Update Information

2023-09-25【Press Release: Novel Prediction and Discriminating Techniques for Brain Diseases】
A press release was issued regarding a new prediction and discriminating technique for age-related brain diseases.
→http://www.pharm.tohoku.ac.jp/file/information/20230925.pdf
→https://www.tohoku.ac.jp/japanese/2023/09/press20230925-03-ad.html

(Contents) In order to achieve early therapeutic intervention for the increasing number of age-related brain diseases such as dementia and movement disorders in our aging society, it is very important to accurately predict the risk of neurodegeneration and distinguish diseases before pathogenesis. In this study, we established a new quantification technique for disease identification using plasma biomarkers for mild cognitive impairment, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and dementia with Lewy bodies. This achievement has made it possible to distinguish each disease with a high degree of accuracy.
(Acknowledgements) This research is the result of collaboration with Dr. Atsushi Takeda, Director of National Hospital Organization Sendai Nishitaga Hospital, and Dr. Hideki Oizumi. This work was supported by the Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development (AMED) Strategic Promotion Program for Bridging Research, AMED Strategic Promotion Program for Brain Science Research, Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (KAKENHI), and Takeda Foundation for the Promotion of Science Continuing Grant for Research in Pharmaceutical Sciences.

2023-09-20 ～ 09-23【12th World Microcirculation Congress（Beijing）】
Dr.Fukunaga and Dr. Kawahata participated in a symposium at the 12th World Microcirculation Congress in Beijing.
・[S02-1] Kohji Fukunaga, Fatty acid-binding proteins 3 and 5 mediate the mitochondrial damage in brain ischemia
・[Y02-4] Ichiro Kawahata, Uncovering the Role of Fatty Acid-Binding Proteins in Mitochondrial Dysfunction: A Potential Therapy for Dementia and Cerebrovascular Injury

2023-09-20【Dean's Award, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences】
Dr. Kawahata was awarded the Dean's Award by the Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tohoku University.

2023-09-09【Parkinson's Disease Public Lecture】
Dr. Kawahata performed piano at a public lecture on Parkinson's disease given by the National Hospital Organization Sagamihara Hospital (Dr. Kazuko Hasegawa).

2023-08-01 [The 46th Annual Meeting of the Japan Neuroscience Society (Sendai)]
We held a symposium titled "Frontiers in Neuronal Homeostasis Control in Aging and Neurodegenerative Diseases" at the 46th Annual Meeting of the Japan Neuroscience Society in Sendai.
[1S10a] Frontiers in neuronal homeostasis in aging and neurodegenerative diseases (Ichiro Kawahata, David I Finkelstein)
・[1S10a-01] Pathogenic impact of fatty acid-binding protein 3 in neuronal homeostasis and the therapeutic potential for Lewy body diseases (Ichiro Kawahata, Kohji Fukunaga)
・[1S10a-05] Pathology of synapse-proteasome signaling in Alzheimer's disease and aging (Kohji Fukunaga)
・[2Pm-109] FABP2 is involved in the α-synuclein pathologies in intestinal cells (Tomoki Sekimori, Ichiro Kawahata, Takuya Sasaki, Kohji Fukunaga)

2023-07-11 [JST New Technology Briefing (Online)]
We introduced the new technology "Predicting Dementia! A novel blood diagnostic technique capable of distinguishing Lewy body disease" at the JST New Technology Briefing.

2023-07-06 [The 64th Annual Meeting of the Japanese Society of Neuropathology - The 66th Annual Meeting of the Japanese Society of Neurochemistry Joint Meeting (Kobe)]
We held a symposium titled "Symposium 2SY-1: Frontiers in Drug Developments and Early Prediction Techniques for Lewy Body Diseases" at the 66th Annual Meeting of the Japanese Society of Neurochemistry in Kobe.
・Elucidation of the physiological function of fatty acid-binding protein 3 and novel drug development strategy for Lewy body diseases (Kawahata*・Takeda・Fukunaga)
・Development of early prediction techniques and discrimination methods for Lewy body dementia (Fukunaga*・Sekimori・Oizumi・Takeda・Kawahata)

2023-05-31 [The 64th Annual Meeting of the Japanese Society of Neurology (Makuhari)]
We presented the results of the AMED Bridging Research Strategic Promotion Program at the 64th Annual Meeting of the Japanese Society of Neurology. Ichiro Kawahata, Tomoki Sekimori, Hideki Oizumi, Atsushi Takeda, Kohji Fukunaga*, "Development of novel therapeutics and early discrimination techniques for Lewy body diseases"

