Masao Ito

Masao Ito began his distinguished career as a research scholar and fellow at Sir John Eccles’ laboratory at the Australian National University. He moved to the University of Tokyo where he eventually became Emeritus Professor, and then on to the RIKEN Brain Science Institute, where he currently serves as special advisor. He also was president of the Neuroscience Society of Japan and of the International Human Frontier Science Programme Organization.

His research has helped unravel the mysteries surrounding the molecular and cellular bases of learning and memory in the brain. His contributions include identifying more than 30 molecules involved in the motor learning – subconscious memory of procedures like riding a bicycle. He received the 2006 Gruber Neuroscience Prize jointly with Roger Nicoll, another former student of Eccles.