Laboratory of Precision Immunology

1. Members

2. Background and Objectives

We aim to discover new immune factors for protection against and treatment of infectious diseases and cancer through the analysis of human clinical samples in our laboratory and to apply these findings in the development of novel vaccines and therapies. Given the rapidly aging populace of Japan, we believe that advancing translational research into aging-associated immunosenescence is important. Research has shown that advanced immunosenescence in elderly individuals increases their risks of developing cancers or infectious diseases. Furthermore, many different kinds of vaccines against infectious diseases, such as the influenza vaccine, have been shown to be often ineffective in elderly patients with immunosenescence. Therefore, we are currently focused on drug/vaccine discovery research in immunosenescence, using cutting-edge immune cell analysis techniques in primate-model monkeys, which help to achieve very close approximations of human clinical samples and the immunosenescence phenomenon. Further, we aim to develop an immunological analysis system for direct clinical application in humans, search for biomarkers, and establish novel protective and curative therapies by comparing animal (primate-model monkey) and human clinical samples.

3. Overview of our research

# Work 1

Research aimed at understanding aging-associated immunosenescence We are currently involved in translational research on the immunosenescence phenomenon using cutting-edge immune cell analysis techniques in primate-model monkeys, with which we can achieve very close approximations of human clinical samples and of the immunosenescence phenomenon itself. Please visit our website for detail.

1. Elucidating the mechanisms of immunosenescence
2. Searching for biomarkers of immunosenescence using a primate model

# Work 2

Drug/Vaccine discovery research based on our understanding of aging-associated immunosenescence By comparing animal (primate-model monkey) and human clinical samples side-by-side, we aim to develop an immunological analysis system directly tied to clinical applications in humans, search for biomarkers, and establish novel protective and curative therapies. Please visit our website for detail.

◆ Infectious disease-related work

1. Development of immunotherapies for the radical cure of AIDS
2. Development of a universal influenza vaccine
3. Development of COVID-19 vaccine
4. Identification of surrogate markers for the prediction of HTLV-1-related diseases

◆ Cancer-related work

1. Development of immunotherapies for intractable cancers, including pancreatic cancer
2. Immunological research on the hepatitis B virus that aims to make a functional cure possible

Laboratory of Precision Immunology