Makoto Higuchi

Makoto Higuchi, M.D., Ph.D., is Director of the Advanced Neuroimaging Center at the National Institutes for Quantum Science and Technology (QST), Japan, and Professor at Osaka Metropolitan University. His research focuses on the development and application of molecular imaging techniques to investigate neurodegenerative and neuropsychiatric disorders. After receiving his medical degree and doctorate from Tohoku University, he held academic and research positions at Tohoku University, the University of Pennsylvania, RIKEN Brain Science Institute, and the National Institute of Radiological Sciences. Dr. Higuchi has led studies on positron emission tomography (PET) tracers targeting tau and α-synuclein aggregates, aiming to enable the in vivo assessment of pathological processes in diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease, progressive supranuclear palsy, and Parkinson’s disease. His work spans tracer development, preclinical validation, and clinical translation, with an emphasis on biomarker-