Kei Igarashi

2022            Robert & Sylvia Mapel Research Innovation Award, UC Irvine School of Medicine 
2022            Outstanding Early-Career Faculty Research Award, UC Irvine School of Medicine
2019            Alzheimer’s Disease Research Award, BrightFocus Foundation
2019            New Vision Award for Alzheimer’s Disease Research, Donors Cure Foundation
2018            Ando Momofuku Award, Ando Foundation
2017            Mishima Kaiun Prize, Mishima Kaiun Memorial Foundation
2016            Fay/Frank Seed Grant, Brain Research Foundation 
2016            PRESTO Career Development Award, Japan Science and Technology Agency
2014            Young Investigator Award, Japan Neuroscience Society
2013            Gordon Research Conference Travel Award
2012            Norwegian Research Council Postdoctoral Fellowship
2007 – 2009    Postdoctoral Fellowship, Japan Society for the Promotion of Science
2004 – 2007    Predoctoral Fellowship, Japan Society for the Promotion of Science

Kei grew up in Sagamihara, Kanagawa and obtained his Ph.D in the Kensaku Mori lab at University of Tokyo. He then moved all the way to Trondheim, Norway to join the laboratory of Edvard and May-Britt Moser. There, he experienced a vibrant and exciting new era of memory research, as well as the Scandinavian perspectives to design research environment for people from diverse backgrounds.
He then moved again all the way to California and leads the lab since 2016.
Kei is enthusiastic in Nordic skiing (Langrenn & Telemark), hiking, climbing and cooking.

Diversity Statement
Through the experience in diverse research settings including 10+ years in Japan and 7 years in Norway, Kei believes inclusive excellence is achieved by promoting individuals from any background including race, country of origin, or personal preference. Kei is serving as a founding organizer of Global Neuroscience Social which promotes attendance of researchers from developing countries in the Society for Neuroscience Annual meetings, as well as a Diversity Committee member in Japan Neuroscience Society.

Resources in Japanese
Articles and essays for Japanese scientific journals.