- Unit for Neurobiology and Therapeutics SUMS English Top Page

Corresponding: uru@belle.shiga-med.ac.jp Link to the detailed department page: http://www.shiga-med.ac.jp/~uru/neurotherapy_top_e.html

Staff and specialities

Associate Professor: Makoto URUSHITANI, MD, PhD. Neurochemistry and Neurobiology

Outline of the department

The mission of the Unit for Neurobiology and Therapeutics (Neurotherapy lab) is to develop innovative therapies for neurodegenerative diseases, focusing on amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). To date, the protein misfolding is implicated in the pathogenesis of various neurological diseases as well as in ALS. However, the exact mechanisms how mishandling of protein folding leads to motor neuron death remain unanswered. We are investigating the molecular basis of several ALS-linked protein such as mutant superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) and TAR DNA-binding protein 43 TDP-43) in the pathomechanism of ALS. We are also working on the immunotherapy for ALS using mutant SOD1-transgenic model mice. The identification of novel vaccine candidates and the development of effective passive immunization are underway. .