

Sciences)).

academic research, it is also necessary to takeenormous

efforttotraininternational-minded

The outline of Department of Physiological Sciences.

researchers with broad outlook, particularly for

The aim of this department is to promoteinterdisciplinary research in multiple fields.

researchers who mainly investigate underlying

The Graduate University for Advanced Studies,mechanisms the function of human body in a

SOKENDAI was established in 1988 to develop

comprehensive manner.

creative international researchers with wide-ranging

Physiological Science plays a central role tovision capable of leading the latest streams ofcombine various fields in basic medicine, as sharing

research under close cooperation with the inter-the base with bioscience and maintains close

university research institutes. It has accepted

connections with clinical medicine.

graduate students since 1989.

The policy is to promote educated researchers who

SOKENDAI is composed of 6 schools; Cultural and

have

a

broad

knowledgeofmedicineandSocial Studies; Physical Sciences; High Energy

physiological science, and is to be able to find theAccelerator Science; Multidisciplinary Sciences; Life

function from the molecular, which is the basic

Science and Advanced Sciences.

organization of living bodies, to individual body from

School of Life Science is constituted three

an original physiological scientific point of view.

SOKENDAI Students（NIPS）as of 2021
14

8

6

6

2
1

2016

2017

2018

2019

62 ● The Graduate University for Advanced Studies School of Life Science

2020

2021

International Exchanges
NIPS is an internationally recognized research
institution and active international exchanges are
performed. NIPS has the positions of foreign researchstaff, and world top-class researchers have engaged
in research collaboration so far using this framework.
Besides the research collaboration, visiting professors
contribute to education of young researchers. In
FY2014, NIPS started the Section of International
Collaborative Research Project, which is run for 3 years
by an adjunctive foreign professor as a Principal Investigator (P.I.). In FY2020, Professor Denis Le Bihan (aformer Director of Neurospin, France) continues to run
a lab as a P.I. In addition, using the frameworks such as
JSPS postdoctoral fellowship, foreign researchers andgraduate students conduct research at NIPS. Also many
foreign students enter Department of Physiological
Sciences of SOKENDAI as a graduate school and engage
in research actively.
One of the main international exchange activities
at NIPS is the annual international symposium. A
NIPS professor serves as an organizer, and usually
approximately 10 leading researchers from abroad anda similar number of leading domestic researchers areinvited. The total number of participants ranges 100150. In FY2019, the 50th NIPS International Symposium
entitled “MIRACLES in Cardiovascular Physiology” wasorganized by Professor Motohiro Nishida. There wereapproximately 100 participants including 8 oversea
speakers (total 26 speakers) and 40 poster presenters. In
FY2020, the 51th NIPS International Symposium entitled“Intercellular Tight Junction (tentative)” (Organizer:
Professor Mikio Furuse) was scheduled, but it was
postponed by the influence of the spread of COVID-19.
In addition, the international workshop, which is aninternational version of NIPS research meetings, waslaunched in FY2008 and a meeting outside of NIPS was
held online in FY2020.

NIPS has an academic contract or a memorandum of
understanding for academic interaction with foreign
institutions as follows, and is actively conducting
joint academic activities including collaborative
researches. The institutions are Korea University,
College of Medicine and Yonsei University, College ofMedicine and Dentistry (Korea); Tübingen University,
Werner Reichardt Center for Integrative Neuroscience(Germany); Chulalongkorn University Faculty of
Pharmaceutical Sciences (Thailand); University of New
South Wales, Faculty of Medicine (Australia); Neurospin(France); and McGill University (Canada). In FY2020,
we held ceremonies online to extend the term of theMemory of Understanding of academic cooperation
with Korea University and Yonsei University (Figs. 1, 2).
In FY2019, a joint symposium with McGill University washeld in McGill University, dispatching 8 NIPS researchers,
and two students in McGill University stayed in NIPS for
5 weeks for collaborative research. A joint symposiumwith Korea University and Yonsei University was held in
Korea University, dispatching 24 researchers including 8
graduate students. That with Chulalongkorn University
was held in Chulalongkorn University, dispatching 8
NIPS researchers. A joint symposium with Tübingen
University and Peking University was organized in
NIPS, inviting 13 oversea speakers. In FY2020, a joint
symposium with McGill University in NIPS and that with
Tübingen University in Germany were scheduled, but
postponed by the influence of COVID-19. In FY 2021,
NIPS will watch the spread of COVID-19 carefully, andpromote international activities by various strategies
including online meetings.
Besides these, many international researchcollaborations of high quality are performed at theindividual researchers’ level, supported by the budgetof NIPS as well as NINS and also research grant fromoutside.

