BDR Team Director Tomoya Kitajima awarded the Osaka Science Prize

Nov. 11, 2025

Dr. Tomoya Kitajima, BDR Deputy Director and Team Director of the Laboratory for Chromosome Segregation, was named one of two recipients of the 43rd Osaka Science Prize. He was recognized for his research on “Elucidating the cause of aging-associated abnormal chromosomal numbers (aneuploidy) in oocytes and the development of technology to prevent chromosomal segregation errors.” He received his award at a ceremony held at the Osaka Science and Technology Center in Osaka on November 8, 2025, where also gave a public lecture on his work.

On being named a recipient of this year’s Osaka Science Prize, he stated, “I am deeply honored to receive the Osaka Science Prize. This research began 13 years ago when I established my laboratory at RIKEN with the aim to reveal the causes of aneuploidy in oocytes. However, I did not anticipate that we would also succeed in developing technology to prevent aneuploidy from occurring. I am delighted by the unexpected discoveries that we have made and am grateful to my laboratory members for their cumulative efforts that have made this possible. I would also like to thank my mentors who continuously offered their guidance as well as my colleagues, friends and family who have supported me. I will continue to dedicate myself wholeheartedly to my research.”

The Osaka Science Prize is presented annually by Osaka Prefecture, the City of Osaka, and the Osaka Science & Technology Center to two young researchers under the age of 50 who have made contributions to science and technology research and development in the Kansai region.