I, Professor Kogo Takamiya, MD, PhD, have been leading the Department of Neuroscience at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Miyazaki, since March 1, 2009, succeeding the previous head, Emeritus Professor Hiroshi Kannan.
I was born in Sasebo City, Nagasaki Prefecture, and after graduating from Nagasaki Seiun High School, I enrolled in Nagasaki University School of Medicine. Upon graduating from the university in 1987, I joined the Department of Neurosurgery at Nagasaki University, where I underwent four years of training as a neurosurgeon. Due to my deep interest in basic medicine, I continued my research in the basic science department after completing my training. Subsequently, I worked at Osaka University School of Medicine. In 1998, I had the privilege of studying abroad as a research fellow under Professor Dr. Huganir at the Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. During this time, I delved into the effects of functional modification of glutamate receptors on higher brain functions such as memory and learning, conducting research using genetically modified mice. Following my tenure as an Instructor and Assistant Professor at the same university for the next eleven years, I returned to Japan to work at the University of Miyazaki School of Medicine.
From the outset of my studies in the U.S., I became acutely aware of the significant disparities in neuroscience education between Japan and the United States. Particularly, I was impressed by the emphasis on structured lectures at U.S. universities and the extensive breadth of basic and clinical knowledge that students acquired from them. In Japan, Neuroscience is currently divided into Neurobiochemistry, Physiology, Embryology, and Clinical Sciences, including Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry. I aim to collaborate with professors from other neuroscience fields to provide students with a cohesive and systematic education in these areas of Neuroscience. Additionally, I am working towards reconfiguring the teaching of neurophysiology, a current field of student education, in medical studies, enabling it to seamlessly integrate with other disciplines as a function of the brain and nervous system.
Regarding research, I have dedicated many years to the field of neuroscience. I intend to further develop the research I commenced during my time in the U.S., focusing on elucidating the molecular mechanisms underlying higher brain functions such as learning and memory, and deciphering the comprehensible phenomena occurring in our brains. Moreover, I aspire to extensively apply such fundamental medical research to clinical medicine. I strive to remain abreast of the latest technologies and aim to make new breakthroughs.
This encapsulates my career journey to date and outlines the direction of my educational and research endeavors at the University of Miyazaki. I firmly believe that my clinical experience as a neurosurgeon and my extensive years of basic research in Japan and the United States have endowed me with a distinctive background. I hope that my knowledge and expertise will contribute not only to the advancement of basic medicine but also to clinical medicine. If you are interested in our work and wish to collaborate with us, various opportunities are available to become a graduate student or researcher. Please do not hesitate to reach out to me directly. You are more than welcome.
October 2023
Kogo Takamiya
Professor, Department of Neuroscience
Educational background
Mar 1987 Graduated with a degree in Medicine, Nagasaki University
Mar 1995 Completed Doctoral program, Graduate School of Medicine,
Nagasaki University (Doctor of Medicine)
Work Experience
June1987 - May 1988
Resident (Neurosurgery), Nagasaki University Hospital
June 1988 - May 1989
Physician (Neurosurgery), Kitakyushu Municipal Yawata Hospital
June 1989 - July 1990
Physician, Nagasaki Central Hospital (now Nagasaki Medical Center) (Neurosurgery)
Aug 1990 - Feb 1991
Medical Staff, Nagasaki University Hospital (Neurosurgery)
April 1995 - December 1995
Doctor, Yuzuriha Hospital
January 1996 - March 2001
Teaching staff of Neurobiology, Biomedical Education and Research Center, Osaka University School of Medicine
April 1998 - March 2001
Postdoctoral researcher, Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, USA
Apr 2001 - May 2002
Research Associate, Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, USA
June 2002 - October 2006
Research Specialist, Howard Hughes Medical Institute
June 2002 - October 2006
Instructor, Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, USA
Nov. 2006-Feb. 2009
Assistant Professor, Department of Neurosurgery and Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, USA
Mar. 2009-
Professor, Department of Neuroscience, Faculty of Medicine, Miyazaki University
