Time zones and nerve cells
Japan, USA, Germany: No matter in which country he lives and conducts research, the neuroscientist Tomohisa Toda wants to find out what makes the nerve cells in our brain robust.
It all started with the kitchen unit. More accurately, the missing kitchen unit, which left Tomohisa Toda and his wife quite baffled. In Japan, where the neuroscientist grew up, and in the USA, where he has spent several years conducting research and living with his family, the apartments were always fully equipped. “In our first apartment in Germany, we had to wait ten weeks for our fitted kitchen,” remembers the researcher, who has been Professor of Neural Epigenetics at FAU and at the Max-Planck-Zentrum für Physik und Medizin in Erlangen since 2022. “When we arrived, we already had our first child, and could definitely have done with a working kitchen.”
However, the researcher is no stranger to coping with challenges, as is clearly demonstrated by his academic career: In 2011, Toda completed his doctoral degree in neuroscience at the University of Tokyo in his homeland Japan. A little later he moved to the USA as a postdoctoral researcher and worked at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies in San Diego. There he conducted research into epigenetic mechanisms of adult neural stem cells, and whenever he felt stuck in the laboratory, he would take his surfboard out in the lunch break and come back with new ideas. “I do sometimes miss being directly at the beach,” he admits. “But our decision to come to Germany was definitely the right one.” Here, he believes that research and private life is considerably less “competitive” than in the USA or Japan. “In my homeland, raising children is an extremely competitive business. I don’t want to subject my children to that,” he explains. And the scientist in him appreciates the possibility of being able to conduct fundamental research in Germany. “In the USA, you always have to justify your research and provide results as quickly as possible.”
Starting Grant prompts a move to Germany
The suggestion of making a change came from a German colleague and friend in San Diego, who brought the Starting Grant of the European Research Council (ERC) to Toda’s attention. Researchers of any nationality can apply for the prize in the early stages of their academic career. Toda grasped the chance, submitted his documents, received the coveted ERC Starting Grant in 2019, moved to Germany with his family and used the funds to launch a research group at the Deutschen Zentrum für Neurodegenerative Erkrankungen (DZNE) in Dresden. Together with his team, the neuroscientist, who has unique expertise in neurobiology and epigenetics, decoded several protein-based mechanisms that are responsible for the long-term functioning of nerve cells.
“The Long Night of Sciences is a great way of introducing science to children. I really like that about Germany.”
Prof. Dr. Tomohisa Toda
His findings were met with great interest at FAU, leading to the researcher moving to Erlangen in 2022 with his wife and in the meantime two young sons. From Dresden to Erlangen, or from Saxony to Bavaria, as his move took place under the framework of the High-Tech Agenda Bavaria. After a lot of looking, the family found a large apartment in Erlangen city center (with a kitchen this time), and have since settled in extremely well. “Our children can walk to the international elementary school and then go from there to sport,” Toda explains. He cycles to the university or the Max-Planck-Zentrum für Physik und Medizin, where he focuses on his fundamental research. In 2023, Tomohisa Toda was awarded a Consolidator Grant from the ERC for this research, worth two million euros in funding. Over a funding period of five years, the Toda group’s project NEUTIME will investigate the role of ribonucleic acid (RNA) in maintaining brain function and processes involved in the aging of the brain. “Certain RNA molecules in the nerve cells in the brain last a lifetime without being renewed,” explains the scientist. “It is therefore crucial that they retain their function and their cell type.” How that works, and above all, what makes the neurons robust, is what the team now hopes to find out. “That may prove to be a key to preventing and treating neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s,” Toda hopes.
What makes neurons robust
Prof. Dr. Tomohisa Toda is a neuroscientist and wants to find out what make neurons robust and what role ribonucleic acid (RNA) plays in maintaining brain function and in process involved in brain aging. Neurons are the nerve cells in our brain. They send and receive all signals and ensure that our body functions correctly. However, neurons age too and are therefore an important risk factor for neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s, dementia or Parkinson’s. The decisive factor for effective treatment concepts is a basic understanding of the aging process and which key components are involved in cell function. The Toda group is carrying out research into this and has already been able to show that certain RNA molecules exist a whole lifetime in the brain’s nerve cells without being renewed. Future research projects should give a deeper insight into the underlying biophysical mechanisms.
The research group hopes to present their findings next year at the Long Night of Sciences, as Toda is a great fan of the event. “So many people come who are interested in science,” he enthuses. “It is a great way of introducing science to children. I really like that about Germany.” However, as is hardly surprising, he is less keen on German bureaucracy. He keeps coming up against difficulties with it both personally and as a researcher. He and his wife often end up discussing these issues in their lovely kitchen.
Author: Elke Zapf
This article is part of the FAU magazine
Innovation, diversity and passion: Those are the three guiding principles of our FAU, as stated in our mission statement. At FAU, we live these guiding principles every day in all that we do – in research, in teaching and when it comes to sharing the knowledge created at our university with society.
This, the second issue of our FAU magazine, underlines all of the above: It shows researchers who tirelessly keep pushing the boundaries of what has been believed to be possible. It introduces students who work together to achieve outstanding results for their FAU, talks about teaching staff who pass on their knowledge with infectious enthusiasm and creativity. And it reports back on members of staff with foresight and a talent for getting to the crux of the matter who are dedicated to improving the (research) infrastructure at FAU as well as people in key positions who are there for their university and are committed to its research location.
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