We appreciate donations for our ALS research!
The unique research techniques we have developed for the study of motor neurons hold the potential to significantly contribute to the elucidation of two crucial issues in ALS. We seek support to expedite these studies.
1. In ALS, aggregates of proteins (clumps, or "aggregates") accumulate in the affected motor neurons, a phenomenon not observed in normal cells. By deeply understanding the mechanism behind the accumulation of these aggregates, we aim to pinpoint the root cause of ALS. This will facilitate the development of methods to clearly identify therapeutic targets and protect motor neurons.
2. ALS exhibits a characteristic where larger motor neurons, responsible for producing strong body movements, are more susceptible to damage. By understanding the characteristics of larger motor neurons that make them vulnerable in ALS, we aim to develop methods to protect motor neurons from ALS.
To make donations to our ALS research, please contact Kazuhide Asakawa (Email: kasakawa[a]nig.ac.jp) (please replace [a] with @).
April 7, 2023
Kazuhide Asakawa
Research Grants that have supported our ALS research:
AMED-PRIME, Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research, Chugai Pharmaceutical Science Foundation Research Grant, Naito Memorial Scientific Research Encouragement Fund, Uehara Memorial Life Science Foundation Research Grant, 4th Serika Fund Award Research Grant, Brain Science Promotion Foundation Research Grant, Optical Science and Technology Foundation Research Grant, "Yoshio Kode Fund" Research Encouragement Fund, Kato Memorial Intractable Disease Research Grant, 1st Serika Fund Award Research Grant, "Vivid Life" ALS Research Grant, Takeda Scientific Promotion Foundation Medical Research Encouragement, and Daiichi Sankyo Life Science Research Promotion Foundation Research Grant.
Key Research Achievements:
Asakawa K*, Tomita T, Shioya S, Handa H, Saeki Y, Kawakami K.
Nature Communications (2025) 16, 9213 (*Correspondence)
Asakawa K*, Handa H, and Kawakami K*.
Nature Communications (2020) 11:1004 (*Co-correspondence)
Protocadherin-mediated cell repulsion controls the central topography and efferent projections of the abducens nucleus.
Asakawa K* and Kawakami K*.
Cell Reports (2018) 24:1562-1572 (*Co-correspondence)
Cellular dissection of the spinal cord motor column by BAC transgenesis and gene trapping in zebrafish.
Asakawa K*, Gembu A and Kawakami K*.
Frontiers in Neural Circuits (2013) 7:100. (*Co-correspondence)
Genetic dissection of neural circuits by Tol2 transposon-mediated Gal4 gene and enhancer trapping in zebrafish.
Asakawa K, Suster ML, Mizusawa K, Nagayoshi S, Kotani T, Urasaki A, Kishimoto Y, Hibi M and Kawakami K. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A (2008) 105:1255-1260.