Rate My Professor Waki Nakajima

Waki Nakajima serves as associate professor/lecturer in the Department of Physiology at Yokohama City University Graduate School of Medicine. He earned a PhD in medicine from Yokohama City University, a master’s degree from the Graduate School of Medical Sciences at Kitasato University, and a bachelor’s degree from the Faculty of Rehabilitation, School of Allied Health Sciences at Kitasato University. His career at Yokohama City University includes progressive appointments in the Graduate School of Medicine beginning in 2014, culminating in his current role since April 2023.

Nakajima’s research centers on mechanisms of recovery and compensation following neurological damage, with particular emphasis on the distribution and function of AMPA receptors in the postsynaptic membrane. He employs behavioral, genetic, immunohistochemical, and electrophysiological approaches to investigate synaptic plasticity in neural circuits. Recent work involves development of PET tracers and functional modulators for visualizing and controlling AMPA receptors, supporting translational studies from animal models to human clinical applications, including investigations into ketamine’s antidepressant effects and related molecular mechanisms. He has contributed to numerous peer-reviewed publications, including lead-author papers such as “NADPH oxidase-1 suppression prolongs the antidepressant-like effect of ketamine” (Molecular Psychiatry, 2026) and “The dynamics of AMPA receptors underlies the efficacy of ketamine in treatment resistant patients with depression” (Molecular Psychiatry, 2026). Additional appointments include roles on committees of the Japanese Society of Basic Physical Therapy and the Japanese Physical Therapy Association. He has received awards including the Excellent Presentation Award at the 30th Academic Meeting of the Brain Function and Rehabilitation Research Group (2024) and the Young Investigator Award at the 10th Motor Control Research Meeting (2016).

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