Bain Disorder Translational Research Group

Translational Research on Brain Disorders: Pathophysiology, Early Diagnosis, and Therapeutic Evaluation ​ ​

Our research group is dedicated to advancing translational studies on neurodegenerative and neuropsychiatric disorders, such as dementia, depression, and schizophrenia, utilizing positron emission tomography (PET) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). 

Taking advantage of our research environment, which enables seamless and rapid progression from preclinical to clinical studies, we focus on the development of novel PET tracers. To date, we have developed PET tracers that bind to aggregated proteins in the brain, such as tau ([¹¹C]PBB3, [¹⁸F]PM-PBB3) and α-synuclein ([¹⁸F]C05-05, [¹⁸F]SPAL-T-06). 

We are also working to elucidate the neural and molecular basis of the pathophysiology of these disorders by bidirectionally integrating insights from both basic research using disease model animals and human clinical studies. 

Through the complementary use of PET imaging and fluid biomarkers (e.g., blood and cerebrospinal fluid), we seek to develop more dependable tools for the early diagnosis and therapeutic monitoring of various disease conditions. 

Fig.1

Fig.2

Fig.3

Fig.4

Fig.5

Fig.6

Fig.7

Fig.8

Member

Higuchi Makoto Group Leader

• Mizuma Hiroshi Principal Researcher
• Saijo Takeaki Principal Technical Staff
• Endo Hironobu Senior Researcher
• Takahata Keisuke Senior Researcher
• Tagai Kenji Senior Researcher
• Ishida Kazuhisa Researcher
• Seki Chie Researcher
• Moriguchi Sho Researcher
• Yamamoto Yasuharu Researcher
• HONG ZHANG Researcher
• Kataoka Yuko Researcher
• Uchida Shoko Technical Staff
• Oyama Asaka Technical Staff
• Matsuura Sayo Technical Staff
• Kamada Tetsuji Technical Staff
• Momota Yuki Postdoctoral Fellow 
• Ichihashi Masanori QST Research Assistant
• Kato Hideo QST Research Assistant
• Komatsu Yuki QST Research Assistant
• Goto Ryoji Trainee 
• Yamaguchi Kumi Assistant 
• Hisada Fumi Contract Worker 

Concurrent member

• Miyata Mari Senior Researcher

Selected Publications

1. Tagai K., Tatebe H., Matsuura S., Hong Z., Kokubo N., Matsuoka K., Endo H., Oyama A., Hirata K., Shimada H. , Kataoka Y., Matsumoto H., Oya M., Kurose S., Takahata K., Ichihashi M., Kubota M., Seki C., Shinoto H., Takado Y., Kawamura K., Zhang M.-R., Soeda Y., Takashima A., Higuchi M. & Tokuda T. : A novel plasma p-tau181 assay as a specific biomarker of tau pathology in Alzheimer's disease.Translational Neurodegeneration​,​13, 44 (2024)
2. Endo H., Ono M., Takado Y., Matsuoka K., Takahashi M., Tagai K., Kataoka Y., Hirata K., Takahata K., Seki C., Kokubo N., Fujinaga M., Mori W., Nagai Y., Mimura K., Kumata K., Kikuchi T., Shimozawa A., Sushil K. M., Yamaguchi Y., Shimizu H., Kakita A., Takuwa H., Shinotoh H., Shimada H., Kimura Y., Ichise M., Suhara T., Minamimoto T., Sahara N., Kawamura K., Zhang MR., Hasegawa M., Higuchi M.: Imaging α-synuclein pathologies in animal models and patients with Parkinson’s and related diseases. Neuron,​112, 15 (2457-2458)
3. Matsuoka K., Ono M., Takado Y., Hirata K., Endo Hi., Ohfusa T., Kojima T., Yamamoto T., Onishi T., Orihara A., Tagai K., Takahata K., Seki C., Shinotoh H., Kawamura K., Shimizu H., Shimada H., Kakita A., Zhang MR., Suhara T., Higuchi M.: High-contrast imaging of α-synuclein pathologies in living patients with multiple system atrophy. Movement Disorders ,​37, 10 (2159-2161)
4. Endo H., Tagai K., Ono M., Ikoma Y., Oyama A., Matsuoka K., Kokubo N., Hirata K., Sano Y., Oya M., Matsumoto H., Kurose S., Seki C., Shimizu H., Kakita A., Takahata K., Shinotoh H., Shimada H., Tokuda T., Kawamura K.,  Zhang MR., Oishi K., Mori S., Takado Y., Higuchi M.: A machine learning-based approach to discrimination of tauopathies using [¹⁸F]PM-PBB3 PET images. Movement Disorders ,​37, 11 (2236-2246)

Links

• Advanced Neuroimaging Center
• About Clinical Research Volunteers