Masaki Nishioka, MD, PhDDegree:Ph.D. in Medicine, The University of Tokyo
M.D., The University of TokyoAreas of specialization: Neurogenetics

Research Interests

Somatic mutations in the human brain

Somatic mutation in the human brain is the primary interest for me. I am investigating somatic mutations in the human brain as an expecting candidate explaining for mental disorders as well as other mental characteristics. In addition to the germline genomes, which is transmitted from parents, somatic mutations during the developmental process should further shape an individual’s personality. I want to answer to the long-lasting question how nervous structure of the human brain corresponds to phenotypes such as behavior, cognition and personality by somatic mutation analysis.

Profile

2018-

Research Scientist, RIKEN Center for Brain Science

2016-2018

Assistant Professor, Division for Counseling and Support, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo

2010-2012

Psychiatrist, Tokyo Metropolitan Tama Medical Center, Tokyo

2008-2010

Resident, The University of Tokyo Hospital, Tokyo

MEMBERSHIP

Japan Neuroscience Society

Councilor of Japanese Society of Schizophrenia

Board Certified Member of Japanese Society of Neurology and Psychiatry (2016)

Selected Papers

1. Nishioka M, Bundo M, Iwamoto K., Kato T. Somatic mutations in the human brain: implications for psychiatric research. Molecular Psychiatry. 2018 Aug 7. doi: 10.1038/s41380-018-0129-y.
2. Nishioka M, Bundo M, Ueda J, Yoshikawa A, Nishimura F, Sasaki T, Kakiuchi C, Kasai K, Kato T, Iwamoto K. Identification of somatic mutations in monozygotic twins discordant for psychiatric disorders. npj Schizophrenia 4(1):7 (2018)
3. Nishioka M, Bundo M, Ueda J, Katsuoka F, Sato Y, Kuroki Y, Ishii T, Ukai W, Murayama S, Hashimoto E, Nagasaki M, Yasuda J, Kasai K, Kato T, Iwamoto K. Identification of somatic mutations in postmortem human brains by whole genome sequencing and their implications for psychiatric disorders. Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences. 72(4):280-294 (2018)
4. Nishioka M, Bundo M, Koike S, Takizawa R, Kakiuchi C, Araki T, Kasai K, Iwamoto K. Comprehensive DNA methylation analysis of peripheral blood cells derived from patients with first-episode schizophrenia. Journal of Human Genetics. 58(2):91-97 (2013)
5. Nishioka M, Shimada T, Bundo M, Ukai W, Hashimoto E, Saito T, Kano Y, Sasaki T, Kasai K, Kato T, Iwamoto K. Neuronal cell-type specific DNA methylation patterns of the Cacna1c gene. International Journal of Developmental Neuroscience. 31(2):89-95 (2013)
6. Nishioka M, Bundo M, Kasai K, Iwamoto K. DNA methylation in schizophrenia: progress and challenges of epigenetic studies. Genome Medicine. 13;4(12):96 (2012)