Fig. 1 An online ceremony to extend the term of MOU with Korea Univ College of Medicine

Fig. 2 An online ceremony to extend the term of MOU with Yonsei Univ College of Medicine and Dentistry

International Exchanges ●63

Current State
StaffsProfessor 19

Director General 1

Asociate Professor 20

Administrative Suport Staff 95

Assistant Professor 35

254

Research Staff 17
Technical Staff 24
NIPS Research Fellow 4
Special Inter-University Researcher 3
Graduate Students（SOKENDAI）36

Budgetnumbers are in million yen/As of May, 2020

External
Competitive Funds
804

Contributions

Grants for Commissioned Research
Other Subsidies

30

330

145

Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research

Overhead Expenses

126

299

Facility

Total
Amount2,704Management Expenses Grant for NIPS

1,240

480

Other

5

Management Expenses Grant
for SOKENDAI 49

The budget consists of grants from the government (Management Expenses Grants・SOKENDAI Research
Grants) as well as many competitive funds (Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research, Funds for Contract Researchetc.) which are awarded by competitive selection process.

64 ● Current State

Common Facilities in Okazaki▲

Okazaki Library and Information Center

The Library collects, arranges and preserves journals
and books of the three Institutes, and provides them forcommon use for the Institutes staff and their guests.
<main function>
1. 24hours use by The IDENTIFICATION CARD.
2. Information retrieval service（Webof Science, SCOPUS, SciFinder, etc）.
‌▲Okazaki Conference Center

Okazaki Conference Center was founded on February, 1996 to promote international and domestic conference program ofresearch and education.
Ohsumi Conference Hall（capacity of 208）
Conference Room B（capacity of 112）
Conference Room C（2 rooms, capacity of 50 each）

Ohsumi Conference Hall

Common Facilities in Okazaki ●65▲Accommodation

The lodging houses（Mishima Lodge and Myodaiji Lodge）are provided for guests, both foreign and domestic, for thecommon use of the three Institutes（NIPS, NIBB and IMS）.

The lodging capacities are as follows :Single
Room

Twin
Room

FamilyRoomMishima
Lodge

60

14

12

Myodaiji
Lodge

14

̶

3

Myodaiji Lodge▲

The Sakura Nursery School

The Sakura nursery school is the institutional child care facility established for supporting both research and child-rearing.
The school accept a child from the 57th day of after the birth, and is supporting a researcher's smooth return to research activity.
‌Age: From the 57th day of after the birth to 3 years old
Capacity: 18 persons‌Usecandidate:The

officers,

reserchers,

visiting

researchers, graduate students at Three Okazaki‌Institutes Opening day: From Monday to Friday‌Opening time: From 8:00 to 19:00（maximum extension‌20:00） Childcare form: Regular childcare, temporary
childcare

66 ● Common Facilities in Okazaki

Okazaki Administration Center
GeneralAffairs
Department

General Affairs Division

General Affairs Section
Planning and Evaluation Section
Information Service Section
Personnel Section
Employee Section
Payroll Section

International Relations
and Research Cooperation
DivisionInternational Affairs Section
Graduate Student Affairs Section
Joint Research Section
Research Strategy Section
Collaborative Research Section
Research Aid Section

Financial
Affairs
Department

Financial Affairs Division

General Affairs Section
First Financial Affairs Section
Second Financial Affairs Section
Third Financial Affairs Section
Accounts Section
Purchase Validation Section

Procurement Division

Procurement Section for NIBB and NIPS
Procurement Section for IMS and Okazaki
Administration Center
Travel Expense Section

Facilities Division

Asset Management Section
Facilities and Environment Section
Electricity Section
Machinery Section
Okazaki Administration Center ●67

Campus Map


According to

Use classificationarea

National Institute forPhysiological Sciences /National Institute for Basic
Biology / Institute for
Molecular Science / Okazaki
Administration Office / Staff
hall / Lodging for staff /Myodaiji Lodge

