Research area 

Neuroplasticity underlies learning and memory formation, which allows for accumulation of knowledge. Abnormalities can be associated with various disorders including dementia and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Taro Kitazawa's research focus is the molecular basis of neuroplasticity in memory circuit formation. Taro Kitazawa seeks to address fundamental questions regarding the epigenetic and transcriptional basis of memory-encoding neuronal ensemble (e.g., engram) formation. To this end, Taro Kitazawa and his research group will employ a multidisciplinary approach that encompasses genomics, mouse genetics, circuit analysis and bioinformatics.

They seek to investigate how neuronal activity-dependent gene regulation underlies memory engram cell plasticity. They will leverage state-of-the-art high throughput genomics technologies to carry out epigenetic and transcriptional profiling of these cells. Furthermore, they will also focus on developing a novel genomics technology which enables whole genome history tracing, and overcome critical limitations of existing snapshot-type sequencing technologies.

Short bio

Taro Kitazawa is an Associate Professor and group leader of the Kitazawa Group at DANDRITE - The Danish Research Institute of Translational Neuroscience at Aarhus University. The Kitazawa group is focusing on molecular basis of neuroplasticity, especially at the levels of epigenetic and transcriptional mechanisms underlying memory engram plasticity using mice as model organism. Taro Kitazawa obtained his ph.d. from the University of Tokyo, Japan in 2014. From 2015 to 2022, he was a postdoctoral researcher at the Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research (FMI), Switzerland.