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Eighth Takamine Memorial Daiichi Sankyo Prize Announced

Tokyo, Japan (July 09, 2010) - The Sankyo Foundation of Life Science Chairman Yoshihiko Suzuki announced today that the Eighth Takamine Memorial Daiichi Sankyo Prize will be awarded to Yoshihiro Kawaoka, DVM, PhD, Professor, Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo.

 

The Takamine Memorial Sankyo Prize (*) was established in November 2003 as part of the Foundation’s 20th anniversary and in memory of the research work of Dr. Jokichi Takamine, the first president (March 1913-July 1922) of what was then Sankyo Co., Ltd. Each year, the foundation presents this prize to active researchers who are achieving remarkable feats in the progress and development of the life sciences, particularly in basic research for fields relating to the prevention and cure of disease as well as research with clear clinical applications.

 

Since November 1983, the Sankyo Foundation of Life Science has provided support for innovative research in the life sciences, including two-year research grants. The foundation also sponsors international symposia and supports exchange programs that allow foreign academics visit Japan while Japanese researchers complete short work terms overseas.

 

* Renamed “Takamine Memorial Daiichi Sankyo Prize” from this year

 

(Reference) Prize-winning Research Topic:

Research on the Suppression of Influenza 

 

After graduating from the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at Hokkaido University in 1978, Dr. Kawaoka became an assistant at Tottori University before studying in the U.S. at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. He then went on to join the faculty as a professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Veterinary Medicine before receiving a professorship at the Division of Virology Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo.

Dr. Kawaoka conducts research on the influenza virus. He developed a gene manipulation system that artificially synthesizes the virus from plasmids. It is possible to freely manufacture attenuated viruses by utilizing this technology. This technology was used to create a live influenza vaccine that is being employed in great numbers in clinical practice throughout the U.S. Furthermore, a highly pathogenic avian influenza vaccine strain, again created with the gene manipulation system that Dr. Kawaoka developed, has been supplied to countries throughout the world and had its effectiveness validated. Through the development of groundbreaking technology such as this, Dr. Kawaoka facilitated the creation of the influenza vaccine strain and continues to make significant contributions to medical care and public health measures around the world.

  

Affiliated Organisations and Positions: 

Professor in the Division of Virology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo

Head of the International Research Center for Infectious Diseases, Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo

Profile:

March 1978	Graduated from the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University
April 1980	Assistant Professor at the School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Agriculture, Tottori University
August 1983	Postdoctoral Fellow at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
October 1997	Professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Veterinary Medicine
October 1999	Professor in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo
April 2000	Professor in the Division of Virology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo
April 2005	Head of the International Research Center for Infectious Diseases, Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo

Major Awards Received:

1991	The Japanese Society of Veterinary Science Award
2002	The Hideyo Noguchi Memorial Award For Medical Sciences (Japan)
2006	The Commendation for Science and Technology by the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology in Japan, Prizes for Science and Technology
2006	Robert-Koch-Preis (Germany)
2010	Japan Prize of Agricultural Science/Yomiuri Agriculture Prize