HOME |　The Jikei University School of Medicine, Institute of Clinical Medicine and Research, WATABE Lab.

About Us

Watabe lab was newly established in April 2017. We are interested in the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying adaptive behaviors which are modulated by emotional and motivational states.
Currently, we are recruiting Ph.D. students! If you are interested in our research and the lab, please feel free to contact us.
Click HERE for more info.

Latest informationarchive

Nov 2024: Mr. Daichi Matsushita, a third-year medical student assigned to the laboratory, presented the results of his research during the lab rotation period!
He worked actively on behavioral experiments. We enjoyed our research experiences together!
We look forward to his continued success.
Oct 2024: Molecular and Cellular Cognition Society 2024 Annual Meeting was held in Chicago!
Prof. Watabe gave an invited lecture in the meeting.
　
Aug 2024: Taiwan Society for Neuroscience Meeting (TSfN) 2024 was held in Taipei!
Prof. Watabe gave an invited lecture in the Japan-Taiwan Joint Symposium.
　
Jul 2024: International Brain Initiative Daegu Conference 2024 was held in Korea!
Prof. Watabe gave an invited lecture.
　
Jul 2024: The 47th Annual Meeting of the Japan Neuroscience Society (NEURO2024) was held in Fukuoka, Japan!
Dr. Nagashima gave a talk at the symposium and Ms. Esaki presented the results at the conference, too.
　
Apr 2024: Dr. Kanae Hiyoshi has been promoted to a JSPS Research Fellowship for Young Scientists (PD).
Congratulations, Dr. Hiyoshi. We look forward to her further progress!
　
Apr 2024: The review article was accepted for publication in Jikken Igaku.
Congratulations, Dr. Hiyoshi and Prof. Watabe!
https://www.yodosha.co.jp/jikkenigaku/book/9784758104180/index.html
Apr 2024: The new school year has started.
Let‘s enjoy science as well as cherry-blossom viewing!
Apr 2024: The paper on the joint research with Dr. Kim and Dr. Ohtsuka in Yamanashi University is now published in Cell Chemical Biology! Congratulations!
“A light-controlled phospholipase C for imaging of lipid dynamics and controlling neural plasticity”
In this study, with support from AMED, we developed a light-controlled phospholipase C (opto-PLCβ). The newly developed technology is expected to be useful for elucidating the mechanism of memory formation and developing treatments for neurological diseases.
https://www.cell.com/cell-chemical-biology/pdfExtended/S2451-9456(24)00090-4
The press release in Japanese is below.
https://www.yamanashi.ac.jp/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/20240406pr.pdf
　
Mar 2024: Ms. Yoko Yomoto has retired from the Institute of Clinical Medicine and Research.
Thank you very much for your great help in our Lab.
We look forward to your continued success!
　
Mar 2024: Our paper is now published in Cell Reports Methods! Congratulations, Dr. Nagase!
“All-optical presynaptic plasticity induction by photoactivated adenylyl cyclase targeted to axon terminals”
In this study, with support from AMED, we developed a presynaptically localized photoactivated adenylyl cyclase (bPAC).Furthermore, in combination with other optotools, we succeeded in developing an all-optical technology to manipulate intracellular signaling systems and synaptic activity. The newly developed technology is expected to be useful for elucidating the relationship between synaptic regulation and brain function and for establishing treatments for neuropsychiatric disorders.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667237524000651?via%3Dihub
The press release in Japanese is below.
https://www.jikei.ac.jp/news/pdf/press_release_20240323.pdf
　
Dec 2023: Our paper is now published in Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience! Congratulations, Dr. Morishima!
“Excitatory subtypes of the lateral amygdala neurons are differentially involved in regulation of synaptic plasticity and excitation/inhibition balance in aversive learning in mice”
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fncel.2023.1292822/full
The press release in Japanese is below.
https://www.jikei.ac.jp/news/pdf/press_release_20231215.pdf
　
Dec 2023: The review article was accepted for publication in Jikken Igaku.
