Hajime Murakami

Hajime Murakami is an Advanced Research Fellow at the University of Aberdeen's School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition, where he conducts cutting-edge research on meiotic recombination mechanisms. His work focuses on understanding how cells manage the complex process of DNA double-strand break formation and repair during meiosis, with implications for human fertility and chromosome disorders.

Dr. Murakami's research interests center on the molecular mechanisms of meiotic recombination, particularly the role of DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) in chromosome segregation. His laboratory investigates how proteins like Hop1 and Red1 function as 'manager proteins' that direct the DNA 'scissors' to appropriate chromosomal locations, ensuring proper recombination while preventing errors that could lead to miscarriage or congenital syndromes. His work primarily uses yeast as a model system, which shares fundamental meiotic mechanisms with humans.

Analysis of Dr. Murakami's publication record reveals a consistent focus on the molecular regulation of meiotic recombination across his career. His research has progressively uncovered sophisticated control mechanisms that ensure accurate chromosome segregation, with particular emphasis on how cells manage DNA break formation across chromosomes of different sizes. His work spans fundamental molecular mechanisms to potential clinical applications in reproductive medicine.

Dr. Murakami has received significant recognition for his work, most notably a Medical Research Council (MRC) Career Development Award, which supports his ongoing research into the molecular basis of meiotic recombination.

As an active researcher accepting PhD students in Biomedical Sciences, Dr. Murakami continues to advance our understanding of fundamental genetic processes that underlie human reproductive health. His laboratory at the Institute of Medical Sciences on Foresterhill Campus employs yeast genetics and molecular biology approaches to investigate the critical processes that ensure proper chromosome segregation during gamete formation.