Okayama University Selects Associate Professor Hirofumi Okoshi and Research Associate Professor Hiroki Mise for the 2025 Young Top Researcher Award
Okayama University has selected Associate Professor Hirofumi Okoshi (Humanities) and Research Associate Professor Hiroki Mise (Science) for the 2025 Young Top Researcher Award and held an award ceremony. This award aims to foster young researchers who can be active internationally, and both individuals were recognized for their outstanding research achievements and future potential.
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- 📰 Published: May 7, 2026 at 02:06
- 🔍 Collected: May 6, 2026 at 17:33
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 6, 2026 at 17:57 (24 min after Collected)
May 6, 2026
National University Corporation Okayama University
https://www.okayama-u.ac.jp/
◆ Overview
Okayama University (Headquarters: Kita-ku, Okayama City; President: Yasutomo Nasu) implements the "Okayama University Young Top Researcher Award" to honor young researchers who have achieved outstanding results. For the 2025 academic year, Associate Professor Hirofumi Okoshi from the Faculty of Social and Cultural Science (Economics) was selected as the humanities recipient, and Research Associate Professor Hiroki Mise from the Medical Development Research Domain was selected as the science recipient. The award ceremony was held on March 27, 2026, in the President's Office on the Tsushima Campus.
At the award ceremony, President Yasutomo Nasu presented certificates and commemorative gifts to the recipients, and a cordial discussion was held with Emi Unayama, Head of the Academic Research Promotion Headquarters and Senior URA. President Nasu encouraged them, saying, "If you work hard on your research, a path will surely open up. Please continue your research diligently, thinking about how what you want to do can benefit society." Associate Professor Okoshi, one of the recipients, commented, "This is my first research award, and it is a great honor to receive the Young Top Researcher Award first. I want to continue to work hard on my research." Research Associate Professor Mise said, "The DKD (diabetes-related kidney disease) I am currently working on is an international problem. To tackle this, I am pursuing research focusing on glycans and mitochondria, hoping to find a novel approach. I am still halfway there, but I am deeply moved to be recognized in this way. I will continue to dedicate myself."
The award was established in FY2007 to foster young researchers who can be active internationally. Recipients are carefully selected within the university based on evaluation criteria such as research achievements, acquisition of competitive research funds, and future potential. Please continue to look forward to the efforts of Okayama University, an open regional core and distinctive research university, and Associate Professor Hirofumi Okoshi and Research Associate Professor Hiroki Mise.
This information was released by Okayama University on May 1, 2026.
〇 Introduction of Awardees
Associate Professor Hirofumi Okoshi, Faculty of Social and Cultural Science (Economics), Okayama University
His specialty is international economics, particularly trade policy and international taxation, theoretically analyzing how trade policy and international tax systems affect the economy. He conducts research from multiple perspectives, including the possibility that seemingly "good" policies may actually harbor undesirable side effects. In 2025, he was awarded a Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (Category B), becoming the second youngest principal investigator in the field of economics and business administration nationwide to receive it. In addition to research activities, he is actively involved in outreach activities such as inviting overseas researchers, training graduate students, and holding lectures for high school students. He obtained his Ph.D. from the University of Munich, published papers in top journals such as the International Economic Review, acquired competitive funding, and served as an associate editor for international journals, demonstrating internationally recognized research achievements. He is also focusing on four international collaborative research projects with researchers from Erasmus University (Netherlands) and the Norwegian School of Economics, among others, solidifying a stable foundation for long-term collaborative research through a robust international network. This is expected to expand exchanges with researchers both domestically and internationally throughout the faculty and further revitalize international activities across the entire university.
Research Associate Professor Hiroki Mise, Medical Development Research Domain (Okayama University Hospital), Okayama University
He is advancing research that approaches new pathologies in chronic kidney disease and diabetic complications, centered on DKD (diabetes-related kidney disease), from novel perspectives such as glycans and mitochondria. He develops his research by utilizing cutting-edge technologies such as single-cell glycan and RNA sequencing, spatial glycomics, cryo-electron tomography, and spatial metabolomics. He has been selected as a principal investigator for numerous projects, including Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research (Category B), AMED Drug Discovery Support Program (Drug Discovery Booster), and AMED Research Project for Practical Application of Cardiovascular Diseases, Diabetes, and Other Lifestyle-Related Diseases. He also received the Oshima Award from the Japanese Society of Nephrology (FY2026) and the Japan Medical Association Medical Research Encouragement Award (FY2024). Furthermore, in research on kidney disease, diabetic vascular complications, and obesity, he collaborates with research institutions both domestically and internationally to elucidate glycan pathologies in tissues, blood, and urine, and to search for new biomarkers that lead to personalized medicine. The development of drugs targeting glycans and mitochondria is expected in the future.
