Niitsu Memorial Overseas Study Grant: Yuto Yamada Joins the Lutz Research Group

The Lutz Research Group at the Leibniz Institute for Resilience Research (LIR) is pleased to welcome Yuto Yamada from Tohoku University, Japan, for a research stay from October to December 2026. His visit is supported by the Niitsu Memorial Overseas Study Grant, which promotes international research experience and scientific exchange. 

During his stay, Yuto will contribute to an ongoing research project led by Dr. Larglinda Islami in the Lutz Research Group, investigating the molecular mechanisms underlying individual differences in stress resilience and responses to psychedelic treatment. The project focuses on psilocybin, a psychedelic compound being investigated for its potential therapeutic effects in stress-related psychiatric disorders, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). 

Yuto will conduct a comprehensive RNA sequencing analysis starting from raw sequencing data, independently establishing a bioinformatics workflow to investigate how gene expression patterns differ between stress-resilient and stress-susceptible mice, between males and females, and following psilocybin treatment. By identifying differentially expressed genes and relevant biological pathways, his work aims to provide insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying stress resilience and fear extinction. 

Yuto is supervised by Associate Professor Yasuto Kunii and Assistant Professor Mizuki Hino, with additional guidance on RNA-seq analysis provided by PhD student Pongkhun Pantaneeya from Tohoku University. This collaboration strengthens scientific exchange between Tohoku University and the LIR, combining expertise in bioinformatics, molecular neuroscience, and resilience research. 

We are delighted to welcome Yuto Yamada to the Lutz Research Group and wish him a productive and inspiring research stay in Mainz.