About the Department

Our History

The Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology at Nara Medical University traces its origins to July 1, 1945, when Nara Prefectural Medical College was founded in the closing months of World War II. As was the case for many basic medical science departments at the time, anatomy began without a full-time professor and was initially taught by adjunct lecturers from Osaka University. A full-time professor was first appointed in 1946, and the teaching staff was gradually expanded as the institution evolved into a medical university. In 1954, anatomy was divided into two chairs—the First Department of Anatomy (now the Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology) and the Second Department of Anatomy (now the Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience). Over the following decades, successive professors led the First Department through periods of growth and reorganization, shaping it into its present form. From August 2009 to March 2023, the department was led by Professor Mayumi Nishi. In August 2023, Professor Koichi Inoue assumed the chair and continues to lead the department today.

As of 2026, the department comprises eight members: Professor Koichi Inoue, Lecturer Noriko Horii-Hayashi, Assistant Professor Shingo Yokoyama, Secretary Yumi Moriwake, and Technical Staff Hiroshi Okuda, together with Ph.D. Student Junming Zhang and Research Associates Mayumi Nishi and Takeshi Minami.

Join Us

We are currently recruiting graduate students (both doctoral and master's programs).
Prospective students interested in visiting the lab or discussing research opportunities are welcome to contact us at any time.