News & Updates
Sep. 14, 2026 Our study on individual variability in age-related cognitive inflexibility has been published in Aging Cell.
A study by Rui Yamada, Hirotaka Nagai and colleagues, “Synaptic Mitochondrial Oxidative Stress Contributes to Individual Variability in Age-Related Cognitive Inflexibility in Mice,” has been published in Aging Cell.
Our findings in mice suggest that synaptic mitochondrial oxidative stress in the medial prefrontal cortex contributes to individual differences in age-related cognitive inflexibility. We also found that the mitochondria-targeted antioxidant MitoQ improved attentional set-shifting performance in aged mice without affecting initial learning.
Sep. 7, 2026 Professor Tomoyuki Furuyashiki’s comments featured on NHK
Professor Tomoyuki Furuyashiki’s comments were featured in the September 7, 2026 broadcast of NHK General TV’s “Frontier de Aimashou!” (フロンティアで会いましょう！), in an episode exploring recent research on the autonomic nervous system.
Sep. 1, 2026 Prof. Tomoyuki Furuyashiki will serve as Congress President for the 56th Annual Meeting of the Japanese Society of Neuropsychopharmacology at BCNP2026.
Prof. Tomoyuki Furuyashiki will serve as Congress President for the 56th Annual Meeting of the Japanese Society of Neuropsychopharmacology, held as part of the BCNP2026 Joint Annual Meeting at Light Cube Utsunomiya from October 30 to November 1, 2026.
Further information is available on the congress website.
Aug. 23, 2026 A paper by Wenran Qiu and colleagues was published in the International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology.
The paper “Chronic social defeat stress induces a hypoglycemic shift and depression-related behaviors, both prevented by antidiabetic drugs” by Wenran Qiu and colleagues was published in the International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology.
In mice, chronic social defeat stress shifted glycemic responses toward hypoglycemia and induced depression-related behaviors. Two antidiabetic drugs with distinct mechanisms, administered during the stress period, prevented the metabolic change and some behavioral alterations.
Aug. 4, 2026 We hosted a seminar by Dr. Caroline Ménard.
We hosted a pharmacology seminar by Dr. Caroline Ménard, Associate Professor at the Faculty of Medicine and CERVO Brain Research Centre, Université Laval, entitled “Neurovascular adaptations underlie stress vulnerability vs resilience in mice and human depression.”
She presented her research on neurovascular and blood-brain barrier adaptations underlying stress vulnerability and resilience.
Jul. 30, 2026 Prof. Tomoyuki Furuyashiki gave a mock lecture at the Science Tokyo Medical and Dental Sciences Open Campus.
At the Science Tokyo Medical and Dental Sciences Open Campus held on July 30, 2026, Prof. Tomoyuki Furuyashiki gave a mock lecture entitled “Stress and Mental Illness: Challenges from Pharmacology.”
Jul. 28, 2026 We hosted a seminar by Prof. Noboru Hiroi.
We hosted a pharmacology seminar by Prof. Noboru Hiroi of UT Health San Antonio entitled “Copy Number Variation: Understanding Cellular Mechanisms of Psychiatric Disorders.”
He presented recent research on chromosome copy-number variation and the cellular mechanisms of psychiatric disorders.
Jul. 24, 2026 Prof. Tomoyuki Furuyashiki spoke at the 20th Anniversary International Symposium of the Japanese Society for Behavioral Neuroendocrinology.
Prof. Tomoyuki Furuyashiki gave a lecture entitled “Neuroimmune Mechanisms of Stress” at the 20th Anniversary International Symposium of the Japanese Society for Behavioral Neuroendocrinology, held at the Tsukuba International Congress Center on July 24, 2026.
Jul. 17, 2026 Prof. Tomoyuki Furuyashiki participated in WCP2026.
Prof. Tomoyuki Furuyashiki participated in the 20th World Congress of Basic and Clinical Pharmacology (WCP2026), held in Melbourne from July 12 to 17, 2026.
During the congress, he met and exchanged views with Prof. Caroline Samer, President of IUPHAR, and Prof. Emilio Clementi, IUPHAR Secretary General.
Jun. 29, 2026 Prof. Tomoyuki Furuyashiki participated in CINP 2026.
Prof. Tomoyuki Furuyashiki participated in the 37th CINP World Congress of Neuropsychopharmacology (CINP 2026), held in Glasgow from June 26 to 29, 2026.
On June 27, he presented the research entitled “Chronic stress impairs synaptic central metabolism in the prefrontal cortex, driving depression-related behaviors in mice” as a Featured Communication. On June 28, he chaired “Data Blitz 7: Depression 2.” He also contributed to the scientific program as a member of the International Scientific Program Committee.
Jun. 4, 2026 We hosted a seminar by Prof. Toru Takumi.
We hosted a pharmacology seminar by Prof. Toru Takumi, Specially Appointed Professor at Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, entitled “Biological Basis of Mind.”
