The 2026 Japan Prize

• Field:
  Life Sciences
• Achievement:
  Discovery of the nucleic acid sensing mechanism by the innate immune system

Education

1977	Osaka University, School of Medicine
1984	Ph.D. Osaka University, School of Medicine

Professional Experience

1978-1980	Physician in the Department of Internal Medicine, Sakai Municipal Hospital, Sakai, Osaka
1984-1985	Fellowship of the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science in the Institute for Molecular and Cellular Biology, Osaka University
1985-1987	Research Fellow in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology, California University, Berkeley
1987-1995	Research Associate in the Institute for Molecular and Cellular Biology, Osaka University
1995	Associate Professor in the Institute for Molecular and Cellular Biology, Osaka University
1996-1999	Professor of Biochemistry, Hyogo College of Medicine
1999-2018	Specially Appointed Professor, Immunology Frontier Research Center (IFReC), Osaka University
2007-2019	Director, Immunology Frontier Research Center (IFReC), Osaka University
2018-	Specially Appointed Professor, Immunology Frontier Research Center (IFReC), Osaka University (renamed to The University of Osaka in April 2025)
2022-	Center Director, Specially Appointed Professor, Center for Advanced Modalities and Drug Delivery System (CAMaD), Osaka University (renamed to The University of Osaka in April 2025)

Academic Journals

• Hemmi H, Takeuchi O, Kawai T, Kaisho T, Sato S, Sanjo H, Matsumoto M, Hoshino K, Wagner H, Takeda K, Akira S. A Toll-like receptor recognizes bacterial DNA. Nature (2000) 408:740–745.
• Hemmi H, Kaisho T, Takeuchi O, Sato S, Sanjo H, Hoshino K, Horiuchi T, Tomizawa H, Takeda K, Akira S. Small anti-viral compounds activate immune cells via the TLR7 MyD88-dependent signaling pathway. Nat Immunol (2002) 3(2):196–200.
• Kato H, Takeuchi O, Sato S, Yoneyama M, Yamamoto M, Mastui K, Uematshu S, Jung A, Kawai T, Ishii KJ, Yamaguchi O, Otsu K, Tsujimura T, Koh C-S, Sousa CR, Matsuura Y, Fujita T, Akira S. Differential roles of MDA5 and RIG-I helicases in the recognition of RNA viruses. Nature (2006) 441:101–105.

Awards

2000	Inoue Prize for Science
2001	The Hideyo Noguchi Memorial Award for Medical Sciences
2002	Osaka Science Prize
2003	Takeda Prize for Medical Science
2004	The Prize of Princess Takamatsu Cancer Research Fund
2004	Robert Koch Prize
2005	Medal with Purple Ribbon
2006	Asahi Prize
2006	William B. Coley Award for Distinguished Research in Basic Immunology (Cancer Research Institute, USA)
2007	Thomson Research Front Award (Thomson Scientific)
2007	Uehara Prize
2007	Imperial Prize and Japan Academy Prize
2007	Milstein Award (ICIS)
2009	Person of Cultural Merit
2010	Avery-Landsteiner Prize (German Society for Immunology)
2010	Keio International Medical Science Prize (Keio University)
2011	Suita City Mayor’s Prize
2011	Canada Gairdner International Award
2012	The Frederik B. Bang Award (IEIIS)