DATE2026.01.15 #Awards & Prizes

Fumiya Sano won the 42nd Inoue Academic Encouragement Award

Project Assistant Professor Fumiya Sano

Project Assistant Professor Fumiya Sano of the Department of Biological Sciences, has received the 42nd Inoue Research Award for Young Scientists.

This award was presented in recognition of Dr. Sano’s doctoral dissertation, which focused on elucidating the mechanisms underlying downstream signaling selection in G protein–coupled receptors (GPCRs).

For higher eukaryotic organisms to sustain life, cells must communicate with one another through biologically active substances. Because many of these substances cannot permeate the cell membrane, intercellular communication is mediated by membrane-bound receptors, most notably GPCRs. GPCRs constitute the largest superfamily of receptors encoded in the human genome. Upon binding external ligands, they transmit signals into the cell through interactions with various intracellular partner proteins.

Importantly, nearly all GPCRs are capable of signaling through multiple partner proteins, and their signaling pathways are finely regulated depending on the tissue type and cellular context. To address this complexity, Dr. Sano has conducted research aimed at a comprehensive understanding of GPCR downstream signaling selection mechanisms by combining structural analyses with molecular dynamics simulations, focusing on several representative GPCRs. These achievements were highly evaluated and led to the present award.

Following the completion of his doctoral degree, Dr. Sano has continued to expand his research as a Project Assistant Professor in the Nureki Laboratory, Department of Biological Sciences. Further accomplishments and continued success are greatly anticipated.

The 42nd Inoue Research Award for Young Scientists

(Written by : Professor Osamu Nureki of the Department of Biological Sciences）