Takashi Sato

Takashi Sato, MD, PhD, is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Neuroscience at the College of Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC). His lab, Satobrainlab, focuses on understanding neural circuit dysfunction in neurological diseases like stroke and Alzheimer’s using advanced techniques such as two-photon imaging and optogenetics. Recently, his research has expanded to study dorsal brainstem nuclei, exploring how sensory inputs from the body and internal organs influence behavior.

Dr. Sato’s work integrates experimental and computational approaches to uncover fundamental neural processing principles. He has received awards including the Phi Kappa Phi Chapter Research Award and College of Charleston Research Expo Award. His research group includes undergraduate researchers such as Ashley Matunis and Madeline Keller, who have contributed to studies on stroke recovery and brainstem plasticity post-spinal cord injury.

His publications span over two decades, examining topics from dopamine signaling in prefrontal cortex to cortical plasticity mechanisms in motor recovery. Dr. Sato’s lab emphasizes translational research, aiming to bridge basic neuroscience discoveries to clinical applications.