Tooru Mizuno

Biography

B.Sc. (Grassland Science) , Obihiro Univ. of Agriculture and Vet. Med., 1988 M.Sc. (Animal Science), Miyazaki Univ., 1990 Ph.D. (Physiology), Yokohama City Univ., 1994 Research Associate (Neurobiology), Mt. Sinai School of Med., 1994-1999 Instructor (Neurobiology), Mt. Sinai School of Med., 1999-2001 Research Assistant Professor (Neurobiology), Mt. Sinai School of Med., 2001-2003 Instructor (Endocrinology), Beth Israel Deaconess Med. Ctr./Harvard Med. Sch., 2003-2004 Assistant Professor (Physiology), Univ. of Manitoba, 2004-

Research Interest

Our research is focused on the regulation of metabolic and neuroendocrine functions by the hypothalamus. During the last decade, it became clear that hypothalamic neurons that express the gene called proopiomelanocortin (POMC) play a critical role in the regulation of metabolism, and impairments in the melanocortin system are often associated with metabolic derangements. Therefore, we are currently interested in how the melanocortin system is integrated in the regulation of metabolic and neuroendocrine functions. Current projects include: Investigating the roles of hypothalamic POMC in the regulation of metabolism and neuroendocrine functions, and mechanisms underlying the actions of melanocortins? relationships with obesity, diabetes and aging. Investigating the mechanisms by which nutritional pathways mediate the regulation of hypothalamic POMC expression? identification of novel transcription factors. Techniques being utilized in these studies include genetic engineering (transgenic mouse models and RNA interference), gene expression analysis, comprehensive analysis of metabolic parameters, and hypothalamic cell culture.