(l-r) Mark Okusa, Tsuyoshi Inoue, Patrice Guyenet, Chikara Abe, Ruth Stornetta and Diane Rosin.
Tsuyoshi Inoue, MD, PhD, is a postdoctoral fellow in the laboratory of Dr. Mark Okusa, chief of the Division of Nephrology. Dr. Inoue recently wrote an article for the Japanese Society of Nephrology website describing his experience studying in the U.S.; you can read it here (hit the “translate button” on the tool bar): https://www.jsn.or.jp/ryugaku/_3244.php.
Dr. Inoue was co-first author on two recent papers published in high-impact journals by members of the Okusa research lab and colleagues in Pharmacology (including faculty members Patrice Guyenet and Diane Rosin and former postoc Chikara Abe). The first, published in May 2016, appeared in the Journal of Clinical Investigation; the second, published just last month, appeared in Nature Neuroscience. Congratulations to all. (Full references and links to the articles are below; members of the research group are pictured at right.)
Tsuyoshi (right), with his twin brother.
I and my twin brother were born and grew up in Fukuoka, Japan, where my parents still live. I went to Nagasaki University for my MD degree (in Japan we go directly to medical school from high school, which is a six-year program). Then I lived in Tokyo for ten years, where I completed my residency and fellowship in nephrology at the National Center for Global Health and Medicine, followed by a PhD in medicine (focusing on experimental nephrology and epigenetics) at the University of Tokyo. I joined Dr. Okusa’s laboratory in 2014 as a postdoctoral fellow.
Why research? Why nephrology?
During my clinical fellowship, I saw a lot of patients suffering from kidney diseases. Unfortunately, in Japan, only a very small numbers of patients have a chance to receive a kidney transplant, and most of the end-stage renal disease patients have to go on dialysis (mainly hemodialysis). Through these experiences, I was highly motivated to perform kidney research.
Why UVA?
When I was a graduate student, Dr. Okusa gave a lecture in Tokyo. I was very impressed by his talk, and was thrilled when I had the opportunity to come to UVA and join his lab. I enjoy the research environment at UVA, and have had some very productive collaborations.
Proudest achievement outside the professional realm?
My daughter Yui was born at UVA two and a half years ago!
What are you usually doing in your spare time?
My wife Erika and I love hiking in the Shenandoah National Park. On the weekends we often visit there with our daughter and fully enjoy nature. Our daughter, almost three, can now walk more than a mile on the trails!
Where are you going on your next vacation?
I love traveling and have visited more than 20 countries so far. While we are in the States we’re focusing on trips within the country; we are planning to visit Yellowstone National Park this summer. We can’t wait!
What about you would surprise us?
My wife and daughter are big fans of Disney. We’ve visited Disney resorts a total of five times — once in Anaheim, once in Tokyo, and three times in Orlando — in the last 3 years!
Best Japanese restaurant in Charlottesville?
I am sure that Now and Zen is the best one in Charlottesville!
- Abe C, Inoue T*, Inglis MA, Viar KE, Huang L, Ye H, Rosin DL, Stornetta RL, Okusa MD, Guyenet PG. C1 neurons mediate a stress-induced anti-inflammatory reflex in mice. Nature Neuroscience 2017 Mar 13. doi: 10.1038/nn.4526. [Epub ahead of print]
- Inoue T, Abe C*, Sung SS, Moscalu S, Jankowski J, Huang L, Ye H, Rosin DL, Guyenet PG, Okusa MD. Vagus nerve stimulation mediates protection from kidney ischemia-reperfusion injury through α7nAChR+ splenocytes. Journal of Clinical Investigation 2016 May 2;126(5):1939-52. doi: 10.1172/JCI83658
* Co-first author
Filed Under: News and Notes
Tags: Education, Nephrology