Research Team Members

An Integrated Approach to Treatment-Resistant Mood Disorders Focusing on the Dopaminergic System

The research team members at Hokkaido University are pursuing the following goal.

Elucidation of the neural etiology of treatment-resistant mood
disorders on the basis of integrated clinical and basic studies focusing on the dopaminergic system

The research group conducted a clinical study that demonstrated the efficacy of a dopamine D2 receptor agonist for treatment-resistant depression. Additionally, animal models were used for a basic study whose results provided important evidence that rats subjected to long-term methamphetamine administration manifest biological rhythm disturbances that resemble those of bipolar disorder. Based on these findings, the research team aims to study the neural etiology of treatment-resistant mood disorders through an integrated approach that combines clinical studies and the corresponding basic studies.

Specifically, studies focusing on the dopaminergic system and biological rhythm will be conducted toward searching for biomarkers for differential diagnoses of major depression, bipolar disorder and cases for which dopamine agonists are effective, as well as towards finding evidence that supports the findings on the identified biomarkers.

The research team will conduct clinical studies to identify biomarkers for differential diagnoses and will analyze the identified biomarkers by using animal models of mood disorders.

Team Leader Mitsuhiro Yoshioka Affiliation: Graduate School of Medicine
Post: Director, Research and Education Center for Brain Science
Contact Phone：011-706-5904　E-mail：flutemed.hokudai.ac.jp
Verification of the Methods for Assessing Biological Rhythms Kenichi Honma Affiliation: Department of Chronomedicine, Graduate School of Medicine
Post: Emeritus Professor
Contact Phone：011-706-4777　E-mail：kenhonmamed.hokudai.ac.jp
Histological Analysis of Gene and Protein Expression Associated with Dopaminergic Neurons and Glutamatergic Neurons Masahiko Watanabe Affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Graduate School of Medicine
Post: Professor
Contact Phone：011-706-5032　E-mail：watamasamed.hokudai.ac.jp
Analysis Regarding Biomarkers and Animal Models of Bipolar Disorder Sato Honma Affiliation: Department of Chronomedicine, Graduate School of Medicine
Post: Specially Appointed Professor
Contact Phone：011-706-4737　E-mail：sathonmamed.hokudai.ac.jp
Analysis of Gene Expression Associated with Dopaminergic Neural Activity and Emotional Processes Masabumi Minami Affiliation: Laboratory of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences
Post: Professor
Contact Phone：011-706-3246　E-mail：mminamimed.hokudai.ac.jp
Verification of the Adequacy of Various Measuring Techniques Through Clinical Studies Takeshi Inoue Affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Graduate School of Medicine
Post: Associate Professor
Contact Phone：011-706-5160　E-mail：tinouemed.hokudai.ac.jp

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