Masashi Yanagisawa, M.D., Ph.D.

Medical School

University of Tsukuba , Medicine

Graduate School

University of Tsukuba (1988), Pharmacology

• Molecular genetics of sleep/wake regulation
• Orphan GPCRs and their neuropeptide ligands

Featured Publications

[Development of a Therapeutic Drug for Narcolepsy].

Irukayama-Tomobe Y, Yanagisawa M Brain Nerve 2018 Nov 70 11 1255-1263

Enhanced Orexin Receptor-2 Signaling Prevents Diet-Induced Obesity and Improves Leptin Sensitivity

Hiromasa Funato, Allen L. Tsai, Jon T. Willie, Yasushi Kisanuki, S. Clay Williams, Takeshi Sakurai, Masashi Yanagisawa Cell Metab. 2009 9 64-76

A missense mutation of the endothelin-B receptor gene in multigenic Hirschsprung’s disease

Erik G. Puffenberger, Kiminori Hosoda, Sarah S. Washington, Kazuwa Nakao, Damiane deWit, Masashi Yanagisawa, Aravinda Chakravarti Cell 1994 79 1257-66

Targeted and natural (piebald-lethal) mutations of endothelin-B receptor gene produce megacolon associated with spotted coat color in mice

Kiminori Hosoda, Robert E. Hammer, James A. Richardson, Amy Greenstein Baynash, Jason C. Cheung, Adel Giaid, Masashi Yanagisawa Cell 1994 79 1267-76

Endothelin: 30 Years From Discovery to Therapy.

Barton M, Yanagisawa M, Hypertension 2019 Dec 74 6 1232-1265

Distinct effects of orexin receptor antagonist and GABA_A agonist on sleep and physical/cognitive functions after forced awakening.

Seol J, Fujii Y, Park I, Suzuki Y, Kawana F, Yajima K, Fukusumi S, Okura T, Satoh M, Tokuyama K, Kokubo T, Yanagisawa M, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 2019 Nov 116 48 24353-24358

Toward the Mysteries of Sleep.

Yanagisawa M, Keio J Med 2019 68 1 27

A single phosphorylation site of SIK3 regulates daily sleep amounts and sleep need in mice.

Honda T, Fujiyama T, Miyoshi C, Ikkyu A, Hotta-Hirashima N, Kanno S, Mizuno S, Sugiyama F, Takahashi S, Funato H, Yanagisawa M Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 2018 Sep

Continuous intrathecal orexin delivery inhibits cataplexy in a murine model of narcolepsy.

Kaushik MK, Aritake K, Imanishi A, Kanbayashi T, Ichikawa T, Shimizu T, Urade Y, Yanagisawa M Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 2018 May

Ablation of Central Serotonergic Neurons Decreased REM Sleep and Attenuated Arousal Response.

Iwasaki K, Komiya H, Kakizaki M, Miyoshi C, Abe M, Sakimura K, Funato H, Yanagisawa M Front Neurosci 2018 12 535

• Bristol-Myers Squibb Achievement Award in Cardiovascular Research
  (2003)
• Elected Member, National Academy of Sciences
  (2003)
• The Amgen Award, American Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
  (1999)
• The Kilby Award, The Kilby Award Foundation
  (1998)
• The Novartis Award, American Heart Association
  (1998)

• Investigator, Howard Hughes Medical Institute