About
Chihiro Nozaki is an Associate Professor at the Faculty of Science and Engineering, Waseda University, where she conducts cutting-edge research at the intersection of pharmacology, neuroscience, and neuroimmunology. Her work focuses on understanding the endocannabinoid system's role in pain modulation, neuroinflammation, and metabolic disorders, with particular emphasis on cannabinoid receptors CB1 and CB2.
Dr. Nozaki earned her Doctorate from Hoshi Pharmaceutical University following graduate studies at Kyoto Institute of Technology. Her distinguished academic career includes significant research positions at the University of Bonn's Institute of Molecular Psychiatry, where she held a prestigious DFG Eigene Stelle (Temporary Principal Investigator) position, as well as postdoctoral fellowships at Institut de génétique et de biologie moléculaire et cellulaire (IGBMC) in France and University of Bonn.
- Current Position: Associate Professor, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Waseda University (2020-present)
- Previous Positions: Project Researcher at Tokyo University of Science (2019-2020), Temporary PI at University of Bonn (2016-2019), Postdoctoral Fellow at University of Bonn (2011-2015)
- Education: Doctorate from Hoshi Pharmaceutical University (2004-2007), Graduate studies at Kyoto Institute of Technology (2002-2004)
Dr. Nozaki's research program investigates how the endocannabinoid system modulates pain responses, particularly through CB1 and CB2 receptors, and how these systems interact with leptin signaling in inflammatory conditions. Her current work includes a DFG-funded project "Role of endocannabinoid system on the modulation of migraine" and investigations into how endocannabinoid systems modulate diseases that induce pain and neuroinflammation such as diabetes, obesity, allergy, and Alzheimer's disease.
Her research has significant translational potential, particularly in developing novel therapeutic approaches for migraine, medication overuse headache, and other pain conditions. Recent studies have demonstrated that CB2 receptors may have a dual regulatory role in inflammation - sometimes anti-inflammatory and sometimes pro-inflammatory depending on the context - challenging previous assumptions about these receptors.
- Current Research Projects:
- "CB2受容体がもつ炎症「促進」と「抑制」の二面性を骨髄細胞分化から解明する" (Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, 2025-2028)
- "食用コオロギは本当に「健康的」か ～コオロギ摂食マウスにおける性特異的な体重増加の機序解明" (Food Chemistry Research Promotion Foundation, 2025-2026)
- "塩分が高脂肪食誘発全身性炎症に与える影響" (Salt Science Research Foundation, 2025-2026)
- "肥満が誘発する慢性炎症に関連する新たな分子・神経・免疫基盤の解明" (Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, 2020-2023)
Dr. Nozaki's research has been recognized with several prestigious awards including the Excellent Young Researcher candidate award from the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science in 2018, a research grant from Fondation pour la Recherche Medicale in France (2009), and a Travel Award from the International Narcotic Research Conference (2005).
- Professional Memberships:
- International Cannabinoid Research Society
- Society for Neuroscience
- German Neuroscience Society
- The Japanese Pharmacological Society
- International Narcotic Research Conference
- International Association for the Study of Pain
Dr. Nozaki has made substantial contributions to mentoring and education, supervising numerous graduate students and postdoctoral researchers. Her laboratory at Waseda University maintains active collaborations with institutions in Japan, Germany, and France, reflecting her international research profile developed during her time at the University of Bonn and IGBMC.
