Professor Sen-itiroh Hakomori was a pioneering molecular biologist and world-renowned expert in glycosphingolipid research who served as Professor Emeritus of Pathobiology and Global Health at the University of Washington. Born in Sendai, Japan on February 13, 1929, he received both his M.D. and Ph.D. degrees from Tohoku University School of Medicine before embarking on a distinguished scientific career that spanned more than six decades. His early research in Japan laid the foundation for his groundbreaking work on cellular glycolipids, which would later revolutionize our understanding of cell membrane biology and cancer mechanisms. After establishing himself as a leader in glycoscience in Japan, he expanded his research internationally, eventually settling at the University of Washington where he continued to advance the field until his passing.
Dr. Hakomori made seminal contributions to glycosciences through his discovery of the fundamental role glycosphingolipids play in cellular recognition and signal transduction, publishing over 700 original papers and reviews that have been cited more than 65,000 times. He pioneered the concept of tumor-associated glycans, establishing the critical connection between altered glycosphingolipid expression and cancer progression, which opened entirely new avenues for cancer diagnosis and potential therapeutic approaches. His laboratory was instrumental in characterizing the structural and functional properties of glycosphingolipids, leading to the development of innovative methodologies that became standard in the field. With more than 50 US patents to his name, his work bridged fundamental biochemistry with practical applications in medical science, particularly in understanding how glycosphingolipids influence cell adhesion, differentiation, and tumor metastasis.
Beyond his research achievements, Professor Hakomori mentored nearly 200 PhD students, postdocs, and visiting scientists, creating an international melting pot laboratory environment renowned for its collaborative spirit and rigorous scientific inquiry. He received numerous prestigious honors including the Karl Meyer Award, Rosalind Kornfeld Award for Lifetime Achievement in Glycobiology, and election to the U.S. National Academy of Sciences, cementing his legacy as one of the most influential glycobiologists of the modern era. His laboratory's collaborative approach fostered a global community of researchers who continue to advance glycobiology, with many of his former trainees maintaining active roles in the field and gathering for major celebrations of his career milestones. Professor Hakomori passed away peacefully on November 10, 2020, at his home in Mercer Island, Washington, leaving behind an enduring scientific legacy that continues to shape research in cancer biology, immunology, and molecular recognition mechanisms worldwide.
