PI

• 2003 Apr.-2007 Mar.

  Department of Immunology, Institute of Medical Science,
  Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
  Awarded the degree of PhD in Medicine
  Advisor: Prof. Dr. Kiyoshi Takatsu

• 2001 Apr.-2003 Mar.

  Department of Immunology, Institute of Medical Science,
  Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
  Awarded the degree of PhD in Medicine
  Advisor: Prof. Dr. Kiyoshi Takatsu

• 1997 Apr.-2001 Mar.

  Department of Bioscience, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Tokyo, Japan
  Awarded the degree of BSc in Bioscience
  Advisor: Prof. Dr. Yuji Saito

• 2009 Sept.-2012 Jan.

  Postdoctral Research Fellow
  Division of Experimental Hematology, University Hospital Zürich, Switzerland
  Advisor: Prof. Dr. med. Markus G. Manz

• 2007 Apr.-2009 Aug.

  Postdoctral Research Fellow
  Hematopoiesis Laboratory, Institute for Research in Biomedicine, Switzerland
  Advisor: Dr. med. Markus G. Manz

• 2023 Apr.-

  Director and Professor
  International Research Center for Medical Sciences, Kumamoto University, Japan

• 2017 Jan.-2023 Mar.

  Vice Director and Professor
  International Research Center for Medical Sciences, Kumamoto University, Japan

• 2015 Jan.-2016 Dec.

  Associate Professor
  International Research Center for Medical Sciences, Kumamoto University, Japan

• 2015 Jan.-2015 Dec.

  Visiting Scientist
  Division of Experimental Hematology, University Hospital Zürich, Switzerland

• 2012 Feb.-2014 Dec.

  Junior group Leader
  Division of Experimental Hematology, University Hospital Zürich, Switzerland

• 2009 Apr.-2011 Mar.

  Research Fellowship for Research Abroad, Japanese Science for the Promotion of Science

• 2007 Apr.-2008 Mar.

  Research Fellowship, Japanese Science for the Promotion of Science

• 2006 Apr.-2007 Mar.

  Research Fellowship for Young Scientist, Japanese Science for the Promotion of Science

I have been specialized in stem cell biology with strong interest and focus on inflammatory stress, i.e., how inflammation regulates and alters hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) function. Early on, I studied an adaptor molecule, called Lnk (SH3B) regulating cytokine signallings through both c-Kit and c-Mpl for HSC expansion and maintenance in steady state and upon myeloablation (Blood 2006; JCI 2010; Blood 2016). Then, my work was shifted toward understanding of HSC cycling dynamics in a steady state and inflammatory context such as infection, leukemogenesis (J. Exp. Med. 2011, J. Exp. Med. 2014). I found that toll-like receptor 4 is expressed by not only innate immune cells but also HSCs that can sense infection-associated danger signals to adapt hematopoiesis into host defense enhancement (Blood 2012). Acute stimulation of HSC with bacteria-derived infectious agent activates dormant HSC into proliferation and differentiation, while chronic stimulation leads to their dysfunction through proliferative stress (J. Exp. Med. 2011, Cell Stem Cell 2017). More recently, a specific type of microbiota penetrating through gut upon inflammation or aging can expands HSPCs in the BM and in some case, directs them to secondary lymph nodes for further expansion and differentiation (Blood 2022, EMBO J. 2022, EMBO Rep 2023). To understand human hematopoiesis under a relatively physiological conditions, I have developed a novel animal model with a microenvironment derived from human mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) that are able to maintain HSC dormancy (Annu. Rev Immunol. 2013, PNAS 2011, Exp. Hematol. 2018; iScience 2019, Stem Cells Dev 2021).

• 2020

  Healthy Longevity Grand Challenge Catalysis Award (The United States National Academy of Science)

• 2019

  AMED Interstellar Initiative

• 2013

  Bruno Speck Award, Basel Stem Cell Network 2013

• 2013

  Basic Science Award, 39th Annual meeting of the European Group for Blood and Marrow Transplantation

• 2009-2011

  Research Fellowship for Research Abroad, Japanese Science for the Promotion of Science

• 2009

  Young Investigator Award, 2nd International Workshop on Humanized Mice

• 2007-2008

  Research Fellowship, Japanese Science for the Promotion of Science

• 2006-2007

  Research Fellowship for Young Scientist, Japanese Science for the Promotion of Science

Movies (watching), Books (reading), Food (eating), Travel, Soccer (watching), Road bike (watching), Marathon (doing), Triathlon (doing), Ironman (doing)