Dr. Takeshi Yoshimatsu Receives Brain Research Foundation Seed Grant for Groundbreaking Zebrafish Study on Visual Attention
St. Louis, MO — June 6, 2024 — Takeshi Yoshimatsu,PhD, an Assistant Professor in the John F. Hardesty, MD, Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis (WashU Medicine) has been awarded a two-year seed grant from the Brain Research Foundation (BRF) to advance his research titled ‘Zebrafish Model to Study Visual Attention.’
This innovative project aims to explore the genetic mechanisms underlying attentional disorders such as attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Visual attention is a critical cognitive function that allows individuals to focus on relevant visual stimuli while disregarding distractions. Disruptions in this process are often seen in individuals with neurodevelopmental disorders, leading to difficulties in maintaining stable eye fixation.
Yoshimatsu’s research utilizes a novel behavioral paradigm paired with cutting-edge neuronal activity recording techniques to study the whole brain and eye interactions in zebrafish. The goal is to uncover the genetic pathways that contribute to these highly heritable disorders, potentially paving the way for new therapeutic approaches.
Founded in 1953, the Brain Research Foundation has a long history of supporting groundbreaking neuroscience research. The organization provides critical funding to promising young investigators and has contributed to significant advancements in understanding the human brain and developing treatments for neurological disorders.
About WashU Medicine
WashU Medicine is a global leader in academic medicine, including biomedical research, patient care and educational programs with 2,900 faculty. Its National Institutes of Health (NIH) research funding portfolio is the second largest among U.S. medical schools and has grown 56% in the last seven years. Together with institutional investment, WashU Medicine commits well over $1 billion annually to basic and clinical research innovation and training. Its faculty practice is consistently within the top five in the country, with more than 1,900 faculty physicians practicing at 130 locations and who are also the medical staffs of Barnes-Jewish and St. Louis Children’s hospitals of BJC HealthCare. WashU Medicine has a storied history in MD/PhD training, recently dedicated $100 million to scholarships and curriculum renewal for its medical students, and is home to top-notch training programs in every medical subspecialty as well as physical therapy, occupational therapy, and audiology and communications sciences.
For more information about Dr. Yoshimatsu’s research, the Brain Research Foundation, or WashU Medicine, please visit: Takeshi Yoshimatsu, PhD | Yoshimatsu Lab | WashU Medicine | The Brain Research Foundation