Dr. Tasuku Honjo stands as a preeminent figure in modern immunology whose career has spanned over five decades of groundbreaking research. Currently serving as Distinguished Professor and Deputy Director-General at the Kyoto University Institute for Advanced Study, he previously held professorships at Osaka University and Kyoto University's medical school. After earning his M.D. from Kyoto University in 1966, he pursued advanced research at prestigious institutions including the Carnegie Institution of Washington and the U.S. National Institutes of Health from 1971 to 1977. His academic journey has been marked by significant leadership roles, including Chairman of the Board of Directors for Shizuoka Prefectural University Corporation and President of the Foundation for Biomedical Research and Innovation at Kobe.
Honjo's seminal contributions to immunology include the discovery of activation-induced cytidine deaminase (AID), which is essential for class switch recombination and somatic hypermutation in antibody production. His most transformative work came in 1992 when he first identified programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) as an inducible gene on activated T-lymphocytes, establishing its critical role as a negative regulator of immune responses. Subsequent research demonstrated that PD-1 inhibition in animal models restored T cells' ability to target and kill cancer cells, fundamentally changing our understanding of immune regulation. This pivotal discovery directly catalyzed the development of anti-PD-1 cancer immunotherapies including nivolumab and pembrolizumab, which have revolutionized treatment approaches for melanoma and numerous other cancers worldwide.
For his paradigm-shifting contributions to cancer immunotherapy, Honjo was jointly awarded the 2018 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine with James P. Allison, cementing his legacy as one of immunology's most influential figures. His work has earned him numerous prestigious honors including Japan's Person of Cultural Merit designation in 2000 and the Order of Culture in 2013. As a Foreign Associate of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences and Member of the Japan Academy, he continues to shape the field through his leadership as Director of the Center for Cancer Immunotherapy and Immunobiology at Kyoto University. Honjo's research exemplifies the profound impact that fundamental biological discoveries can have on human health, transforming once untreatable cancers into manageable conditions and offering hope to millions of patients globally.
