Contents
Tasuku Honjo
The scientist whose discovery of PD-1 helped make cancer immunotherapy possible.
PD-1 · AID enzyme
- Born
- 27 January 1942
- Birthplace
- Japan
More people
Tasuku Honjo
Tasuku Honjo studied the molecular controls of the immune response. His work helped researchers understand how to release a brake that can prevent immune cells from attacking cancer.
Early life
Kyoto
Born in Kyoto and studied medicine at its university.
Research training
Worked in the United States before returning to Japanese academic posts.
Career
- 1979
Osaka professor
Became professor of genetics at Osaka University.
- 1984
Kyoto
Returned to lead medical chemistry research.
- 1992
PD-1 discovery
His laboratory identified the immune-system protein.
- 2018
Nobel recognition
Shared the medicine prize for work that enabled cancer immunotherapy.
Contributions
PD-1
Identified a protein later shown to restrain immune responses.
AID enzyme
Helped identify a key factor in antibody diversification.
Nobel Prize in Medicine
Shared with James P. Allison for cancer therapy through immune regulation.
Beyond the lab
Scientific leadership
Served as president of the Japanese Society for Immunology.
Public health
Has publicly supported evidence-based vaccination policy.
Sources & photo credit
Life, career and references ↗Nobel Prize — biography and research ↗Photo: 大臣官房人事課. CC BY 4.0 · Original image. Cropped and displayed in monochrome.