MyodaijiArea

MishimaArea










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Higashi-Okazaki

Meitetsu line
Meitetsu-Nagoya
JR West line

Location
Osaka(Kansai)

Kyoto

Shinkansen
NagoyaMikawa-Anjo

JR East line
Toyohashi

Tokyo

Bus

MoriokaTokyo(Narita)

SendaiCentral Japan lnternational Airport (Centrair. NGO)

◯東京方面から Japan International Airport
From Central

NagoyaOsaka

A)豊橋駅にて名古屋鉄道
By bus（名鉄）に乗換え，東岡崎下車（豊Get on the Meitetsu Airport Bus bound for Okazaki Station and橋－東岡崎間約
20 分）。南口よgetoff at Higashi Okazaki
Station り徒歩約 7 分。

Fukuoka

Toyohashi

Higashi-Okazaki

Location of Institute◯大阪方面かB) By train ら（http://www.nips.ac.jp/eng/profile/access.html）
Take the Meitetsu train from Central Japan International Airport to
名古屋駅下車，名鉄（名鉄名古屋駅）に乗換え，東岡崎駅下Higashi Okazaki Station. NIPS is a 7-minute walk up the hill on
車（名鉄名古屋－東岡崎間約。南口より徒歩約 7 分。
Higashi-Okazaki
thesouth side of the station.
Meitetsu 30
line分）

Nakatsugawa

SapporoKomaki I.C.
Komaki JCT

JR East lineA) By plane (*Recommended)
名鉄バス東岡崎行きを利用。所要約65 分。東岡崎（駅）OsakaKyoto （駅）NagoyaMikawa-Anjo
ToyohashiTransfer to Central Japan International Airport(Kansai)ac.jp/eng/profile/access.html）

Osaka

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JR WestlineTokyo International Airport (Narita
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New
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Tokyo(Narita)

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Toyota I.C.

ら南口よ
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train り徒歩約 7 分。
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Yokaichi
Sapporo Okazaki I.C.
Higashi-Okazaki
Higashi-Okazaki
CentralJapan lnternational
Airport (Centrair.
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shuttleNGO)
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Nagoyathe
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分）
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for
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Mikawa-Anjo
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Higashi-Okazaki
minutes
Toyohashi).
Turnleftりて国道(south)１
atthe ticket gate
andNational Institute forget
off atfrom
HigashiOkazakiStation東名高速道路の岡崎Ｉ.Ｃ.
を下号線を名古屋方面(Narita)
Physiological
Sciences（http://www.nips.ac.jp/eng/profile/access.html）
Bus
exit
thetrainstation. NIPS is a 7-minute walk up the hill.
B)に約
By
Sendai
1.5km 市役所南東の信号を左折。Ｉ.Ｃ. から約 10 分。
Osaka
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Higashi-Okazaki
national Airport (Centrair. NGO)
Meitetsu
line
MaibaraHigashi Okazaki Station. NIPS is a 7-minute walk up the hill on
Meitetsu-Nagoya
the south side of the station.
Komaki I.C.
JR West line
Shinkansen
JR East line
NagoyaOsaka
Myodaiji Area Tokyo Komaki JCT
International Airport
Bus

Location of InstituteNo.1
1 RouteFrom New Tokyo
International
Airport
Airport)Nagoya From the south
Osaka(Narita
Kyoto
Mikawa-Anjo
ToyohashiTokyo
exit of Higashi-Okazaki
Nagoya I.C. station.

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Otogawa
Myodaibashi
River
rport Bus boundfor toOkazakiStationBridgeandTransfer
CentralJapan
International
Airport Fukiyabashi

ToyohashiBus
About 7
min.Nagoya
on foot.

Tokyo(Narita)

Toyota I.C.