Associate Professor Hirofumi Okoshi receiving the award from President Nasu (left)
Research Associate Professor Hiroki Mise receiving the award from President Nasu (left)
Scene from the discussion (left) President Nasu (from right, front) Associate Professor Okoshi, Research Associate Professor Mise, Head of Academic Research Promotion Headquarters Unayama
(From right) President Nasu, Associate Professor Okoshi, Research Associate Professor Mise, Head of Academic Research Promotion Headquarters Unayama
[Reference] Okayama University's Initiatives to Support Graduate Students and Young Researchers: "Okayama University Young Researcher Development Support Package"
National University Corporation Okayama University
https://www.okayama-u.ac.jp/
◆ Overview
Okayama University (Headquarters: Kita-ku, Okayama City; President: Yasutomo Nasu) implements the "Okayama University Young Top Researcher Award" to honor young researchers who have achieved outstanding results. For the 2025 academic year, Associate Professor Hirofumi Okoshi from the Faculty of Social and Cultural Science (Economics) was selected as the humanities recipient, and Research Associate Professor Hiroki Mise from the Medical Development Research Domain was selected as the science recipient. The award ceremony was held on March 27, 2026, in the President's Office on the Tsushima Campus.
At the award ceremony, President Yasutomo Nasu presented certificates and commemorative gifts to the recipients, and a cordial discussion was held with Emi Unayama, Head of the Academic Research Promotion Headquarters and Senior URA. President Nasu encouraged them, saying, "If you work hard on your research, a path will surely open up. Please continue your research diligently, thinking about how what you want to do can benefit society." Associate Professor Okoshi, one of the recipients, commented, "This is my first research award, and it is a great honor to receive the Young Top Researcher Award first. I want to continue to work hard on my research." Research Associate Professor Mise said, "The DKD (diabetes-related kidney disease) I am currently working on is an international problem. To tackle this, I am pursuing research focusing on glycans and mitochondria, hoping to find a novel approach. I am still halfway there, but I am deeply moved to be recognized in this way. I will continue to dedicate myself."
The award was established in FY2007 to foster young researchers who can be active internationally. Recipients are carefully selected within the university based on evaluation criteria such as research achievements, acquisition of competitive research funds, and future potential. Please continue to look forward to the efforts of Okayama University, an open regional core and distinctive research university, and Associate Professor Hirofumi Okoshi and Research Associate Professor Hiroki Mise.
This information was released by Okayama University on May 1, 2026.
〇 Introduction of Awardees
Associate Professor Hirofumi Okoshi, Faculty of Social and Cultural Science (Economics), Okayama University
His specialty is international economics, particularly trade policy and international taxation, theoretically analyzing how trade policy and international tax systems affect the economy. He conducts research from multiple perspectives, including the possibility that seemingly "good" policies may actually harbor undesirable side effects. In 2025, he was awarded a Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (Category B), becoming the second youngest principal investigator in the field of economics and business administration nationwide to receive it. In addition to research activities, he is actively involved in outreach activities such as inviting overseas researchers, training graduate students, and holding lectures for high school students. He obtained his Ph.D. from the University of Munich, published papers in top journals such as the International Economic Review, acquired competitive funding, and served as an associate editor for international journals, demonstrating internationally recognized research achievements. He is also focusing on four international collaborative research projects with researchers from Erasmus University (Netherlands) and the Norwegian School of Economics, among others, solidifying a stable foundation for long-term collaborative research through a robust international network. This is expected to expand exchanges with researchers both domestically and internationally throughout the faculty and further revitalize international activities across the entire university.
Research Associate Professor Hiroki Mise, Medical Development Research Domain (Okayama University Hospital), Okayama University
He is advancing research that approaches new pathologies in chronic kidney disease and diabetic complications, centered on DKD (diabetes-related kidney disease), from novel perspectives such as glycans and mitochondria. He develops his research by utilizing cutting-edge technologies such as single-cell glycan and RNA sequencing, spatial glycomics, cryo-electron tomography, and spatial metabolomics. He has been selected as a principal investigator for numerous projects, including Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research (Category B), AMED Drug Discovery Support Program (Drug Discovery Booster), and AMED Research Project for Practical Application of Cardiovascular Diseases, Diabetes, and Other Lifestyle-Related Diseases. He also received the Oshima Award from the Japanese Society of Nephrology (FY2026) and the Japan Medical Association Medical Research Encouragement Award (FY2024). Furthermore, in research on kidney disease, diabetic vascular complications, and obesity, he collaborates with research institutions both domestically and internationally to elucidate glycan pathologies in tissues, blood, and urine, and to search for new biomarkers that lead to personalized medicine. The development of drugs targeting glycans and mitochondria is expected in the future.
Associate Professor Hirofumi Okoshi receiving the award from President Nasu (left)
Research Associate Professor Hiroki Mise receiving the award from President Nasu (left)
Scene from the discussion (left) President Nasu (from right, front) Associate Professor Okoshi, Research Associate Professor Mise, Head of Academic Research Promotion Headquarters Unayama
(From right) President Nasu, Associate Professor Okoshi, Research Associate Professor Mise, Head of Academic Research Promotion Headquarters Unayama
[Reference] Okayama University's Initiatives to Support Graduate Students and Young Researchers: "Okayama University Young Researcher Development Support Package"