Dr. Larry J. Young passed away in March 2024 while he was staying in Tsukuba City. We are still in deep sadness with the sudden loss of a prominent scientist and long-term friend. His research has been recognized world-wide by researchers in basic behavioral and biological sciences as well as in clinical psychiatric and gynecological sciences. Particularly, his research on molecular brain mechanisms of pair boding in prairie voles from evolutionary perspectives opened a door to a new research field of brain oxytocinergic regulation of social behavior not only in rodents but also various other species, including humans. In this international symposium, speakers from various countries will present Dr. Young’s outstanding achievements and discuss how to promote research activities toward understanding of social behavior with his legacies. The tentative program includes special lectures, talk sessions, and data blitz sessions by young investigators. The organizing committee truly appreciates your attendance.

Sonoko Ogawa, Japan, Zuoxin Wang, USA

Geert de Vries, USA, Takefumi Kikusui, Japan, Hideaki Takeuchi, Japan

エモリー大学のラリー・J・ヤング博士が、2024年3月に滞在先のつくば市にて逝去されました。ヤング博士は世界的に活躍された著名な科学者であり、博士の突然の逝去に、多くの関連研究者は深い悲しみに包まれています。ヤング博士の研究は、基礎行動科学や神経科学、生物科学、そして臨床精神医学や婦人科学の研究者たちによって世界的に認められてきました。特に、プレーリーハタネズミのペア形成における分子脳内メカニズムに関する進化的視点からの研究は、げっ歯類のみならず、ヒトを含む様々な生物種における社会行動の脳内オキシトシン作動性システムの解明という新たな研究分野への扉を開き、社会神経科学における金字塔ともいえる成果をあげてこられました。本国際シンポジウムでは、ヤング博士の卓越した業績を紹介するとともに、博士の遺志を継いで社会行動の理解に向けた研究活動をどのように推進していくべきかについて、各国のスピーカーが議論いたします。プログラム（予定）では、特別講演、トークセッション、若手研究者によるデータブリッツセッションなどを予定しています。皆様のご参加を心よりお待ちしております。

小川園子（筑波大学）、Zuoxin Wang（米国）

Geert de Vries（米国）, Miranda Lim (米国), 菊水健史（麻布大学）、竹内秀明（東北大学）

Dr. Larry Young,

Dr. Larry Young was the William P. Timmie Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the Emory University School of Medicine. He was head of the Division of Behavioral Neuroscience and Psychiatric Disorders at Emory National Primate Research Center. Young studied how genetic, cellular and neurobiological mechanisms regulate complex social behavior, including social cognition and social bonding. His research focuses heavily on the roles of the neuropeptides oxytocin and vasopressin in regulating the neural processing of social signals and social attachment.

Young developed behavioral paradigms that are useful for screening drugs that enhance social cognition, and the development of novel strategies for drug discovery in the treatment of psychiatric disorders. Young was also the director of the Center for Translational Social Neuroscience at Emory University, which brings together scientists and clinicians in the Atlanta area who are focused on understanding and healing the human brain. Young's work has also been the subject of a National Geographic documentary.