In Memoriam: Dr. Noriyuki Satoh, Professor of the OIST Marine Genomics Unit

Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST) extends its deepest condolences on the passing of Professor Noriyuki Satoh, who led the OIST Marine Genomics Unit. Prof. Satoh passed away on October 18 at the age of 81.

Prof. Satoh joined OIST in 2008, before the University was established, when it was still the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Promotion Corporation. He was quick to incorporate into his research a next-generation sequencer introduced by then-President Dr. Sydney Brenner. By reading the evolutionary history of marine organisms and the relationships among them from their genomic information, he vigorously advanced research aimed at deepening our understanding of life as a whole.

Prof. Satoh had previously used tunicates, a group of chordates, as model organisms to investigate the relationship between the mechanisms of animal development and evolution. At OIST, he broadened the scope of his work to encompass a diverse range of marine organisms. By comparing the genomes of major animal groups, he sought to reveal how their respective lineages emerged and diversified. He analyzed the genomes of Asian catfish, acorn worms, brachiopods, ribbon worms, phoronids, dicyemids, starfish, and other organisms, building a vital foundation of genomic information for tracing animal evolution. He also worked to decode the genomes of species important to fisheries and aquaculture, including pearl oysters, kuruma shrimp, mozuku seaweed, and sea grapes, opening new possibilities for applying genomic science to productivity, sustainability, and environmental conservation in the fisheries sector.

Among his most notable achievements was the world’s first decoding of the complete genome of Acropora digitifera, a reef-building coral, in 2011, which provided a new foundation for coral reef research. Prof. Satoh subsequently expanded his work in multiple directions to deepen our understanding of corals. He led genome-sequencing projects on the symbiotic algae that live with corals and the crown-of-thorns starfish that preys on them, and demonstrated that genetically determined color differences can indicate a coral’s tolerance to warming. He also succeeded in culturing coral cells in the laboratory and capturing the moment they took up their symbiotic algae. Through this work, he sought to understand the interactions among the organisms that form coral reefs across multiple levels—from genes and cells to individual organisms and entire ecosystems. He further established an environmental DNA (eDNA) technique that analyzes trace amounts of DNA released by organisms into seawater to identify the coral species living in a given area. This work showed that coral reefs, traditionally monitored by divers through visual surveys, could potentially be assessed efficiently and with high accuracy using only small samples of seawater. To put these findings into practice for conservation, he also launched the OIST Coral Project. With support from companies and individuals, the project carried out coral planting and identified coral species inhabiting the waters around Okinawa, while also working to deepen public understanding of coral reefs.

We are deeply saddened by the loss of Prof. Satoh, an outstanding scientist and a valued colleague. His unwavering dedication to fundamental research, his warmth and generosity in supporting young scientists, and his passion for nurturing the next generation of researchers have left an enduring legacy at OIST. We are committed to carrying forward his spirit and continuing our pursuit of excellence in research and education on the international stage.

Paying tribute to Prof. Satoh’s achievements, Interim President Daniel Zajfman said: “I’m deeply saddened by the passing away of Prof. Satoh, an outstanding scientist whose contribution and legacy will be remembered with great respect and admiration. My thoughts are with his family.”

Prof. Satoh served as a professor in the Department of Zoology at the Graduate School of Science, Kyoto University, from 1994 to 2009. In 2005, he became the first Japanese researcher to receive the Alexander Kowalevsky Medal, an international award honoring major contributions to evolutionary developmental biology. In 2010, he became the first Japanese recipient of the Edwin Grant Conklin Medal, an international award in developmental biology. He was also awarded the Medal with Purple Ribbon in 2006 and the Order of the Sacred Treasure, Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon, in 2018.

Learn more about the research achievements of the Marine Genomics Unit led by Prof. Satoh here.