Reason for Selection

Wnt signaling in Stem Cells and Organogenesis

The Wnt molecular family is known to include many extremely important biological signals that regulate development, differentiation, stem cell maintenance, and carcinogenesis. Dr. Hans C. Clevers first isolated and identified the T-cell factor (Tcf) family, the most important transcription factor in Wnt signal activation, and he has consistently studied Wnt signaling thereafter. Dr. Clevers proposed that Wnt signaling is involved in stem cell regulation, organogenesis and tumorigenesis, and identified Lgr5 as a downstream target gene of Wnt. By tracking Lgr5 expression, Dr. Clevers' research group has made it possible to visualize stem cells in vivo. In addition, he developed organoid technology that makes it possible for intestinal epithelial stem cells to grow outside the body indefinitely. This technology can also be used with various other tissue stem cells, such as those from liver, pancreas, stomach, and lung. Dr. Clevers' work in these areas has contributed greatly to elucidating the pathology of various diseases, including cancer.

Background

Education

1975 - 1982

M.Sc. Biology, University of Utrecht

1978 - 1984

M.D. University of Utrecht

1984 - 1985

Ph.D. University of Utrecht

Positions

1985 - 1989

Postdoctoral Fellow. Cox Terhorst Lab at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston MA, USA

1989 - 1991

Assistant Professor, Department of Clinical Immunology, University of Utrecht

1991 - 2002

Professor and Chairman, Dept. of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Utrecht

2002 - 2012

Director of the Hubrecht Institute, Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences

2012 - 2015

President of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Sciences (KNAW), Amsterdam

2015 - 2019

Chief Scientific Officer/Director Research of the Princess Máxima Center for pediatric oncology, Utrecht

2002 -

Professor in Molecular Genetics, University Medical Center Utrecht

2002 -

Principal Investigator of a research group of ~40 scientists at the Hubrecht Institute, Utrecht

2015 -

　　

Principal Investigator at the Princess Máxima Center

Major Honors/Awards

2004

Louis-Jeantet Prize for Medicine, Geneva, Switzerland

2011

The Ernst Jung Medical Award, Germany

2012

The Heineken Prize for Medicine

2013

The Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences

2016

The Körber European Science Prize, Germany

Comments

It is a great honour for me to be awarded the 2019 Keio Medical Science Prize and to receive this prize together with Prof. Tadamitsu Kishimoto. A major reason for the award is the development of three-dimensional culture systems for human mini-organs in a dish, also known as organoids. The key experiments for this technology were done by a young Japanese scientist in my lab, Dr. Toshiro Sato, who was recently promoted to professor at Keio University.

Reason for Selection

IL-6: From Molecule to Medicine

Professor Tadamitsu Kishimoto first discovered interleukin 6 (IL-6) as an antibody production-promoting factor. He subsequently succeeded in cloning of the genes encoding IL-6 and the IL-6 receptor, and elucidated the mechanism underlying IL-6 signal transduction. His group further showed that IL-6 is involved in various diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis and multiple myeloma. Based on this basic research, Dr. Kishimoto developed tocilizumab, an anti-IL-6 receptor antibody that inhibits the action of IL-6, and established it as a therapeutic strategy for Castleman's disease and rheumatoid arthritis. Dr. Kishimoto has made enormous contributions to our understanding of the biological and medical roles of IL-6, from its discovery, to the elucidation of its mechanism of action and therapeutic applications, as well as to cytokine research. His achievement is undoubtedly worthy of the Keio Medical Science Prize.

Background

Education

1964

M.D. Osaka University

1969

Ph.D. Osaka University

Professional Appointments

1991-1998

Professor and Chairman, Department of Medicine III, Osaka University Medical School

1995-1997

Dean, Osaka University Medical School

1997-2003

President, Osaka University

2004-2006

Member, Council for Science and Technology Policy, Cabinet Office

2007-

Chairman of the Board of directors, Senri Life Science Foundation

2011-

Professor, Immunology Frontier Research Center, Osaka University

Major Honors/Awards

1992

Imperial Prize from the Japan Academy

1998

The Order of Culture from Emperor

2009

The Crafoord Prize from the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences

2011

The Japan Prize

2017

King Faisal International Prize from Saudi Arabia

Professional Activities

1995

Member, the Japan Academy

2007

President, the 27th General Assembly of the Japanese Medical Association

2010

President, the 14th International Congress of Immunology

Comments

It is truly my pleasure to receive this prestigious prize in recognition of my forty years of research on IL-6, the discovery of which, together with IL-6 signal transduction, have led to the development of the anti-IL-6 receptor antibody. This antibody is now widely used in more than a hundred countries for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), giant cell arteritis, and cytokine storm and has saved millions of patients. I am also extremely pleased that our series of studies has helped inform many internationally recognized immunologists. I am now 80 years old, but this kind of honor encourages me to continue my research. Thank you very much.