He presented multilevel research, from molecules to behavior, on the diversity and biological basis of psychiatric disorders.
Apr. 1, 2026 New members joined the Department of Pharmacology for the 2026 academic year.
New graduate students and a research student joined the Department of Pharmacology for the 2026 academic year. Together with our new members, we will continue our research toward elucidating the biological basis of stress, brain aging, and resilience and developing innovative therapeutic drugs.
Please visit the Members page for further information.
Mar. 16, 2026 Prof. Tomoyuki Furuyashiki received the 19th Setsuro Ebashi Award from the Japanese Pharmacological Society.
Prof. Tomoyuki Furuyashiki received the 19th Setsuro Ebashi Award from the Japanese Pharmacological Society.
At the 99th Annual Meeting of the Japanese Pharmacological Society, he delivered the award lecture entitled “Biological Basis of Stress-Related Brain Pathology: Inflammation-Induced Neural Circuit Remodeling.”
At the same meeting, Marina Yamamoto and colleagues presented a poster entitled “Progressive Neural Circuit Remodeling Induced by Chronic Stress and the Prolongation of Associated Behavioral Alterations.”
Mar. 16, 2026 Prof. Tomoyuki Furuyashiki assumed office as President of the Japanese Pharmacological Society.
Prof. Tomoyuki Furuyashiki assumed office as the 18th President of the Japanese Pharmacological Society in March 2026.
Further information is available on the Japanese Pharmacological Society website.
Jan. 15, 2026 Prof. Tomoyuki Furuyashiki presented research at the 64th ACNP Annual Meeting.
Prof. Tomoyuki Furuyashiki presented a poster entitled “Stress-Induced Alterations in Synaptic Metabolism and Their Behavioral Relevance” at the 64th Annual Meeting of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology, held in Nassau, The Bahamas, on January 12–15, 2026.
ACNP Annual Meeting information
Nov. 15, 2025 Prof. Tomoyuki Furuyashiki and Associate Prof. Ryota Shinohara presented their research at scientific meetings in Japan.
Prof. Tomoyuki Furuyashiki and Associate Prof. Ryota Shinohara presented their research at the following scientific meetings in Japan.
- October 25 — 153rd Kanto Regional Meeting of the Japanese Pharmacological Society
Associate Prof. Ryota Shinohara and colleagues
“Progressive Neural Circuit Remodeling Induced by Chronic Stress and Its Role in Sustaining Behavioral Alterations” - November 4 — 98th Annual Meeting of the Japanese Biochemical Society
Prof. Tomoyuki Furuyashiki
“Biological Basis of Stress: Neuro-Immune-Metabolic Interactions” - November 15 — BPCNPNP2025 Joint Meeting
Prof. Tomoyuki Furuyashiki
“Neuro-Immune-Metabolic Crosstalk Underlying Stress-Related Brain Pathology”
Oct. 6, 2025 Prof. Tomoyuki Furuyashiki delivered lectures at ISNI 2025 and its related programs.
Prof. Tomoyuki Furuyashiki delivered the following lectures at ISNI 2025 and its related programs held in Chiba, Japan.
- October 4 — Pre-congress Symposium
“Roles and Mechanisms of Stress-Induced Neuroinflammation in Mental Illness” - October 5 — Global Schools of Neuroimmunology
“Neuroimmunology of Stress” - October 6 — ISNI 2025 Symposium
“Neuro-Immune-Metabolic Crosstalk Underlying Stress-Related Brain Pathology”
Sep. 12, 2025 Kohei Ota, Rinka Ota, Dr. Yuki Okuda, and colleagues presented their research at the 68th Annual Meeting of the Japanese Society for Neurochemistry.
Members of our research group presented the following posters at the 68th Annual Meeting of the Japanese Society for Neurochemistry, held in Nagoya on September 11–13, 2025.
- Dr. Yuki Okuda and colleagues
“Progressive Neural Circuit Remodeling Induced by Chronic Stress and Its Role in Sustaining Behavioral Alterations” - Kohei Ota and colleagues
“Chronic Stress-Induced Metabolic Alterations in Selective Brain Regions and Their Involvement in Behavioral Disturbance in Mice” - Rinka Ota and colleagues
“Alteration in Neutrophil Function Induced by Social Defeat Stress”
Sep. 1, 2025 A Japanese-language review by Dr. Masayuki Taniguchi and Prof. Tomoyuki Furuyashiki was published in Pharmacia.
A Japanese-language review by Dr. Masayuki Taniguchi and Prof. Tomoyuki Furuyashiki, entitled “Central–Peripheral Crosstalk of Inflammatory Responses in Psychiatric Disorders,” was published in Pharmacia, Volume 61, Issue 9.
The article reviews recent findings on inflammatory responses in the central nervous system and the periphery, and their roles in neural function and cognitive and emotional alterations associated with psychiatric disorders.
Aug. 17, 2025 The Department of Pharmacology website is now live.
The Department of Pharmacology website is now live.
