Research area

Study on immune response in vivo （specifically, respiratory tissue)

Description of your research and your dream!

After engaging in clinical medicine as a physician (specializing in respiratory medicine) for more than five years, I shifted to basic medical research. My research goal is to establish “therapeutics,” a basic research aiming at feedback to the bedside. I am working hard on my research activities together with the members of the Department of Immunology.

Education

1995-2001

School of Medicine, Niigata University

2004-2008

Doctoral Course, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Niigata University (Prof. Fumitake Gejyo)

2004-2006

Resercher, Department of Immunology, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University (Prof. Toshinori Nakayama)

Experience

2001-2003

Resident in Department of Internal Medicine, Niigata University Medical and Dental Hospital

2003

Fellowship Researcher in Department of Respiratory Medicine, Niigata University Medical and Dental Hospital

2009-2011

Visiting Researcher, National Institutes of Health (Dr. John J. O'Shea)

2012-2013

Postdoctral Fellowship for Research Abroad, Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, National Institutes of Health

2013-2016

Project Associate Professor, Department of Advanced Allergology of the Airway, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University

2016-Present

Associate Professor, Department of Immunology, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University

Selected Publications

1. Iinuma, T., Okamoto, Y., Yamamoto, H., Inamine-Sasaki, A., Ohki, Y., Sakurai, T., Funakoshi, U., Yonekura, S., Sakurai, D., Hirahara, K., and Nakayama, T.: Interleukin-25 and mucosal T cells in noneosinophilic and eosinophilic chronic rhinosinusitis. Ann. Allergy Asthma Immunol. 114:289-298 (2015).
2. Hirahara, K., Onodera, A., Villario, A. V., Bonelli, M., Sciume, G., Laurence, A., Sun, H. W., Brooks, S. R., Vahedi, G., Shih, H. Y., Gtierrez-Cruz, G., Iwata, S., Suzuki, R., Mikami, Y., Okamoto, Y., Nakayama, T., Holland, S. M., Hunter, C. A., Kanno, Y., and O'Shea, J. J.: Asymmetric action of STAT transcription factors drives transcriptional outputs and cytokine specificity. Immunity 42:877-889 (2015).
3. Yang, X. P., Jiang, K., Hirahara, K., Vahedi, G., Afzali, B., Sciume, G., Boneli, M., Sun, H. W., Jankovic, D., Kanno, Y., Sartorelli, V., O'Shea, J. J., and Laurence, A.: EZH2 is crucial for both differentiation of regulatory T cells and T effector cell expansion. Sci. Rep. 5:10643 (2015).

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Award

2011

Research Award, The JAK-STAP Pathway Meeting

2012

AAI Abstract Trainee Award, The 99th AAI Annual Meeting

2014

18th Yujin Memorial Award, Almini Association, School of Medicine, Niigata University

2017

2017 Seymour and Vivian Milstein Young Investigator Award (Internationl Cytokine & Interferon Society)

2018

2018 Milstein Travel Award (Internationl Cytokine & Interferon Society)

Society Membership

Japanese Society for Immunology,
Japanese Society of Allergology,
The Japanese Society of Internal Medicine,
The Japanese Respiratory Society,
Japanese Cancer Association,
The American Association of Immunologists
Clinical Immunology Society
International Cytokine & Interferon Society