About
Titles
Professor Adjunct of Neurology
Biography
2005:Board of the Japan Stroke Society (No. 20050807)
2002:Board of the Japan Neurosurgical Society (No. 5682)
1996:Medical Doctor License in Japan (Registration No. 378728)
Appointments
Departments & Organizations
Education & Training
- Associate Research Scientist
- Yale University, School of Medicine, Neurology (2011)
- Postdoctoral Associate
- Yale University, School of Medicine, Neurology (2005)
- PhD
- Sapporo Medical University (2001)
- MD
- Sapporo Medical University (1996)
- Resident
- Sapporo Medical University, Neurosurgery (1996)
Research
Overview
My research
interest is in the area of cellular transplantation to repair spinal cord
injury. My work has primarily utilized neural cells derived from adult tissues
and processed for transplantation into injured spinal cord. I developed cells
from the olfactory system called olfactory ensheathing cells (OECs) that
display unique properties that assist normal axon growth of olfactory sensory
neurons into the brain. I have also engineered adult stem cells derived from
bone marrow to hypersecrete a neurotrophic factor and has found that these
cells are neuroprotective. Collectively, my research has important clinical
implications and could lead to a clinical study in spinal cord injury patients.
ORCID
0000-0001-7961-9698- View Lab Website
The Yale Center for Neuroscience and Regeneration Research
Research at a Glance
Yale Co-Authors
Frequent collaborators of Masanori Sasaki's published research.
Publications Timeline
A big-picture view of Masanori Sasaki's research output by year.
Jeffery Kocsis, PhD
Osamu Honmou, MD, PhD
Karen L Lankford, PhD
Hajime Tokuno, MD
Nancy Ruddle, PhD
Peng Zhao, PhD
93Publications
2,514Citations
Publications
2024
Multiple intravenous infusions versus a single infusion of mesenchymal stem cells in a rat model of cerebral ischemia.
Yokoyama T, Sasaki M, Nagahama H, Kataoka-Sasaki Y, Ukai R, Oka S, Kocsis J, Honmou O. Multiple intravenous infusions versus a single infusion of mesenchymal stem cells in a rat model of cerebral ischemia. Journal Of Neurosurgery 2024, 1-9. PMID: 39454218, DOI: 10.3171/2024.6.jns241111.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsInfusion of mesenchymal stem cellsMiddle cerebral artery occlusionMiddle cerebral artery occlusion inductionMesenchymal stem cellsCorpus callosumSystemic infusion of mesenchymal stem cellsMultiple infusionsAcute phaseMesenchymal stem cell infusionCerebral ischemiaStem cellsMultiple intravenous infusionsRat model of cerebral ischemiaHigh-dose infusionPermanent middle cerebral artery occlusionIschemic lesion volumeModels of cerebral ischemiaCC thicknessRandomized clinical trialsCerebral artery occlusionNeural tractsAcute cerebral strokeFunctional recovery outcomesMRI diffusion tensor imagingMSC-3Intravenous infusion of auto-serum-expanded autologous mesenchymal stem cells into chronic severe brain injury patients
Yamaki T, Oka S, Iyama S, Sasaki M, Onodera R, Kataoka-Sasaki Y, Namioka T, Namioka A, Nakazaki M, Takemura M, Ukai R, Yokoyama T, Sasaki Y, Yamashita T, Kobayashi M, Yamaguchi M, Fukino M, Takazawa T, Hayasaka M, Owaku T, Funakura M, Onodera S, Ito Y, Kobune M, Kato J, Ishiai S, Kocsis J, Odaki M, Iwadate Y, Kobayashi S, Honmou O. Intravenous infusion of auto-serum-expanded autologous mesenchymal stem cells into chronic severe brain injury patients. Interdisciplinary Neurosurgery 2024, 36: 101927. DOI: 10.1016/j.inat.2023.101927.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsConceptsSevere brain injury patientsAutologous mesenchymal stem cellsBrain injury patientsIntravenous infusionMesenchymal stem cellsAdverse eventsInjury patientsInfused mesenchymal stem cellsHealth Stroke ScaleSerious adverse eventsFugl-Meyer AssessmentInitial case seriesBrain metabolic activityStem cellsMSC infusionStroke ScaleNeurological deteriorationBarthel IndexCase seriesCNS tumorsNeurological functionFunctional statusFunctional improvementChronic patientsPlacebo effectA surgical protocol for establishing spinal cord ischemia with extended lifespan and low complication rates in rats
Yasuda N, Sasaki M, Kocsis J, Kawaharada N, Honmou O. A surgical protocol for establishing spinal cord ischemia with extended lifespan and low complication rates in rats. World Neurosurgery 2024, 188: e349-e356. PMID: 38789035, DOI: 10.1016/j.wneu.2024.05.114.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsIschemic spinal cord injurySpinal cord ischemiaCord ischemiaComplication rateRat modelTherapeutic strategiesEvaluate new therapeutic strategiesFunctional recoveryMale Sprague-Dawley ratsLow complication rateSprague-Dawley ratsSpecialized surgical equipmentExperimental animal modelsImprove functional recoveryPromote functional recoverySpinal cord injuryCross-clampingSevere neurological disordersAzygos veinSurgical protocolDescending aortaBulldog clampsLumbar levelsSpinal cordIschemic lesions
2023
Rehabilitation facilitates functional improvement following intravenous infusion of mesenchymal stem cells in the chronic phase of cerebral ischemia in rats
