EDITORIAL-DETAILS (JPDM)
Kazuko Sakata
Assistant Professor
University of Tennessee Health Science Center
USA
Biography
Dr. Kazuko Sakata completed an undergraduate degree in Pharmacology at Osaka University in Japan in 1995. She completed a M.S. and a Ph.D. for medical science at the graduate school of Medicine at Osaka University 1997 and 2001, respectively. She obtained postdoctoral training at National Institute of Health (NIH), Neural Development and Plasticity. Dr. Sakata was awarded the Fellows Award of Research Excellence at the NIH FARE competition and the 1st price of poster competition at the second annual meeting of the National Institute of Child Health and Development (NICHD). After working at NIIH as a Research Scientist, Dr. Sakata then joined University of Tennessee Health Science Center in Memphis as an Assistant Professor of Pharmacology/Psychiatry in September 2008.
Research Interest
Dr. Kazuko Sakata research focuses to study neurotrophic mechanisms in neuropsychiatric conditions. In particular, her recent research focuses on the roles of gene regulation of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in pathogenesis of major depression and its recovery. Dr. Kazuko Sakata uses a multidisciplinary approach from genes to behavior with genetic, molecular, biochemical, electrophysiological, and behavioral techniques. While major depression is the leading disease burden in industrialized countries including the North America, she hopes that understanding the underlying mechanisms will advance the future therapy for depression.