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)
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
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
91Publications
2,437Citations
Publications
2024
Intravenous 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 ResearchConceptsSevere 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 ResearchRepeated 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
2022
Intravenous infusion of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells improves tissue perfusion in a rat hindlimb ischemia model
Maeda S, Kawamura T, Sasaki M, Shimamura K, Shibuya T, Harada A, Honmou O, Sawa Y, Miyagawa S. Intravenous infusion of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells improves tissue perfusion in a rat hindlimb ischemia model. Scientific Reports 2022, 12: 16986. PMID: 36216855, PMCID: PMC9551049, DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-18485-1.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsMeSH KeywordsAnimalsBone MarrowDisease Models, AnimalGreen Fluorescent ProteinsHindlimbInfusions, IntravenousIschemiaLower ExtremityMesenchymal Stem Cell TransplantationMesenchymal Stem CellsNeovascularization, PhysiologicPerfusionPeripheral Vascular DiseasesRatsRats, Sprague-DawleyVascular Endothelial Growth Factor AConceptsIntravenous infusionVascular endothelial growth factorMesenchymal stem cellsTissue perfusionHindlimb ischemia modelRat hindlimb ischemia modelIschemia modelCell groupsFemoral artery removalIschemia animal modelStem cellsHindlimb muscle tissueBone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cellsEndothelial growth factorMarrow-derived mesenchymal stem cellsMSC infusionHistological findingsIschemic limbsHindlimb ischemiaCell delivery methodsIschemic hindlimbSprague-DawleyCapillary densityAnimal modelsInfusionEnhanced Network in Corticospinal Tracts after Infused Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Spinal Cord Injury
Hirota R, Sasaki M, Kataoka-Sasaki Y, Oshigiri T, Kurihara K, Fukushi R, Oka S, Ukai R, Yoshimoto M, Kocsis JD, Yamashita T, Honmou O. Enhanced Network in Corticospinal Tracts after Infused Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Spinal Cord Injury. Journal Of Neurotrauma 2022, 39: 1665-1677. PMID: 35611987, PMCID: PMC9734021, DOI: 10.1089/neu.2022.0106.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsSpinal cord injuryCorticospinal tractMesenchymal stem cellsCord injurySpinal cordSpontaneous recoveryInfused mesenchymal stem cellsLimited spontaneous recoveryDorsal corticospinal tractLateral corticospinal tractStem cellsCST pathwayCST projectionsSCI inductionMSC infusionAxonal sproutingFunctional recoveryLateral funiculusIntravenous infusionAxonal tracerLesion coreMotor pathwaysFunctional improvementCircuit reorganizationMajor projections
Academic Achievements and Community Involvement
activity Reviewer
Peer Review Groups and Grant Study SectionsThe VA Merit Review panel: Neuro-SCI/Neuroregen/RGM, RRD0Details2009 - 2011activity Reviewer
Peer Review Groups and Grant Study SectionsThe New Jersey Commission on Spinal Cord Research (NJCSCR)Details2008 - 2008DescriptionReviewer