2008 Keio Medical Science Prize Winner Announcement
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE http://www.keio.ac.jp/ October 2, 2008 2008 Keio Medical Science Prize Winner Announcement Keio University presents the “Keio Medical Science Prize” to researchers in recognition of their outstanding achievements in the fields of medical or life sciences. It is the only prize of its kind to be awarded by a Japanese university. The 13th Keio Medical Science Prize will be awarded to Dr. Fred H. Gage and Dr. Shimon Sakaguchi. Fred H. Gage, Ph.D. Adler Professor, Laboratory of Genetics, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, U.S.A. For the discovery of physiological roles of adult neurogenesis in mammalian brain Shimon Sakaguchi, M.D., Ph.D. Professor, Department of Experimental Pathology, Institute for Frontier Medical Sciences, Kyoto University, Japan For the discovery of regulatory T cells and their roles in immunological diseases Award Ceremony and Commemorative Symposium The award ceremony and a commemorative lecture given by the prize winners will be held on November 21, 2008 and a commemorative symposium will take place on November 22. Both events will be held at the Keio University School of Medicine (Shinanomachi Campus). Please contact below for any inquiries. (eg. interviews or photographs) Attachments : (1) About the Keio University Medical Science Fund (2)2008 Prize Winner: Fred H. Gage(Theme, CV, message) (3)2008 Prize Winner: Shimon Sakaguchi(Theme, CV, message) (4)2008 Keio Medical Science Prize Award Ceremony/Commemorative Lecture/ Commemorative Symposium Inquiries: Keio University Medical Science Fund(Ms. Masako Kawai, Ms. Akiko Murai) TEL: +81-3-5363-3609 URL: http://www.ms-fund.keio.ac.jp/prize/ FAX: +81-3-5363-3610 E-mail:[email protected] 1/5 Attachment About the Keio University Medical Science Fund Background In 1994, Dr. Mitsunada Sakaguchi, a 1940 alumnus of the School of Medicine, donated five billion yen to Keio, expressly to encourage medical research and creative progress at the University and to promote worldwide medical advances. It was specifically intended that the donation be used to expand the network of medical investigators in the global academic community, and to support researchers through grants. To fully reflect Dr. Sakaguchi's commitment to medical progress, the University launched the Keio University Medical Science Fund on April 1, 1995. Dr. Sakaguchi made an additional donation of two billion yen, bringing the Fund’s endowment to seven billion yen. The following five projects have been established through the Fund to date. (1) The Keio Medical Science Prize (2) Grants for International Activities in Life Sciences and Medicine (3) Medical School Faculty and Alumni Grants (4) Research Grants for Life Sciences and Medicine (5) The Sakaguchi Laboratory Purpose The Keio Medical Science Prize was established as one of the Keio University Medical Science Fund’s major projects in order to contribute to the advancement of life sciences and medicine, and to encourage the expansion of researcher networks. Our hope is that by rewarding outstanding achievements in the fields of medical and life sciences, this prize will ultimately contribute to world peace. Selection and Overview of the Prize Nominations are solicited by letters of request sent to academics and researchers throughout the world. 75 Japanese academics and researchers then review the achievements of the nominees and select a winner. No consideration is given to nationality. The Keio Medical Science Prize consists of a certificate of merit, a medal and a monetary award of 20 million yen. The award ceremony and commemorative events are held at Keio University in the presence of invited guests. Past Winners 2007 Dr. Brian J. Druker Development of a molecular-targeted therapy for chronic myelogenous leukemia Dr. Hiroaki Mitsuya Development of anti-AIDS drugs 2006 Dr. Thomas A. Steitz The structural basis of large ribosomal subunit function and drug development 2002 Dr. Barry J. Marshall Establishment of diagnostic techniques and treatment for the Helicobacter pylori (2005 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine) 1996 Dr. Stanley B. Prusiner Discovery of prions and prion diseases(1997 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine) 2/5 Attachmen(t 2) 2008 Prize Winner Fred H. Gage, Ph.D. Adler Professor, Laboratory of Genetics, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, U.S.A. For the Discovery of Physiological Roles of Adult Neurogenesis in Mammalian Brain For more than a century, it has been firmly believed that the adult mammalian brain does not create new neuronal cells and could not repair itself. Dr. Fred H. Gage and his colleagues showed that neurogenesis, the creation of new brain cells, actually occurs particularly in hippocampus, the learning center