Message from the President on the news of Professor Tasuku Honjo receiving the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine

I would like to extend my heartfelt congratulations to Tasuku Honjo, a distinguished professor at Kyoto University, on being awarded the 2018 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine.

Professor Honjo was involved in the study of immunology as an assistant professor in the then-Nutrition Science Laboratory at the University of Tokyo’s Faculty of Medicine.

The award this time recognizes his discovery of immune checkpoint molecule PD-1, and the development of cancer drug Opdivo based on that discovery.

We are also very proud of his achievement. We regard him as a pioneering “knowledge professional.”

We would like to continue our efforts to nurture “knowledge professionals” supported by deep cultural knowledge and fundamental intellectual ability, and to share our diverse and excellent academic research worldwide.

Again, I extend my sincere congratulations to Professor Honjo on this award.
 

Makoto Gonokami
President
The University of Tokyo