Hiromi Hirata, Associate Professor of Motor Neural Circuit Laboratory, received a Ministry of Education, Sports, Culture, Science and Technology (MEXT) Prize for Young Investigators at a ceremony held on April 17. This prestigious prize goes to young scientists in recognition of creative research and exceptional achievement in science. His prize was given for his outstanding research on the molecular basis of motor development in vertebrates.   Motor Neural Circuit Laboratory, Hirata Laboratory

Takehiko Kobayashi, Professor of Cytogenetics, was awarded the 2012 “Prize for Science and Technology”by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, Japan. This prize is awarded to scientists who conducted pioneering and original scientific works. Takehiko Kobayashirevealed the molecular mechanism of “gene amplification”that contributed to evolution and adaptation using the ribosomal RNA gene cluster as a model system. Takehiko Kobayashi also found that the amplified genes affect cellular senescence by their instabilities, and he developed a new research field for aging study.   Division of Cytogenetics, Kobayashi Laboratory