Rate My Professor Yugo Watanabe

Dr. Yugo Watanabe served as a Postdoctoral Fellow in the Department of Anatomy, Centre for Neuroendocrinology, School of Biomedical Sciences at the University of Otago from February 2019 to January 2024. His research during this period centered on neuroendocrinology, particularly the developmental programming of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) through prenatal androgen excess. Watanabe utilized mouse models to examine gene expression changes in hypothalamic neurons, including arcuate kisspeptin and GABA neurons, and the roles of androgen and progesterone receptors in reproductive axis dysregulation. He delivered seminars, such as "Role of corticotropin-releasing hormone in thyrotropic activity during life stage transitions in birds," within the Department of Anatomy and chaired sessions at Centre for Neuroendocrinology events, including the 2023 Anniversary programme.

Watanabe obtained his Bachelor of Biological Science from La Trobe University (2010–2012), Honours in Animal Science from the same institution (2013), and PhD from La Trobe University's School of Life Sciences, Department of Agriculture (2014–2018). Prior to Otago, he was a Research Scientist at AgriBio Centre for AgriBioscience, Agriculture Victoria (2017–2019). He now holds the position of Assistant Professor in the Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine at Asahikawa Medical University. Notable publications from his Otago tenure include "Developmental expression patterns of gonadal hormone receptors in arcuate kisspeptin and GABA neurons of the postnatal female mouse" (Journal of Neuroendocrinology, 2024), "Defining potential targets of prenatal androgen excess: Expression analysis of androgen receptor on hypothalamic neurons in the fetal female mouse brain" (Journal of Neuroendocrinology, 2023), "Deletion of Androgen Receptors From Kisspeptin Neurons Prevents PCOS Features in a Letrozole Mouse Model" (Endocrinology, 2023), and "Prenatal androgenization causes expression changes of progesterone and androgen receptor mRNAs in the arcuate nucleus of female mice across development" (Journal of Neuroendocrinology, 2021). His work has garnered over 100 citations, contributing to insights into PCOS etiology and therapeutic targets. In 2024, he received a Poster Award優秀賞 from the 32nd Annual Meeting of the Japanese Society for Vascular Biology.