16th Keio Medical Science Prize Award Ceremony

The 16th Keio Medical Science Prize award ceremony was held on December 6 at the Kitasato Hall, Shinanomachi Campus.

The Keio Medical Science Prize is awarded to researchers who have made outstanding and creative achievements in the fields of medical and life sciences, and from whom significant activity can be expected in future, regardless of their nationality. This award has been given by the Keio University Medical Science Fund since 1996, and it is the only prize of its kind awarded by a Japanese university that 6 laureates of this Prize have later won the Nobel Prize.

This year’s prize was awarded to Dr. Philip A. Beachy, Investigator of Haward Hughes Medical Institute and Ernest and Amelia Gallo Professor of Stanford University School of Medicine in recognition of his research into the “Identification of Hedgehog, a key molecule in development, and its medical applications” and Dr. Keiji Tanaka, Director General of Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science in recognition of his research into the “Discovery of proteasome and elucidation of its physiological functions”.

The award ceremony was held in a conciliatory mood started by performance of Keio University School of Medicine Orchestra. Prof. Hideyuki Okano, Chairman of the Keio Medical Science Prize Selection Committee, reported that a large number of researchers had been subjected to rigorous scrutiny by 64 reviewers, both inside and outside Keio University. Then, Atsushi Seike, President of Keio University, conferred the Prize medals and certificates on Dr. Beachy and Dr. Tanaka, before giving a congratulatory address. This was followed by further felicitations from Takashi Kii, Vice Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science & Technology, and John V. Roos, US Ambassador to Japan. Finally, Dr. Beachy and Dr. Tanaka spoke of their delight at receiving the Prize and their plans for future research activity, bringing the Ceremony to close.

Following the Ceremony, the prizewinners gave Commemorative Lectures to an enthusiastic audience of about 280 participants, including invited guests, Keio staff and students.

*For more information about the Keio Medical Science Prize, please visit the Keio University Medical Science Fund website