Higashi-Okazaki
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North Exit
BridgeB) By train
Higashi Okazaki
Yokaichi
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of Higashi-Okazaki
station.
Okazaki
I.C.
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airport shuttle train from Narita to
NagoyaSouth Exit
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taxi
:
About
7
min.
Osaka
Tokyo Station (approximately 60 minutes)
andCentralchange trains
toInternational Airport
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・By
bus
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whichTomei
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CentralJapan
the Tokaido shinkansen (bullet Rokusho
train).
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MaibaraShrineA)
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NIBB
lnternational Airportbus
station,
and
get
off
at
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n. NIPS is a At
7-minute
walk
up
the
hill
on
Toyohashi JR Station (approximately 2.5 hours from Tokyo),
Hamamatsu(Centrair.
NGO) for Okazaki Station and
Get on the Meitetsu Airport Bus
bound6min), and walk to the east
for about 3min..
Higas
Main Entrancechange trains to the MeitetsuLine's Limited Express train boundToyohashi
tion.
KomakiI.C.
get off at Higashi Okazaki
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Tokyo
Myodaiji Area
B) at
Bythe
train
minutes from Toyohashi). Turn left (south)
ticket gate andNational
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Komaki
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Physiological
Sciences
MishimaTake
Lodgethe Meitetsu train from Central
JapanInternational
Airport
to
IMS
exit the station.
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is a 7-minute
walk up the hill.
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Okazaki Station. NIPS is aNagoya
7-minute
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an International Airport

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exit of Higashi-Okazaki station.
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AirportAbout 7 min. on foot.
Mikawa-Anjo
B) By train
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Japan
Tomei ExpresswayYokaichi
Higashi-Okazaki
Take
the
Narita Express airport
shuttleYamateArea train from Narita to
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lnternational
AirportTokyo
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NGO) (approximately
From the south exit of Higashi-Okazaki station.
Mikawa-Anjo
Central Japan
Myodaiji,444-8585, Japanthe Tokaido shinkansen (bullet
train). Okazaki
Toyohashi・By taxi : About
7 min.
lnternational Airport
Shinkansen
Phone :＋81-564-55-7700
Fax:＋81-564-52-7913
At Toyohashi JR Station (approximately
2.5 hours from Tokyo),(Centrair.
NGO) from No11
・By bus : Take Tatsumigaoka-jyunkan, which
departs
Tokyochange trains to the MeitetsuLine's Limited Express train boundToy
http://www.nips.ac.jp/
bus station, and get off at Tatsumi-kita-1chome (about
National Institute for
for
Gifu.
Get
off
at
HigashiOkazakiStation(approximately
20
Physiological Sciences
6min), and walk to the east for about 3min..
minutes from Toyohashi). Turn left (south) at the ticket gate andNational Institute for・On foot : About 20 min.
Physiological Sciences
exit the station. NIPS is a 7-minute walk up the hill.
ts

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Mishima Lodge
Okazaki
ConferenceCenterNational Institute forPhysiological Sciences

MishimaElementary
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MyodaijiArea

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NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR PHYSIOLOGICAL SCIENCES

ei

Myodaiji Area

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NIBB
Myodaiji Area
YokaichiIMS
National Institutesof Natural Sciences
A) By plane (*Recommended)
Higashi-Okazaki
Okazaki I.C.

M

No.1
1 RouteNarita
press airport Nshuttle train fromtomately 60 minutes) andThechange
trains to
Otogawa
Myodaibashi
River
Bridge(bullet train).
North Exitn (approximately 2.5 hoursHigashi
fromOkazaki
Tokyo),
StationSouth Exitboundeitetsu Line's Limited Express train
ashi Okazaki Station (approximatelyRokusho
20
ShrineNIBBi). Turn left (south) at the ticket
gate and
Main Entrance
a 7-minute walk up the hill.

e No.1

NagoyaYamate Area

Okazaki

Myodaiji High
Lodge School

Route No.1
1 NIPS

Myodaiji Area

Location
69Higashi-Okaz
From the south
exit●of
NIBB of Higashi-Okazaki station.
From the south exit
IMS
National
InstitutesofNaturalSciences
About
7
min.
on
foot.
The Otogawa
About 7 min.
on foot. Myodaibashi
River
NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR PHYSIOLOGICAL SCIENCES

Staff Index
Ａ

AGETSUMA, Masakazu

FURUSE, Mikio

ISODA, Masaki

18
Project Associate Professor*Div. of Homeostatic
Development

13 32
Professor*Div. of Cell Structure*Sec. of Electron Microscopy

21 30
Professor*Div. of Behavioral Development*Supportive Center for Brain
ResearchIZUMI, Yasushi
Ｃ

