The 2011 Japan Prize

• Field:
  Bioscience and Medical Science
• Achievement:
  Discovery of interleukin-6 and its application in treating diseases

Major Honors

1982	Behring-Kitasato Prize
1983	Osaka Science Prize
1986	Erwin von Bälz Prize
1988	Takeda Prize, Asahi Prize
1990	Prize of the Japanese Medical Association, Person of Cultural Merits JAPAN
1991	Scientific Achievement Award from the International Association of Allergology and Clinical Immunology
1992	Imperial Prize from the Japan Academy Sandoz Prize for Immunology from the International Union of Immunological Society (along with Dr. Toshio Hirano)
1995	Member, the Japan Academy
1996	The Avery-Landsteiner Prize from the German Immunology Society
1998	The Order of Culture from Emperor
1999	The Donald Seldin Award from the International Society of Nephrology
2000	ISI Citation Laureate Award, 1981-1988
2003	Robert Koch Gold Medal from the Koch Foundation of Germany
2006	Honorary Life Time Achievement Awards (International Cytokine Society)
2009	The Crafoord Prize from the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences (along with Dr. Toshio Hirano)
2010	President's Award from the Clinical immunology society of United States

Membership

1991	Foreign Associate of the US National Academy of Sciences
1991	President of the Japanese Society for Immunology
1991	President of the International Congress of Immunopharmacology
1992	Honorary member of The American Association of Immunologists
1994	President of the International Society for Interferon and Cytokine Research
1995	Member of the Japan Academy
1997	President of the Japanese Society for Immunology
1997	President of the Japanese Society of Allergology
1997	President of the Japan Society for Clinical Immunology
1997	Honorary member of the American Society of Hematology
1997	Foreign member of the Institute of Medicine of the US National Academy of Sciences
2002	Vice President of the Japanese Medical Association
2005	Member, Deutsche Akademie der Naturforscher Leopoldina
2007	President of the 27th General Assembly of the Japanese Medical Association
2010	President of the 14th International Congress of Immunology

Academic Degrees

1964	Bachelor of Medicine, Osaka University
1969	Ph.D. in Medicine, Osaka University

Professional Career

1969	Assistant researcher of Biochemistry in Faculty of Dental Science, Kyushu University
1970	Research fellow and Visiting Assistant Professor, Johns Hopkins University, U.S.A
1974	Assistant Professor of Medicine, Osaka University
1979	Professor of Medicine, Osaka University
1983	Professor at Institute for Molecular and Cellular Biology, Osaka University
1991	Professor of Medicine, Osaka University
1995	Dean of Faculty of Medicine, Osaka University
1997	President of Osaka University
2004	Member of Council for Science and Technology Policy
2006	Endowed Chair Professor at School of Frontier Biosciences, Osaka University
2007	President, Senri Life Science Foundation

Title

• Emeritus Professor, Osaka University

Major Publications

• Hirano T, Yasukawa K, Harada T, Taga T, Watanabe Y, Matsuda T, Kashiwamura S, Nakajima K, Koyama K, Iwamatsu A, Tsunasawa S, Sakiyama F, Matsui H, Takahara Y, Taniguchi T, Kishimoto T. Complementary DNA for a novel human interleukin (BSF-2) that induces B lymphocytes to produce immunoglobulin. Nature 1986; 324: 73-76.
• Kawano M, Hirano T, Matsuda T, Taga T, Horii Y, Iwato K, Asaoku H, Tang B, Tanabe O, Tanaka H, Kuramoto A, Kishimoto T. Autocrine generation and requirement of BSF-2/IL-6 for human multiple myelomas. Nature 1988; 332:83-85.
• Yamasaki K, Taga T, Hirano Y, Yawata H, Kawanishi Y, Seed B, Taniguchi T, Hirano T, Kishimoto T. Cloning and expression of human interleukin 6 (BSF-2/IFNb2) receptor. Science 1988; 241: 825-828.
• Hirano T, Matsuda T, Turner M, Miyasaka N, Buchan G, Tang B, Sato K, Shimizu M, Maini R, Feldmann M, Kishimoto T. Excessive production of interleukin 6/B cell stimulatory factor-2 in rheumatoid arthritis. Eur J Immunol. 1988; 18: 1797-1801.
• Taga T, Hibi M, Hirata Y, Yamasaki K, Yasukawa K, Matsuda T, Hirano T, Kishimoto T. Interleukin-6 triggers the association of its receptor with a possible signal transducer, gp130. Cell 1989; 58: 573-581.
• Hibi M, Murakami M, Saito M, Hirano T, Taga T, Kishimoto T. Molecular cloning and expression of an IL-6 signal transducer, gp130. Cell 1990; 63: 1149-1157.
• Kishimoto T, Akira S, Taga T. Interleukin-6 and its receptor: a paradigm for cytokines. Science 1992; 258: 593-597.
• Nishimoto N, Yoshizaki K, Miyasaka N, Yamamoto K, Kawai S, Takeuchi T, Hashimoto J, Azuma J, Kishimoto T. Treatment of rheumatoid arthritis with humanized anti-interleukin-6 antibody: a multicenter double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Arthritis Rheum 2004; 50: 1761-1769.
• Nishimoto N, Kishimoto T. Interleukin 6: from bench to bedside. Nat Clin Pract Rheumatol. 2006; 2: 619-626.
• Yokota S, Imagawa T, Mori M, Miyamae T, Aihara Y, Takei S, Iwata N, Umebayashi H, Murata T, Miyoshi M, Tomiita M, Nishimoto N, Kishimoto T. Efficacy and safety of tocilizumab in patients with systemic-onset juvenile idiopathic arthritis: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, withdrawal phase III trial. Lancet 2008; 371: 998-1006.