Yutaro Asami, MD, Phd

Yutaro Asami obtained his MD degree in 2012 from the University of Miyazaki School of Medicine, Miyazaki, Japan. He first worked as a junior resident and a senior neurology resident, followed by a neurologist, at Tokyo Medical and Dental University Hospital in Tokyo, Japan. His research career began in 2016 at Tokyo Medical and Dental University Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan. He engaged in research on the development of oligonucleotide therapeutics, focusing on improving pharmacokinetics and efficacy through chemical modifications for clinical applications, and received his PhD in Medical Science in 2021. He worked as an assistant professor in the same department, engaging in research as well as educational and administrative responsibilities.

Yutaro joined the Yu lab in 2023 and has been developing antisense oligonucleotide therapies for neurogenetic disorders including Alternating hemiplegia of childhood, epileptic encephalopathy caused by mutations in KCNT1 or KCNQ2, Dentatorubral–pallidoluysian atrophy and Leigh syndrome. He leverages his experience both as a neurologist and a basic researcher in oligonucleotide therapeutics, aiming to deliver treatments as quickly as possible to patients with unmet medical needs.

Awards:

Yutaro was awarded Grant-in-Aid for Research Activity Start-up ($20,000) by Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare, Japan in 2021, Interdisciplinary Research Grant ($3,300) by Young Researchers Support Center, Tokyo Medical and Dental University in 2023, Researcher Development Support Research Incentive Program ($142,000) by Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development in 2023, and Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Research (Pioneering) ($134,000) by Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare, Japan in 2023.