Our Research

The major goal of BRIMS laboratory is to explore the cellular and molecular processes that control neurogenesis, neuronal circuit assembly and differentiation of the reproductive brain.

Steroid and stress hormones actions during development influence instinctive social behaviors and mood disorders (depression, aggression). However, the use of antidepressants causes sexual dysfunction. Using a variety of techniques such as molecular morphology, neurogenomics, behavioral neurogenetics and laser capture microdissection coupled with microarrays and real-time quantitative PCR, we hope to identify molecules that direct neurogenesis, cell migration, cell positioning in the brain and thereby we hope to identify the neural circuitry responsible for sexual dysfunction, social behaviors and mood disorders.

The significance of this research has great implications in metabolic neuromedicine, neuropsychiatry and neuroendocrinology of aging, which could also lead to effective biotechnology.

Research Focus:

I. Reproductive and Metabolic Neuroendocrinology

Genetic and functional analyses of reproductive neuropeptides, membrane receptors and steroid receptors in reproduction and aging.
Cellular and molecular pathways involved in reproduction, appetite and energy Metabolism.
To develop novel agonists and antagonists against appetite related disorders such as obesity and anorexia nervosa.

Staff and Students:

Dr. Takashi Kitahashi

Prof. N. Koibuchi, Visiting Professor

Dr. Geeta Selvarajah, Guest Researcher

Dr. Takayama, Guest Researcher

Kalpana Das, PhD Student

Jenny Pang, PhD Student

Kavinash Loganathan, PhD Student

Aya Ogawa, PhD Student

II. Development and Neuroendocrinology of Aging

Molecular neurobiology of neuronal migration and positioning.
Reproductive aging.
Development of cancer therapy.

Staff and Students:

Dr. Satoshi Ogawa

Prof. James Okano, Visiting Professor

Lim Wei Ling, PhD Student

Lim Fei Tieng, PhD Student

Farah Wahida, PhD Student

Sakthi Eswari, Research Assistant

III. Neurobiology of Behaviour and Mental Health

a) Molecular Mechanism of Depression

- Identification of the neuronal pathways and molecular mechanism of stress, steroid and reproductive aging induced depression in animal models.
- Molecular mechanism of antidepressant induced sexual dysfunction.

- Identification of biomarkers as novel therapeutic targets, and herbal remedies for depression.

b) Molecular Mechanism of Addiction

- Molecular mechanism of early life stress induced drug addiction and sexual dysfunction.

- To develop antagonists against novel biomarkers and herbal remedies for addiction.

c) Molecular Mechanism of Aggression

- Identification of the neuronal circuitry of aggressive behaviours.

- Cellular and molecular mechanism of social dominance.

d) Neurogenomics of Sleep Disorders

- Identification of the neuronal pathways and molecular mechanisms of stress and aging induced sleep disorders in animal models.

- To find the molecular mechanisms through which sleep disorders disrupt the reproductive system and attention.

- To clone novel genes and to analyze their functional roles in sleep.

- To develop agonist and antagonist against the novel molecules as treatment for sleep disorders.

Staff and Students:

Dr. Tomoko Soga

Prof. Sonoko Ogawa, Visiting Professor

Prof. Katsuo Toide, Guest Researcher

Sandun Dalpatadu, PhD Student

Felicia Simone Paulraj, Honours Student

Wong Dutt Way, Research Assistant

Eneeshia Paransothy, Research Assistant