13
Associate Professor*Div. of Cell Structure

Ｇ

CHIKAZOE, Junichi

GO, Yasuhiro

33
Associate Professor*Sec. of Brain Function
Information

21
Project Associate Professor*Div. of Behavioral Development

Ｋ

CHIKEN, Satomi

GODA, Naokazu

KANO, Masanobu

22
Assistant Professor*Div. of System Neurophysiology

24
Assistant Professor*Div. of Cerebral Integration

27
Adjunct Professor*Sec. of Advanced Research
SupportKASHIO, Makiko

ENOKI, Ryosuke

HATANAKA, Nobuhiko

14
Project Associate Professor（Grant Project）*Div. of Cell Signaling

20
Associate Professor*Div. of Biophotonics

22
Assistant Professor*Div. of System Neurophysiology

KIKUCHI, Akihiro

HAYASHI, Kenji

16
Project Assistant Professor*Div. of Endocrinology &Metabolism

Ｅ

Ｈ

FUJIWARA, Sachiko

19
Assistant Professor*Div. of Visual Information
Processing

13
Project Assistant Professor*Div. of Cell Structure

HIRABAYASHI, Masumi

Ｆ

37
Associate Professor*Sec. of Mammalian Transgenesis

FUKATA, Masaki
10 39 44
Professor*Div. of Membrane Physiology*Center for Communication
Networks*Research Enhancement
Strategy Office

HORIUCHI, Hiroshi
18
Project Assistant Professor*Div. of Homeostatic
Development

FUKATA, Yuko
10
Associate Professor*Div. of Membrane Physiology

Ｉ

INUI, Koji
FUKUNAGA, Masaki
24
Associate Professor*Div. of Cerebral Integration

33
Adjunct Professor*Sec. of Brain Function
Information

ISHII, Hirokazu
20
Project Assistant Professor*Div. of Biophotonics

70 ● Stuff Index

KITAJO, Keiichi
23 44Professor*Div. of Neural Dynamics*Research Enhancement
Strategy Office

KOBAYASHI, Kenta
36
Associate Professor*Sec. of Viral Vector Development

KOBAYASHI, Toshihiro
37
Associate Professor*Sec. of MammalianTransgenesis

KOIKE, Takahiko
24
Assistant Professor*Div. of Cerebral Integration

KONDOH, Kunio
16
Assistant Professor*Div. of Endocrinology &Metabolism

Ｎ

KUBO, Yoshihiro

NABEKURA, Junichi

NISHIO, Akiko

9 25 26 44
Professor*Div. of Biophysics &Neurobiology*Center for Research Collaboration*Sec. of Collaboration Promotion*Research Enhancement
Strategy Office18
Director General, Professor*Div. of Homeostatic Development

26 44
Project Assistant Professor*Sec. of Collaboration
Promotion*Research Enhancement
Strategy Office

KUBOTA, Yoshiyuki
32
Associate Professor*Sec. of Electron Microscopy

NAKAGAWA, Eri

NORITAKE, Atsushi

24
Project Assistant Professor（Grant Project）*Div. of Cerebral Integration

21
Assistant Professor*Div. of Behavioral
Development

NAKAJIMA, Ken-ichiro
16
Associate Professor*Div. of Endocrinology &Metabolism

Ｏ

OHASHI, Masato

Ｌ

LE BIHAN, Denis
29
Visiting Professor*Sec. of International
Collaborative Research Project

Ｍ

MARUYAMA, Megumi
27 44
Project Associate Professor*Sec. of Advanced Research
Support*Research Enhancement
Strategy Office

MINOKOSHI, Yasuhiko
16 44 48
Professor*Div. of Endocrinology &Metabolism*Research Enhancement
Strategy Office*Center for Animal Resources
and Collaborative Study

MIYAZAKI, Yuri
10
Project Assistant Professor*Div. of Membrane Physiology

MURAKOSHI, Hideji
31
Associate Professor*Sec. of Multiphoton Neuroimaging

MURATA, Kazuyoshi
11 32
Project Professor*Div. of Structural Biology*Sec. of Electron Microscopy

23
Assistant Professor*Div. of Cell Structure

NAMBU, Atsushi
22 28 36 44
Professor*Div. of System Neurophysiology*Sec. of NBR Project*Sec. of Viral Vector
Development*Research Enhancement
Strategy Office

