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BSI has roughly 40
laboratories. It also has several senior scientists to encourage independent research
activities by senior researchers. Among the senior scientists is Dr. Shogo Endo,
who studies the molecular mechanisms underlying learning and memory.
Dr. Endo says, "I am interested in the fundamental mechanisms of memory that is
common to all life forms including human, animals, fishes and insects." Dr. Endo
recalled his childhood, and said that, "I was a weak kid; I tended to catch colds
and have fevers. It may be reasonable for me to think of being a scientist to
study something to do with the body and health."
A native of the northern island of Hokkaido, Dr. Endo studied at the Pharmacy
Department of Hokkaido University. There, he came across neuroscience while studying
the neuropeptide degrading enzymes. "Around that time, immunology and cancer research
were the major researches in life science," he said, "But, I am a little perverse
and I wanted to do what a few people were doing. My choice was to be in the pursuit
of neuroscience."
More than a decade ago, there was no post-doctorate system in Japan. There might
not be a plan for founding RIKEN BSI either. The young scientist didnﾕt think
he could pursue neuroscience research in Japan, and he decided to work in the
United States. "I believe that one of the popular functions of the brain is learning
and memory . The phrase ﾔcogito ergo sumﾕ (I think, therefore I am.) is true.
However, we donﾕt realize our existence unless we remember what we think."
"I was eager to study what develops personality, so I decided to work at the University
of Texas in Houston, where research was under way on Aplysia, a popular marine
animal used for the early studies of learning and memory. One may think that Aplysia
has nothing to do with human personality. But the basic behavioral components
that form memories are remarkably conserved in Aplysia as well as in human."
For Dr. Endo, life in Houston was a significant turning point in many aspects.
"First of all, I became healthy," he cited. "While I was in Sapporo, my body may
have learned to catch cold whenever winter comes. In the subtropical climate of
Houston, the high temperature was above body temperature and relative humidity
was over 90% for several months in summer. That climate did the trick and I got
a perfect health. I do believe in treatments by a change of air."
Dr. Endo liked the American way of research. "There was a technical support divisions
that helped me to concentrate on my experiments," he said. "Things are almost
the same in todayﾕs BSI which has a counterpart division called the Advanced Technology
Development Center (ATDC). Without such a division, we have to establish new technologies
and operate new machines by ourselves. In the US, the joint research facility
was readily available whenever I need a new technology, and that helped me a lot
conducting an efficient research."
Thanks to such a research environment, he had time to spare to go to sport stadiums
and get an airplane pilotﾕs license. Many Japanese people working in the United
States have small circles among their colleagues in the lab. Dr. Endoﾕs experience
was different. "I am a Christian and had a great fellowship in my church. They
let me experience a variety of events in an ordinary life, like weddings, funerals,
fellowships with young and old people, and even a murder trial," Dr. Endo recalled.
After three years in Houston, he move to Duke University, North Carolina, where
he worked for three more years. Then, he returned to the University of Houston
as an assistant professor where he gave twice-a-year lectures, three times a week
for two months. "The preparation for these lectures was an enormous task, but
teaching in English was an even bigger burden for me," he recalled. "In my first
lecture, I told my students that I would teach them high-grade science though
my English was poor, and also said that their first task was to decode my English."
He jokingly said that he gave students a decoding table for typical Japanese-style
spoken English with the pronunciations, ﾔFﾕ sounds like ﾔHﾕ, ﾔVﾕ sounds like ﾔBﾕ,
and so on. He found that the students looked really bored when his lectures were
dull. "I tried many tricks to keep them concentrating for 90 minutes," he said.
At universities in the United States, lecturers are evaluated by students. "Every
lectures I gave, I got a score above four out of five," he said, adding that he
was really pleased to know that the students appreciated his efforts. "In addition,
a score higher than four meant a pay raise for the next year," he said with a
smile.
After hearing the news from his supervisor on newly-established RIKEN BSI, Dr.
Endo returned to Japan. At BSI, the director, Dr. Masao Ito, told Dr. Endo to
carry out research the same way he had done in the United States. Thanks to Dr.
Ito, he said, he felt quite comfortable in the new research atmosphere at BSI.
His motto in research is to be ﾔhonestﾕ with himself, other people and the data.
"I am quite fortunate to have great people around me, including my supervisors.
In my laboratory, I make the major decisions on the research, but the labﾕs two
high-powered technical staffs do most of the work persistently and efficiently.
I believe mutual trust is an important factor in the lab and such trust is grown
by giving our best to the lab and respecting each others work in the lab." |
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