of adult mammalian brain. Small populations of immature nerve cells are found in the adult brain and these immature cells are capable of producing precursor cells with the ability to give rise to a variety of cell types including neurons and glia. He has also demonstrated that environmental enrichment and physical exercise can increase neurogenesis and enhance functional integration of newly born neurons into neuronal circuits in hippocampal dentate gyrus of adult brain. Dr. Gage’s pioneering research provided new details about the nature of adult neurogenesis and his discovery has challenged the old doctrine according to which the central nervous system is resistant to regeneration. The implications go even further offering new insight into the mechanism that triggers clinical depression and suggesting a more focused approach to understanding the mental illness. Dr. Gage opens up new directions of research as well as development of therapeutic strategy for trauma and diseases of the central nervous system. Background 9/74-6/76 NIMH Predoctoral Fellow, The Johns Hopkins University 9/76-6/80 Assistant/Associate Professor, Texas Christian University 6/81-6/85 Associate Professor, Dept. of Histology, University of Lund, Lund, Sweden 6/85-6/88 Associate Professor, Dept. of Neurosciences, University of California, San Diego 6/88- Professor, Dept. of Neurosciences, University of California, San Diego 6/95- Professor, Laboratory of Genetics, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA Message from Dr. Gage I am very honored to receive this prestigious award. In truth, this award honors not just me but the many brilliant and hard-working colleagues with whom I have been fortunate enough to be associated over the years. The award is particularly gratifying because of the many outstanding fellows from Japan who have worked with me. Science has no borders, and indeed the scientific enterprise demonstrates that people from all over the world can work together, for a common good. 3/5 Attachment(3) 2008 Prize Winner Shimon Sakaguchi, M.D., Ph.D. Professor, Department of Experimental Pathology, Institute for Frontier Medical Sciences, Kyoto University, Japan For the Discovery of Regulatory T cells and Their Roles in Immunological Diseases Understanding how the unresponsiveness of lymphocytes to self-constituents (i.e., immunological self-tolerance) is maintained has been a key issue in immunology and medicine. In the 1980s, Dr. Shimon Sakaguchi showed that the depletion of a particular subpopulation of T cells was able to produce autoimmune disease in otherwise normal animals. This study led him to discover regulatory T cells (Tregs), which are present in normal individuals and are specialized for immune suppression and tolerance. Since his discovery of Tregs, Dr. Sakaguchi has greatly contributed to our understanding of the molecular basis of the development and function of Tregs and also their roles in controlling a variety of physiological and pathological immune responses, including autoimmune disease, allergy, transplantation tolerance, and tumor immunity. Active research on Tregs is now underway throughout the world in an attempt to develop novel ways of immune suppression and intervention. The Keio University Medical Science Fund honors Dr. Simon Sakaguchi’s achievement by awarding him the 2008 Keio Medical Science Prize. Background 1976-1978 Resident, Department of Pathology, Kyoto University Medical School and Hospital 1978-1981 Visiting Investigator, Laboratory of Pathology, Aichi Cancer Center Research Institute 1981-1983 Senior Research Fellow, Institute for Immunology, Kyoto University Medical School 1981-1983 Joint Appointment at the Blood Transfusion Service, Kyoto University Hospital 1983-1985 Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, The Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions 1986-1987 Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Biophysics, The Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions 1987-1989 Visiting Scientist, Division of Immunology and Rheumatology, Stanford University Medical Center 1989-1991 Assistant Professor, Department of Immunology, Scripps Research Institute 1992-1994 Investigator, Science and Technology Agency of Japan 1994-1999 Head, Department of Immunopathology, Tokyo Metropolitan, Institute of Gerontology 1999-2007 Professor and Chair, Department of Experimental Pathology, Institute for Frontier Medical Sciences, Kyoto University 2007-present Director and Professor, Institute for Frontier Medical Sciences, Kyoto University 2007-present Adjunct Professor, WPI Immunology Frontier Research Center, Osaka University Message from Dr. Sakaguchi It is my great honor to be awarded this year for Keio Medical Science Prize. I’d like to thank my colleagues in Japan and abroad with whom I have been working together these years to