OHNO, Nobuhiko
17
Adjunct Professor*Div. of Ultrastructural Research

NARUSHIMA, Madoka
18
Associate Professor*Div. of Homeostatic
Development

OKAZAKI, Yuka
23
Assistant Professor*Div. of Neural Dynamics

NEMOTO, Tomomi
20
Professor*Div. of Biophotonics

OTANI, Tetsuhisa
13
Assistant Professor*Div. of Cell Structure

NINOMIYA, Taihei
21
Assistant Professor*Div. of Behavioral
Development

OTOMO, Kohei
20
Assistant Professor*Div. of Biophotonics

NISHIDA, Motohiro
15
Professor*Div. of Cardiocirculatory
Signaling

OTSUKA, Takeshi
34
Assistant Professor*Sec. of Cellular
Electrophysiology

NISHIJIMA, Kazutoshi
38 48
Professor*Sec. of Multilayer Physiology*Center for Animal Resources
and Collaborative StudyNISHIMURA, Akiyuki
15
Project Associate Professor*Div. of Cardiocirculatory
SignalingＳ

SADATO, Norihiro
24 33
Professor*Div. of Cerebral Integration*Sec. of Brain Function Information

Stuff Index ●71

SAITO, Shigeru

TOMATSU, Saeka

YAMAMOTO, Tetsuya

14
Assistant Professor*Div. of Cell Signaling

21
Project Associate Professor*Div. of Behavioral
Development

24
Project Assistant Professor(Grant Project)*Div. of Cerebral Integration

SANO, Hiromi

TOMINAGA, Makoto

YOKOI, Isao

22
Assistant Professor*Div. of System Neurophysiology

14 35 41 43 48
Professor*Div. of Cell Signaling* Center for Genetic Analysis of
Behavior*Sec. of Physiology & Medicine
Education*Sec. of Health and Safety
Manegement*Div. of Coordinator for Animal
Experimentation

21
Assistant Professor*Div. of Behavioral
Development

SATAKE, Shin'Ichiro
34
Assistant Professor*Sec. of Cellular
Electrophysiology

TSUTSUMI, Motosuke

SAWAMOTO, Kazunobu

20
Project Assistant Professor*Div. of Biophotonics

12
Adjunct Professor*Div. of Neural Development &Regeneration

SHIMOMURA, Takushi
9
Assistant Professor*Div. of Biophysics & Neurobiology

10
Assistant Professor*Div. of Membrane Physiology

YOKOYAMA, Hiroshi
23
Project Assistant Professor*Div. of Neural Dynamics

YONEDA, Taisuke
Ｕ

UEHARA, Kazumasa
23
Assistant Professor*Div. of Neural Dynamics

19
Project Assistant Professor*Div. of Visual Information
Processing

SOKABE, Takaaki

YOSHIMURA, Yumiko

14
Associate Professor*Div. of Cell Signaling

19 34 44
Professor*Div. of Visual Information
Processing*Sec. of Cellular
Electrophysiology*Research Enhancement
Strategy Office

UEMATSU, Akiko
21
Project Assistant Professor*Div. of Behavioral
Development

SONG, Chihong
11
Project Assistant Professor*Div. of Structural Biology

URAKUBO, Hidetoshi
32
Project Assistant Professor(Grant Project)*Sec. of Electron Microscopy

Ｔ

URANO, Toru

TAKADA, Masahiko

44 48Specially Appointed Professor*Research Enhancement
Strategy Office*Center for Animal Resources
and Collaborative Study

27
Adjunct Professor*Sec. of Advanced Research
SupportTANAKA, Tomohiro
15
Project Assistant Professor*Div. of Cardiocirculatory
Signaling

TATEYAMA, Michihiro
9
Associate Professor*Div. of Biophysics & Neurobiology

72 ● Stuff Index

YOKOI, Norihiko

Ｙ

YAMAGATA, Yoko
38
Assistant Professor*Sec. of Multilayer Physiology

National Institute for Physiological Sciences 2021
Published July 2021
National Institutes of Natural Sciences

National Institute for Physiological Sciences
Editor: FUKATA, Masaki
Myodaiji, Okazaki 444-8585, Japan
Phone: +81-564-55-7700

Fax: +81-564-52-7913

https://www.nips.ac.jp

National Institutes of Natural Sciences

National Institute for Physiological Sciences
Myodaiji,Okazaki 444-8585, Japan
Phone:+81-564-55-7700

Fax:+81-564-52-7913

https://www.nips.ac.jp