2023-03-28～04-01 [AD/PD2023]
We presented a symposium (On-Demand) at the 17th International Conference on Alzheimer’s & Parkinson’s Diseases (AD/PD2023).
The novel therapeutic ligand targeting fatty acid-binding protein 3 prevents α-synuclein accumulation and cognitive-motor impairments in Lewy body disease-model mice. (Kawahata・Fukunaga)

2022-11-30～12-03 [Japan Basic and Clinical Pharmacology Week 2022]
At the 96th Annual Meeting of the Japanese Pharmacological Society and the 43rd Annual Meeting of the Japanese Clinical Pharmacology Society Joint Meeting (JPW2022, Pacifico Yokohama),
・Next-Generation Forum Symposium "Challenges for the Frontline of Pharmacology Focused on Neurological Diseases and Social Implementation"
・Open Symposium "New Developments in Biomarker Exploration and Early Prediction Techniques for Lewy Body Diseases"
were organized (Organizer, Chair Ichiro Kawahata, Associate Professor, Commentator Kohji Fukunaga, Honorary Professor).
→https://www.congre.co.jp/jpw2022/program/index.html

2022-09-02 [Japan Human Dock Society]
Dr. Fukunaga gave a presentation at the Japan Human Dock Society. "Development of blood-based biomarkers for predicting dementia"

2022-08-03【AMED Translational Research Program】
AMED Translational Research Program (Seeds B) "Development of Fundamental Treatment for Neurodegeneration Caused by Parkinson's Disease Dementia and Dementia with Lewy Bodies" has been adopted.
https://www.amed.go.jp/koubo/16/01/1601C_00025.html

2022-07-20【Associate Professor Ichiro Kawahata, Dean's Award】
Associate Professor Ichiro Kawahata was awarded the Dean's Award at Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tohoku University.

2022-06-18～21【The 63rd Annual Meeting of the Japan Neurological Society】
At the 63rd Annual Meeting of the Japan Neurological Society in Tokyo, Associate Professor Ichiro Kawabata gave oral presentations on "Development of peptide drug for α-synucleinopathies" and "FABP inhibitor, BRI-601 ameliorates oligodendrocyte injury in a multiple sclerosis mouse model" by Professor Emeritus Koji Fukunaga.

2022-04-01【Assistant Professor Cheng and Research Associate Jia】
Dr. Cheng An has joined as a Project Assistant Professor and Dr. Jia Wenbin as an Academic Fellow.

2022-03-09【The 95th Annual Meeting of the Japanese Society of Pharmacology】
Dr. Yuko Saito (Tokyo Metropolitan Geriatric Hospital), Dr. Kiyoto Kamagata (Tohoku University), Professor Emeritus Koji Fukunaga, and Associate Professor Ichiro Kawabata gave lectures at the symposium "Development Strategies for Root Drugs Targeting Causal Proteins of Neurodegenerative Disorders" (organizer: Dr. Ichiro Kawabata and Dr. Kiyoto Kamagata, IMR) held at the 95th Annual Meeting of The Japanese Pharmacological Society in Fukuoka.

2022-03-05【Protein Misfolding Disease and Therapy 2022】
International Symposium "Protein Misfolding Disease and Therapy 2022" (Conference Chair: Dr. Koji Fukunaga) was held.

2021-12-09【JSNP Excellent Presentation Award for AsCNP】
Associate Professor Ichiro Kawahata received the JSNP Excellent Presentation Award for AsCNP for his presentation at the 7th Congress of the Asian College of Neuropsychopharmacology (AsCNP).
"Ichiro Kawahata and Kohji Fukunaga. Impact of fatty acid-binding protein 3 and dopamine D2 receptors in Lewy body diseases" 7th Congress of AsCNP, Singapore, October 22-23, 2021 (online).

