Researchers in our department have a variety of backgrounds including medicine, science, life science, engineering, pharmacy, linguistics, pedagogy, and the arts, and work energetically on a wide range of studies of brain science, from brain dynamics research, which is designed to determine the metabolism and circulation of brain cells in small animals, to functional brain imaging research, which creates images of the working of the mind, to social technology study, which applies the findings of these studies to educational and welfare fields. We hope that many motivated students and researchers will join our team.
Our department was newly established at the Institute of Development, Aging, and Cancer in April 2006. Initially, our research activity began as the Functional Brain Imaging Laboratory, Advanced Science and Technology of Materials, New Industry Creation Hatchery Center, Tohoku University in May 2001. Setting Functional Brain Imaging research as our central project, we have been performing studies with a major goal of creating a new industry from the knowledge and technology of brain science. While attaining many achievements in basic research on brain function, we have created and developed a new category of industry with the key word "Train your Brain." We will continue to expand and deepen both research and educational activities. Specifically, we have two pillars of research: one is brain science research and the other social technology research. The former includes brain dynamics research, which uses a state-of-the-art two-photon microscope and a multichannel neuron activity recorder, as well as functional brain research using a super-high magnetic field MRI device. These cutting-edge devices are self-financed by the proceeds from industry-university cooperative projects. The latter gives "academic knowledge" back to society.
In brain science research, our focus is on functional brain imaging and brain dynamics. Our interest is the "human mind." Pursuing research of the relationship between brain and mind, we are trying to find answers to eternal questions of both natural science and humanity, such as "What does human exist for?" and "Where did humans come from and where will we go?". In brain dynamics research, we are elucidating the principles of brain activity by studying neuronal activity and metabolism as well as microcirculatory dynamics in small animals.
In social technology research, we will open a new possible approach to education and social welfare from the viewpoint of brain science. Since this is still a new and uncharted research field, we will face a bumpy road ahead in the near term. Students and researchers with motivation and enthusiasm for study will be expected to join us. Since we are willing to cooperate with industry, please contact the consultation service of Tohoku University if your company wishes to implement joint research with us.
Our team conducts a plenary meeting in English. Having foreign associate professors is part of the reason for this, but in addition the meeting is training to enable students and researchers to discuss their own research in English on a routine basis. Because we aim to conduct only world-class research, international meetings naturally become a staple for our research presentations. In addition, all students in our graduate program will make a conference debut at an international conference held in the next spring after entering the university.
Since "the brain" is itself human, research background is not a prerequisite for work in our department. And since "an inquiring mind" is vital to research, we will support studies based on individual intellectual curiosity. We hope that many will join our team.
