Professor TAKUMI Toru (Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine) has been selected as Project Manager for a feasibility study entitled: 'Brain Science towards visualization and manipulation of the mind'. This study is part of the Japan Science and Technology Agency's Moonshot R&D Program and aims to achieve Moonshot Goal 9: 'Realization of a mentally healthy and dynamic society by increasing peace of mind and vitality by 2050'.
The Moonshot Program establishes ambitious goals (Moonshot Goals) to tackle vital issues facing society, such as super-aging populations and global warming. In order to achieve these goals, the program promotes cutting-edge research and development in fields and areas in need of advancement based on the R&D concepts put forth by MEXT (Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology).
Working under the Project Director for the respective Moonshot Goal, Project Managers use backcasting techniques to implement R&D and achieve the Moonshot Goal. Their responsibilities include R&D project planning, organization and management of their project's implementation.
Using a multi-modal VR system to analyze brain functions in real-time, as well as techniques such as optogenetics to manipulate these functions, Professor Takumi's project will illuminate the links between neural activity and specific behaviors, advancing our understanding of how the mind works.