Congratulations, Dr. Nagashima and Prof. Watabe!
https://www.yodosha.co.jp/jikkenigaku/book/9784758104159/index.html
Nov 2023: Our paper is now published in Frontiers in Neural Circuits! Congratulations, Dr. Nagashima!
“State-dependent modulation of positive and negative affective valences by a parabrachial nucleus-to-ventral tegmental area pathway in mice”
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fncir.2023.1273322/full
The press release in Japanese is below.
https://www.jikei.ac.jp/news/pdf/press_release_20231205.pdf
　
Oct 2023: We welcome Mr. Natsuki Uekusa joining our lab as a third-year medical student lab rotation.
He works actively on behavioral experiments. We are enjoying our research experiences together!
　
Sep 2023: Dr. Morishima has move to Doshisya University.
Congratulations!!
Thank you very much for your great contribution to our Lab.
We are wishing you the best of luck in your next step!
We have a farewell party at the nearby café.
Sep 2023: NIPS Research Meeting 2023『Diverse approaches to understanding learning and memory 』 was held in Okazaki, Japan!
Dr. Nagashima presented the results and Prof. Watabe chaired the meeting.
Aug 2023: Ms. Esaki received the Junior Investigator Poster Award at the 46th Annual Meeting of the Japan Neuroscience Society.
Congratulations, Ms. Esaki!
Prof. Watabe organized the symposium gave a talk at the symposium.
Dr. Nagase and Ms. Esaki presented the results at the conference, too.
Apr 2023: We welcome Mr. Rin Ohsumi joining our lab as a new undergraduate student from Tokyo University of Science.
Apr 2023: The new school year has started.
Let's enjoy science and move forward with the plans!
Mar 2023
Mar 2023: “Experience-dependent changes in affective valence of taste in male mice”
https://molecularbrain.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13041-023-01017-x
Feb 2023: Congratulations, Dr. Tohyama and Prof. Watabe!
https://www.igaku-shoin.co.jp/journal/detail/40596
Feb 2023: “A novel technique for large‐fragment knock‐in animal production without ex vivo handling of zygotes”
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-023-29468-1
Congratulations!
Dec 30th 2022: Congratulations, Dr. Nagashima!
“Parabrachial-to-parasubthalamic nucleus pathway mediates fear-induced suppression of feeding in male mice”
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-022-35634-2
The press release in Japanese is below.
http://www.jikei.ac.jp/news/press_release_20230105.html
Dec 2022: Congratulations, Prof. Watabe!
http://shinkoh-igaku.jp/mokuroku/data/886.html
Oct 2022: Prof. Watabe and Prof. Saito at Tokyo University of Science
co-organized “The 6th Jikei University-Tokyo University of Science Joint Symposium”.
Dr. Morishima gave a poster presentation at the symposium.
Oct 2022: The review article was accepted for publication in Seitaino Kagaku.
Congratulations, Dr. Nagase and Prof. Watabe!
https://doi.org/10.11477/mf.2425201574
Sep 2022: We welcome Dr. Hiyoshi joining our lab as a postdoc.
Let’s enjoy science together!
Aug 2022: The article was accepted for publication in Jikken Igaku.
Congratulations, Prof. Watabe!
https://www.yodosha.co.jp/jikkenigaku/book/9784758125581/index.html
https://www.yodosha.co.jp/en/index.html#three
June 2022: Dr. Mikami has moved to Kyorin University. Congratulations!!
We all enjoyed working with her, and wish her the best in her next stage.
April 2022: We welcome Ms. Miki Esaki joining our lab as a new undergraduate student from Tokyo University of Science.
We also welcome Ms. Naomi Furuya and Ms. Emi Suzuki joining our lab as research technicians.
Let’s enjoy science together!
April 2022: The paper on the joint research with Division of Gene Therapy The Jikei University was accepted
for publication in Molecular Therapy Methods & Clinical Development.
We contributed to the behavioral experiments and analyses.
Congratulations, Dr. Tsunogai!
March 19th 2022: Congratulations to Ms. Yuka Toi!!
She obtained her Master’s degree from Tokyo University of Science.
We all enjoyed working with her, and wish her the best in her next stage.
