Dr. Kenichi Okamoto 
INVESTIGATOR

After a global search, Dr. Kenichi Okamoto was recruited to the Samuel Lunenfeld Research Institute of Mount Sinai Hospital to join the neurobiology research team in October of 2008. Joining the Lunenfeld team most recently from the Picower Institute for Learning and Memory at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dr. Okamoto’s research focuses on understanding the molecular mechanisms that control brain functions such as learning and memory. His research is at the leading edge of neurobiology and microscopy combined with modern laser optics, and his approach to developing specific therapeutics for brain diseases is globally unique.

Dr. Okamoto has already developed a novel technique and instrument to visualize very specific molecular protein functions in the brain; this technique is being used by scientists around the world to examine and understand the behaviours of proteins tied to a variety of brain diseases, especially Alzheimer’s.

At the Lunenfeld Dr. Okamoto will build on his previous work and develop a complementary tool that will enable him to manipulate specific protein functions temporally and spatially using laser optics techniques. This is significant because the spatiotemporal manipulation of disease-related proteins has the potential to change the course of disease progression and health outcomes.  In fact, the manipulation of disease-related molecular protein function is key to advancing the development of specific, targeted, and personalized therapeutics.

Dr. Okamoto’s work will entail designing and building an original microscope that will be equipped with infrared lasers. These lasers will allow for simultaneous visualization and manipulation of a specific protein in real time.