AChemS recognizes Monell Center molecular biologist as outstanding junior scientist

Molecular biologist Ichiro Matsumoto, Ph.D., of the Monell Center, is the recipient of the 2012 Ajinomoto Award for Young Investigators in Gustation, awarded annually by the Association for Chemoreception Sciences (AChemS) to an outstanding junior scientist who is an emerging leader in the field of gustation.

Matsumoto has made significant contributions to the understanding of the organization, relationships and connectivity of taste buds across a variety of vertebrate species.

A recent publication in Nature Neuroscience described an important advance in understanding the differentiation and lineage of taste cells. Other studies have examined taste receptors, taste transduction, taste coding, gustatory neural pathways, gene expression in peripheral and central chemosensory systems, and clinical taste dysfunction.

A highly prolific scientist, Matsumoto has published more than 50 experimental papers and more than 10 chapters and reviews.

"Ichiro is an outstanding scientist whose research has had, and will continue to have, a major impact on field of gustation," said taste biologist Alexander Bachmanov, D.V.M., Ph.D., a senior faculty member at Monell.

Matsumoto joined Monell, where he currently holds the title of Research Associate, in 2009. He received his Ph.D. in molecular biology in 2003 from the University of Tokyo, where he had a junior faculty appointment at the same time he was working on his doctorate. He then held an appointment at the University of Tokyo until 2008.

The award will be presented on the opening night of the 2012 AchemS Annual Meeting in Huntington Beach, CA.