Takashi Kitamura

Takashi Kitamura is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Department of Neuroscience at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW). His research focuses on neural circuit mechanisms underlying learning and memory, particularly involving the entorhinal cortex-hippocampal network. He holds a Ph.D. in Biology from Kyushu University and conducted postdoctoral work at MIT's Picower Institute before joining UTSW in 2017.

Education:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Biology, Kyushu University (Japan)
• Ph.D. in Biology, Kyushu University (Japan)
• Postdoctoral Researcher, MIT Picower Institute for Learning and Memory

Research Interests:

Kitamura’s lab investigates how hippocampal and entorhinal circuits encode episodic memories, including temporal and spatial associations. Key areas include:

• Neuronal ensembles and memory engrams
• Systems consolidation and its role in memory persistence
• Observational fear and social memory
• Neurobiological mechanisms of Alzheimer’s disease
• Optogenetic and viral tools to manipulate neural circuits

Publications:

Recent work highlights studies on observational fear circuits, automated neural analysis methods, and the role of mediodorsal thalamus in fear-related activity. His lab integrates electrophysiology, calcium imaging, and behavioral assays to dissect memory processes.

Awards:

• 2022: Distinguished Investigator Award, Japanese Society for Neurochemistry

Lab Activities:

Current projects explore hippocampal-amygdala interactions, temporal association learning, and mechanisms of memory dysfunction in Alzheimer’s. The lab collaborates with neuroscientists like Mark Henkemeyer and Carol Tamminga. Postdoctoral openings focus on innovative research in neural circuits and physiology.