Eisuke Koya

Prof. Eisuke Koya is a Professor in Behavioral Neuroscience at the University of Sussex's School of Psychology. He holds affiliations with the Mayo Clinic (USA) and Scripps Research (USA). His research focuses on neuronal ensembles mediating learned associations between rewards (drugs/food) and environmental cues, employing techniques like FosTRAP and in vivo imaging. Key interests include synaptic plasticity, extinction mechanisms, and environmental enrichment effects. He leads the Koya Ensemble Lab, funded by grants such as BBSRC and MRC. Notable contributions include identifying neuronal ensembles' role in addiction relapse and food-seeking behaviors. Advises students in neuroscience and pharmacology, with a focus on translational research. Collaborates internationally, including with institutions in Japan and the USA.

• Education: PhD in Molecular Neurobiology (Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam), MSc in Biotechnology (De Montfort University), BA in Neurobiology (UC Berkeley).
• Grants: £444k BBSRC grant (2015-2018), MRC Discovery Award, Sussex Neuroscience funding.
• Teaching: Convenes courses on Drugs, Brain, and Behaviour; lectures on The Science of Memory and Brain and Behaviour.
• Lab Members: Current and former students/postdocs include Zuzana Pedan, Maja Nowak, Emily Woods, and others.
• Future Work: Investigating food memory updates via neuronal ensembles and resilience against cravings via environmental enrichment.

His work bridges cellular mechanisms and behavioral outcomes, with implications for addiction treatment and cognitive therapies.