The 2001 Keio Medical Science Prize Awardees

Tony Hunter

Professor, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies
Adjunct Professor, University of California, San Diego

Reason for Selection and his Major Achievement:

Theme:Identification of Src tyrosine kinase and functional study of cell growth and tumorgenesis

In 1980, Dr. Tony Hunter became the first to identify Src tyrosine kinase and its relevance in tumorgenesis. His work stimulated all of the subsequent studies on this topic, which led to the identification of many tyrosine kinases and phosphatases and their fundamental role in cellular signal transduction and growth control. Since his discovery of tyrosine kinase, Dr. Hunter has focused on learning more about the physiology of the protein-tyrosine phosphorylation triggered by Src kinase and how their perturbations result in tumorgenesis. Dr. Hunter has been awarded for his fundamental contribution to our molecular understanding of the control of cell growth.

Education

1965	University of Cambridge, England, B.A. (First Class Honours)
1966	University of Cambridge, M.A.
1969	University of Cambridge, Ph.D.

Academic Positions

1968-1971	Research Fellow, Christ's College, University of Cambridge
1971-1973	Research Associate, The Salk Institute, La Jolla
1973-1975	Research Fellow, Christ's College, University of Cambridge
1975-1978	Assistant Professor, The Salk Institute
1978-1982	Associate Professor, The Salk Institute
1979-1983	Adjunct Associate Professor, University of California, San Diego
1983-	Adjunct Professor, University of California, San Diego
1982-	>Professor, The Salk Institute

Winners of the Keio Medical Science Prize 2001

Masatoshi Takeichi

Professor, Department of Cell and Developmental Biology
Graduate School of Biostudies, Kyoto University
Director, RIKEN Center for Developmental Biology

Reason for Selection and his Major Achievement:

Theme: The discovery of cadherin and studies on the molecular mechanisms of cell-cell adhesion

Dr. Masatoshi Takeichi was responsible for determining that two distinct mechanisms, one calcium-dependent and the other calcium-independent, are involved in the process of cell-cell adhesion. He identified and named the first "cadherin", protein and latter described a major molecular family of cadherins, inclucing E-, N- and P-cadherin. These proleins are involved in the mediation of calcium-dependent cell-cell adhesion. Dr. Takeichi also demonstrated that each type of cadherin is differentially expressed in different tissues and contributes to selective cellular adhesiveness through homophilic interactions. Consequently, Dr. Takeichi has made an enormous contribution to our knowledge of the molecular mechanisms responsible for cell-cell adhesion. Studies on the cadherin-superfamily, pioneered by Dr. Takeichi, have had great impact on fields as diverse as developmental biology, cell biology, oncology, immunology and neuroscience.

Education

1966	B.Sc. in Biology, Nagoya University
1973	Ph.D. in Biophysics, Kyoto University
1974-76	Research Fellow, Carnegie Institution, Department of Embryology, with Dr. Richard Pagano

Academic Positions

1970-1977	Assistant Professor, Department of Biophysics, Faculty of Science, Kyoto University
1978-1985	Associate Professor, Department of Biophysics, Kyoto University
1985-1998	Professor, Department of Biophysics, Kyoto University
1992-1997	Visiting Professor, National Institute for Basic Biology
1993	Visiting Professor of Pathology, Harvard University
1993-1998	Head, Center for Molecular and Developmental Biology, Faculty of Science, Kyoto University
1999-	Professor, Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Graduate School of Biostudies, Kyoto University
2000-	Director, RIKEN Center for Developmental Biology