Yamashita T, Sasaki M, Sasaki Y, Nagahama H, Oka S, Kataoka-Sasaki Y, Ukai R, Yokoyama T, Kobayashi M, Kakizawa M, Kocsis J, Honmou O. Rehabilitation facilitates functional improvement following intravenous infusion of mesenchymal stem cells in the chronic phase of cerebral ischemia in rats. Brain Research 2023, 1825: 148709. PMID: 38072373, DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2023.148709.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsActin Alpha 2, Smooth Muscle (ACTA2) Is Involved in the Migratory Potential of Malignant Gliomas, and Its Increased Expression at Recurrence Is a Significant Adverse Prognostic Factor
Hoshimaru T, Nonoguchi N, Kosaka T, Furuse M, Kawabata S, Yagi R, Kurisu Y, Kashiwagi H, Kameda M, Takami T, Kataoka-Sasaki Y, Sasaki M, Honmou O, Hiramatsu R, Wanibuchi M. Actin Alpha 2, Smooth Muscle (ACTA2) Is Involved in the Migratory Potential of Malignant Gliomas, and Its Increased Expression at Recurrence Is a Significant Adverse Prognostic Factor. Brain Sciences 2023, 13: 1477. PMID: 37891844, PMCID: PMC10605410, DOI: 10.3390/brainsci13101477.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsActin alpha 2Malignant gliomasDistant recurrenceACTA2 expressionKD groupSmooth muscleSignificant adverse prognostic factorMode of recurrenceAlpha 2Progression-free survivalAdverse prognostic factorHuman malignant glioma cell linesMalignant glioma cell linesClinical glioma samplesGlioma cell linesPrognostic factorsBrain invasionTumor recurrenceInvasive tumorsNovel therapiesGlioma patientsSame patientRecurrenceControl groupPotential biomarkersRepeated intravenous infusion of mesenchymal stem cells enhances recovery of motor function in a rat model with chronic spinal cord injury
Kurihara K, Sasaki M, Nagahama H, Obara H, Fukushi R, Hirota R, Yoshimoto M, Teramoto A, Kocsis J, Yamashita T, Honmou O. Repeated intravenous infusion of mesenchymal stem cells enhances recovery of motor function in a rat model with chronic spinal cord injury. Brain Research 2023, 1817: 148484. PMID: 37442249, DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2023.148484.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsSpinal cord injuryInfusion of MSCsChronic spinal cord injuryMesenchymal stem cellsAxonal sproutingCord injuryHD-MSCsIntravenous infusionMotor functionVehicle groupWeek 6Single high-dose infusionInjection of MSCsChronic SCI ratsSingle MSC injectionGreater functional recoveryRat SCI modelSingle intravenous infusionHigh-dose infusionLimited treatment optionsGreater functional improvementSingle high doseHigh disease burdenVivo diffusion tensor imagingEx vivo diffusion tensor imagingTherapeutic efficacy of intravenous infusion of mesenchymal stem cells in rat perinatal brain injury
Terada K, Sasaki M, Nagahama H, Kataoka-Sasaki Y, Oka S, Ukai R, Yokoyama T, Iizuka Y, Sakai T, Fukumura S, Tsugawa T, Kocsis J, Honmou O. Therapeutic efficacy of intravenous infusion of mesenchymal stem cells in rat perinatal brain injury. Pediatric Research 2023, 94: 1921-1928. PMID: 37422495, DOI: 10.1038/s41390-023-02717-9.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsPerinatal brain injuryBrain injuryMesenchymal stem cellsIntravenous infusionVehicle groupBrain volumeTherapeutic efficacyInfused mesenchymal stem cellsLeft common carotid arteryHistological analysisNon-ischemic hemispherePostnatal day 7Common carotid arteryEmbryonic day 18Stem cellsHypoxia-ischemiaMSC infusionPreterm infantsGABAergic cellsNeurological functionSignificant complicationsCortical synapsesFunctional improvementCarotid arteryIntravenous administrationMesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation for Spinal Cord Injury: Current Status and Prospects
Hirota R, Sasaki M, Honmou O, Yamashita T. Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation for Spinal Cord Injury: Current Status and Prospects. Spine Surgery And Related Research 2023, 7: 319-326. PMID: 37636138, PMCID: PMC10447197, DOI: 10.22603/ssrr.2022-0234.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsConceptsSpinal cord injuryMesenchymal stem cellsCord injuryMesenchymal stem cell transplantationSevere spinal cord injuryCentral nervous system diseaseMotor function recoveryStem cell transplantationNervous system diseasesSCI modelCell transplantationFunction recoveryIntravenous infusionMSC transplantationMotor functionRat modelIntravenous administrationSystem diseasesBone marrowSCI researchTransplantationInjuryRecent updatesStem cellsCell typesA practical protocol for high-spatial-resolution magnetic resonance angiography for cerebral arteries in rats
Nagahama H, Sasaki M, Komatsu K, Sato K, Katagiri Y, Kamagata M, Kataoka-Sasaki Y, Oka S, Ukai R, Yokoyama T, Terada K, Kobayashi M, Kocsis J, Honmou O. A practical protocol for high-spatial-resolution magnetic resonance angiography for cerebral arteries in rats. Journal Of Neuroscience Methods 2023, 386: 109784. PMID: 36608904, DOI: 10.1016/j.jneumeth.2023.109784.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchInvestigation of the therapeutic efficacy of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells for neuropathic pain
Fukushi R, Sasaki M, Yamashita T, Honmou O. Investigation of the therapeutic efficacy of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells for neuropathic pain. Brain And Spine 2023, 3: 102427. DOI: 10.1016/j.bas.2023.102427.Peer-Reviewed Original Research
Academic Achievements & Community Involvement
activity The VA Merit Review panel: Neuro-SCI/Neuroregen/RGM, RRD0
Peer Review Groups and Grant Study SectionsReviewerDetails2009 - 2011activity The New Jersey Commission on Spinal Cord Research (NJCSCR)
Peer Review Groups and Grant Study SectionsReviewerDetailsReviewer2008 - 2008