★Toshiaki Hata (ARIHHP Researcher) Receives First Prize in the Young Investigators Award at the 80th Annual Meeting of the Japanese Society of Physical Fitness and Sports Medicine
Research conducted by Toshiaki Hata (ARIHHP), Assist. Prof. Masahiro Okamoto (ARIHHP), and Emeritus Prof. Hideaki Soya, (Former Director of ARIHHP/Visiting Professor at the Center for Cybernics Research), and their colleagues received the First Prize in the Young Investigators Award at the 80th Annual Meeting of the Japanese Society of Physical Fitness and Sports Medicine.
The study revealed that a catecholaminergic neural pathway projecting from the locus coeruleus to the medial prefrontal cortex is involved in the mechanism by which fursultiamine, a vitamin B1 derivative, enhances spontaneous physical activity in rats.
The award is presented to the top three researchers following a first-stage review based on submitted abstracts and a final review based on oral presentations (English) at the meeting.
【Award recipients】: Toshiaki Hata, Taichi Hiraga, Masato Saiki, Mariko Soya, Mitsushi J Ikemoto, Masahiro Okamoto, and Hideaki Soya
【Award】: Young Investigators Award – First Prize
【Title】: A Brain-Targeted Thiamine-Derived Nutritional Strategy to Activate Spontaneous Physical Activity via a Coeruleo-Prefrontal Catecholaminergic Pathway
【Date of award】: September 26, 2026
