Education
- Ph.D. in Molecular Neuroscience, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, 2023 - Present (3rd year)
- Department of Molecular Neuroscience
- JSPS Research Fellowship for Young Scientists (DC1)
- Advisor: Prof. Toshihide Yamashita
- Doctor of Medicine (M.D.), Osaka University Faculty of Medicine, 2015 - 2021
- Yamamura Prize (graduation honors, top 3 out of 115 graduates) - See 令和2年度 (2020) in the linked document
- Research Internship, Barkla X-ray Laboratory of Biophysics, University of Liverpool, UK, Feb - Mar 2018
- Supervisor: Prof. Samar Hasnain
- Kishimoto International Exchange Scholarship
Clinical Training
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Neurology Resident, Toneyama National Hospital, Osaka, Japan, Apr 2024 - Present
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Internal Medicine Intern, Osaka University Hospital, Osaka, Japan, Apr 2021 - Mar 2023
Research Experience
- PhD Research, Yamashita Laboratory, Osaka University, Apr 2023 - Present
- Investigating the role of chaperone proteins in the cytotoxic and propagative hallmarks of fibrils in multiple system atrophy (MSA)
- Conducting omics analysis revealing disrupted sphingolipid metabolic pathways in MSA
- Recipient of Grant-in-Aid for JSPS Research Fellows (KAKENHI-PROJECT-24KJ1662, 4,400,000 JPY for 3 years)
- Undergraduate Research, Yamashita Laboratory, Osaka University, Apr 2017 - Mar 2021
- Studied the role of histone deacetylase (HDAC) in neuronal rewiring after traumatic brain injury (TBI)
- Performed tissue-specific HDAC2 knockdown in TBI model mice
- Analyzed BDNF promoter acetylation using ChIP-qPCR
- Quantified corticospinal tract collaterals and synapses using fluorescence microscopy
- Spring Research Internship, Samar Hasnain Laboratory, University of Liverpool, Feb - Mar 2018
- Expressed and purified SOD1 and TDP43 proteins in E. coli
- Performed protein crystallization and 3D structural analysis
- Kishimoto International Exchange Scholarship - Structural biology of neurodegenerative disease proteins
- Global Health Research Internship, JICA/University Teaching Hospital, Lusaka, Zambia, Aug 2018
- Investigated TB/AIDS co-infection epidemiology in sub-Saharan Africa
- Conducted field research at local healthcare facilities
- Presented findings at the 36th Annual Meeting of Japan Association for Global Health
- Kishimoto International Exchange Scholarship - Public health fieldwork in resource-limited settings
Publications
- Sada, N., Fujita, Y., Mizuta, N. et al. Inhibition of HDAC increases BDNF expression and promotes neuronal rewiring and functional recovery after brain injury. Cell Death & Disease 11, 655 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41419-020-02897-w
Selected Conference Presentations
Oral Presentations
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Prevention of neurological complications of surgery by developing a nerve-sparing navigation system
Sada N. and Kisaki T., MedTech Entrepreneurship Symposium, Osaka, Japan, Jun 2024 -
Raman spectroscopy-based surgical navigation system for nerve preservation
Team “Future Medical Innovators”, Photonics Challenge 2025 Final Presentation, Feb 2025
🏆 Finalist (Idea Division) -
Traumatic brain injury and basic research
Sada N., Japan and U.S. Emergency Web Conference, Osaka, Japan, Sep 2021
Poster Presentations
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The effects of histone deacetylase inhibitor on motor functional recovery after traumatic brain injury
Sada N., Fujita Y., Yamashita T., The 41st Annual Meeting of the Japan Neuroscience Society, Kobe, Jul 2018
🏆 Junior Investigator Poster Award (awarded to 10 posters out of 80) -
HDAC inhibition after traumatic brain injury promotes neural circuit reorganization and functional recovery
Sada N., Fujita Y., Yamashita T., The 126th Annual Meeting of The Japanese Association of Anatomists and the 98th Annual Meeting of The Physiological Society of Japan, Web Conference, Mar 2021
🏆 Pathophysiology Excellence Award (awarded to 24 posters out of 84) -
Inhibition of HDAC increases BDNF expression and promotes neuronal rewiring and functional recovery after brain injury
Sada N., Fujita Y., Yamashita T., The 96th Academic Meeting of the Kinki Branch of the Japanese Anatomical Society, Nov 2020 -
Health Issues in International Society - Republic of Zambia Case Report
Nagano K., Sada N., et al., The 36th Annual Meeting by Western Japan Branch of Japan Association for Global Health, Fukuoka, Mar 2019
Teaching Experience
- Teaching Assistant, Aug 2024 - Present
メディカル・ヘルスケアデバイス スタートアップ経営者育成プログラム
(Training program for medical/healthcare device startup CEOs: “TRACS”)
Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine
Leadership & Service
- Vice-Representative, Osaka University Medical English Club, Apr 2019 - Mar 2020
- Led team to 1st prize in 2017 pitch contest
- Won freshman 1st prize in 2018 debate competition
- Participated in annual competitions with 8 national universities
- Evidence Updating Group Member, Sep 2021 - Present
Chronic Lung Disease Working Group
Japan Evidence-Based Neonatology Group, Japan Society for Neonatal Health and Development- Screened 200+ clinical reports and proposed evidence-based clinical recommendations
Awards & Honors
- Photonics Challenge 2025 Finalist, Idea Division, Team “Future Medical Innovators”, 2025
- JSPS Research Fellowship for Young Scientists (DC1), 2023-2026 (KAKENHI-PROJECT-24KJ1662)
- Yamamura Prize (graduation honors), Osaka University Faculty of Medicine, 2021 - See 令和2年度 (2020) in the linked document
- Pathophysiology Excellence Award, Japanese Association of Anatomists, 2021
- Junior Investigator Poster Award, Japan Neuroscience Society, 2018
- Intellectual Property Management Prize & Risk Management Prize, Medical Device Design Course, 2023
Professional Development
- Certificate, メディカル・ヘルスケアデバイス スタートアップ経営者育成プログラム (TRACS), Sep 2023 - Jun 2024
- Collaborated with engineering faculty on photonics medical device development
- Delivered final presentation at entrepreneurship symposium (300+ participants)
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Medical Device Design Course, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, May - Oct 2023
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Training Program for MD-PhD Researchers, Osaka University Faculty of Medicine, Apr 2016 - Mar 2021
- JICA Global Health Program, Lusaka, Zambia, Aug 2018
- Studied public health challenges and TB/AIDS co-infection in sub-Saharan Africa
- Participated in field research on infectious disease control at University Teaching Hospital
Technical Skills
- Molecular Biology: Genotyping, Western blotting, Real-time PCR, ChIP-qPCR
- Cell & Tissue Analysis: Immunohistochemistry, Confocal microscopy, Cell culture
- Animal Research: Mouse behavioral testing, Stereotaxic surgery, TBI models
- Protein Biochemistry: Protein expression and purification, Crystallography
- Data Analysis: Statistical analysis, Omics data interpretation
- Languages: Japanese (Native), English (Professional proficiency - TOEFL iBT 92/120)
Last updated: June 2025