2021-08-27【Tohoku University BIP grant】
Associate Professor Iichiro Kawahata and Professor Emeritus Koji Fukunaga have succeeded in developing a medium molecule therapeutic drug that targets a new propagation mechanism of alpha-synuclein, the causative protein of Lewy body disease, which is typified by Parkinson's disease and dementia with Lewy bodies, and can fundamentally prevent its cellular uptake and propagation. Through the BIP, we will accelerate our research and development in order to deliver the novel therapeutic drug to a wide range of patients.
Tohoku Univ Press Release (https://www.tohoku.ac.jp/japanese/2021/08/press20210827-03-BIP.html)

2021-06-29【Press Release】
In various neurodegenerative diseases, agglomerates of degenerative proteins commonly accumulate in nerve cells, causing nerve cell death. Professor Emeritus Koji Fukunaga and Associate Professor Ichiro Kawahata of Tohoku University Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences have developed a low-molecular-weight compound SAK3, which enhances cognitive function by increasing the release of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine (ACh) involved in memory formation. We reported improvements in 2017. We have now discovered that SAK3 activates the proteasome, a device that degrades denatured proteins, to remove denatured proteins in nerve cells. Furthermore, we elucidated the mechanism by which SAK3 activates the proteasome of nerve cells and promotes the degradation of denatured proteins. The results of this research will promote the degradation of denatured proteins such as amyloid beta protein, sinucrane, huntingtin, and tau protein, which cause neurodegenerative diseases, and prevent nerve cell death. Please refer to the following site for details.
For details http://www.pharm.tohoku.ac.jp/file/information/20210629.pdf
For details http://www.qlifepro.com/news/20210630/alz-sak3.html

2021-03-24【Press Release】
The involvement of "phase-separating proteins" that separate liquid-liquid phases has become clear in neurodegenerative diseases such as dementia and Alzheimer's disease. Liquid-liquid phase separation is a phenomenon in which a dense liquid phase of proteins is formed in a liquid phase in which proteins are dispersed at a low concentration. Temporary clustering of proteins enables highly efficient chemical reactions, but at the same time risks the formation of insoluble aggregates that cause disease. Associate Professor Kiyoto Kamagata of Tohoku University Institute of Multidisciplinary Materials Science, Associate Professor Ichiro Kawabata of Tohoku University Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Professor Koji Fukunaga, Associate Professor Keisuke Ikeda of Pharmaceutical and Japanese-Chinese Studies, Tohoku University, and Industrial Technology Research Institute A research group led by Associate Professor Tomofumi Kameda of the Artificial Intelligence Research Center searched for amino acids that can control liquid-liquid phase separation as an efficient search method for peptides that control phase-separated proteins. We devised a method for designing peptides containing. This method has also succeeded in controlling the liquid-liquid phase separation of the protein FUS, which is involved in neurodegenerative diseases, and the formation of solid aggregates. In the future, it is expected to be applied to drug discovery targeting phase-separated proteins involved in diseases.
https://www.nikkei.com/article/DGXLRSP607240_U1A320C2000000/

2021-03-19【Professor Kohji Fukunaga, Final Lecture】
Professor Koji Fukunaga gave a final lecture in honor of his many years of achievements in pharmacology research at Tohoku University. Professor Koji Fukunaga will be an emeritus professor from April. Please see the video from the Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences page.

2021-03-09【Professor Kohji Fukunaga, Honorary Member】
At the 94th Annual Meeting of the Japanese Pharmacological Society, Professor Kohji Fukunaga was appointed as an honorary member of the Japanese Pharmacological Society.

2021-03-08【Associate Professor Ichiro Kawahata, Japanese Pharmacological Society Academic Encouragement Award】
At the 94th Annual Meeting of the Japanese Pharmacological Society, Associate Professor Ichiro Kawahata received the 36th Annual Meeting of the Japanese Pharmacological Society.
Click here for details　https://pharmacol.or.jp/award/bounty

2020-11-11【Associate Professor Ichiro Kawahata, Young Excellent Presentation Award】
Associate Professor Ichiro Kawahata received The Young Investigator Award at The 14th International Conference on Protein Phosphatase.

2020-10-12【Associate Professor Ichiro Kawahata, Nishinomiya Basic Medical Sciences Research Grant Fund】
At the 71st Annual Meeting of the Japanese Society of Pharmacology, Associate Professor Ichiro Kawahata was awarded the Nishinomiya Basic Medical Sciences Research Grant Fund.

2020-07-15【Assistant Professor Ichiro Kawahata, Tohoku University Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences Dean's Award】
Assistant Professor Ichiro Kawahata was awarded the Dean's Award at the Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tohoku University.