Distinguished Professor Takahiro Masuda receives Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development President's Award

On January 17, 2025, the seventh award ceremony for the Japan Medical Research and Development Awards was held at the Prime Minister's Office of Japan. Distinguished Professor Takahiro Masuda of the Division of Molecular Neuroimmunology at the Medical Institute of Bioregulation received the Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development (AMED) President's Award.

The Japan Medical Research and Development Awards were established to recognize significant contributions to advancing research and development in the medical field for the benefit of global medical progress. Among these, the AMED President's Award is given to individuals recognized for outstanding achievements, particularly for the encouragement of young researchers. To date, four recipients from Kyushu University have been honored with this award.

This year, the award was granted in recognition of Professor Masuda's groundbreaking work in studying special immune cells known as "CNS-associated macrophages" and for being the first to elucidate their characteristics.

CNS-associated macrophages are specialized immune cells located in the brain’s boundary regions, such as the meninges, perivascular spaces, and choroid plexus. Until recently, their details remained unknown.

Professor Masuda's research has revealed that CNS-associated macrophages share the same progenitor cells as microglia, another type of immune cell found in the brain. However, they acquire distinct genetic and functional properties that differ from those of microglia in the brain parenchyma. His research has also clarified the process by which CNS-associated macrophages settle in the brain boundary regions, where they remain through all life stages, from fetal development to adulthood.

Further development of this research is expected to contribute to controlling depression and cognitive decline, elucidating the mechanisms of brain-related disorders such as Alzheimer's disease, other forms of dementia, and autism spectrum disorder, as well as advancing innovative treatments and drug discovery.