March 16th-18th 2022: The 99th annual meeting of the Physiological Society of Japan was held in Sendai, Japan.
Prof. Watabe gave a talk at the symposium.
Mr. Matsumura, a third-year medical student, gave a poster presentation for the very first time!
January 2022: The 63rd/64th Kashiwa-Seiikai meeting was held in-person for the first time in two years!
Dr. Nagashima gave a poster presentation at the meeting.
July 2021: The 44th Annual Meeting of the Japan Neuroscience Society was held in Kobe, Japan!
Prof. Watabe gave a talk at the symposium and Dr. Nagashima presented the results at the conference, too.
We all enjoy working in the second half of the year 2021.
June 2021: Our paper “The parabrachial-to-amygdala pathway provides aversive information to induce avoidance behavior in mice” was accepted for publication in Molecular Brain!
This is the thesis work of Dr. Mariko Ito, an anesthesiologist with great enthusiasm and love for research, who gave birth to a beautiful baby at the end of her graduate studies.
Congratulations, Mariko!!
April 2021: Our paper “ An engineered channelrhodopsin optimized for axon terminal activation and circuit mapping “ was accepted for publication in Communications Biology!
This is a joint work supported by CREST project with Isomura lab in Tokyo Medical and Dental University and Ohtsuka lab in Yamanashi University.
Congratulations, Dr. Nagase!
March 2021: Congratulations to Dr. Risa Iguchi!!
She obtained her Ph.D. degree from The University of Tokyo.
We all enjoyed working with her, and wish her the best in her next stage.
February 2021: We welcome Mr. Sota Matsumura joining our lab as a third-year medical student lab rotation.
He works actively on behavioral and electrophysiological experiments.
We are enjoying our research experiences together!
June 2020: The paper on the joint research with Division of Gene Therapy The Jikei University was accepted for publication in Molecular Genetics and Metabolism. Dr. Miwa, congratulations!
May 2020: We enjoy having a discussion online. Let’s perform a task with maintaining social distance!
April 1st 2020: Dr. Morishima and Dr. Tohyama joined the lab. Let's have fun with researches!
March 2020: Ms. Toi and Dr. Mikami won a poster award at the Sei-i-kai. Congratulations!
February 2020: Third-year medical students came to our lab and actively participated in the discussion.
January 2020: The paper on the joint research with Osaka University was accepted for publication in Nature Communications!
October 5th 2019: Dr. Watabe and Dr. Saito at Tokyo University of Science co-organized “5th The Jikei University-Tokyo University of Science Joint Symposium”.
Dr. Watabe gave a talk at the symposium.
April 2019: Dr. Nagashima joined the lab as a postdoc. Welcome to our lab!
March 28th 2019: Dr. Watabe organized a symposium and gave a talk at the FAOPS2019.
March 19th 2019: Dr. Sasaki Retirement Celebration was held at the Crest Hotel.
March 11th 2019: Ms. Toi joined the lab as a graduate student from Tokyo University of Science. Welcome to our lab!
March 1st 2019: Dr. Watabe attended the 30th award presentation ceremony of Kato Memorial Bioscience Foundation.
February 2019: Dr. Arima joined the lab as a research fellow. Welcome to our lab!
January 2019: Third-year medical students came to our lab and enjoy doing experiments.
January 2019: Dr. Watabe participated in the CREST meeting.
We are so motivated by the presentation about cutting-edge research. Let's give it our all!
December 2018: Ms. Nozaki came to visit our lab with Yuu-chan!
November 2018: We had a birthday party for Dr. Watabe and a welcome party for Ms. Komatsu.
August 2018: The review article was accepted for publication in Current Opinion in Behavioral Sciences!
June 2018: We had a birthday party for Dr. Mikami and a welcome party for Ms. Kishi.
April 2018: Dr. Kaori Mikami joined the lab as a postdoc.
Welcome to our lab!
March 2018: Prof. Watabe organized a symposium and gave a talk at the 95th annual meeting of the physiological society of Japan.
January 2018: Dr. Masashi Nagase joined our lab as a research associate.
Welcome to the lab!