Mitsukuni Yoshida, MD, PhD, receives NIH Outstanding Scholars in Neuroscience Award for research on aging and disease.
Mitsukuni Yoshida, MD, PhD, a fifth-year postgraduate trainee in anesthesiology and clinical fellow in the Division of Pain Management at WashU Medicine, has been named a recipient of the 2025 NIH Outstanding Scholars in Neuroscience Award Program (OSNAP). The award recognizes early-career scientists who demonstrate exceptional promise and achievement in neuroscience research.
Yoshida’s research explores the complex relationship between the brain, the immune system, and aging, examining how their interactions shape lifespan and contribute to age-related conditions such as chronic pain and Alzheimer’s disease. As a participant in the department’s Academic Scholars Advancement Program (ASAP), Yoshida has spent the past four years balancing rigorous clinical training with laboratory research that could ultimately reveal new strategies to slow the aging process and help people live longer, healthier lives.
“Dr. Yoshida’s work stands at the exciting intersection of immunology and neuroscience,” said Robert Gereau, PhD, the Dr. Seymour & Rose T. Brown Professor of Anesthesiology and vice chair for research in the Department of Anesthesiology. “His innovative approach and dedication to scientific discovery embody the spirit of physician-scientist training at WashU Medicine. This recognition from the NIH is a testament to both his past accomplishments and his future potential.”
Rajendra Apte, MD, PhD, the Paul A. Cibis Distinguished Professor of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, also commended Yoshida’s creativity, passion, and dedication to neuroscience research, noting that these qualities distinguish him among the trainees he has mentored.
The OSNAP award is one of the NIH’s most prestigious recognitions for early-career neuroscientists. Yoshida will be honored at the NIH campus in Bethesda, Maryland, where he will present his research and engage with leaders in the field. The program also offers opportunities to collaborate with NIH principal investigators and expand professional networks. As part of the award, Yoshida plans to further investigate how aging drives disease by integrating advanced techniques with clinical insights from his work as a pain physician, aiming to develop new strategies to prevent and treat age-related conditions.
“Receiving the OSNAP award allows me to focus on addressing critical questions in neuroscience through collaborative, multidisciplinary research. With this support, I am well positioned to make meaningful contributions to the field and pursue my goal of improving human health,” said Yoshida.
Congratulations to Dr. Yoshida on this well-deserved recognition and for his commitment to advancing neuroscience research and improving human health.