MEMBER

Hideki Ueno M.D., Ph.D.

Hideki Ueno M.D., Ph.D.

Professor

Education:

  • 1992 M.D.

    Faculty of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan

  • 2001 Ph.D.

    Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan

Professional Appointments:

  • 2001

    Post-Doctoral Fellow. Baylor Institute for Immunology Research (BIIR), Dallas, TX, USA

  • 2004

    Assistant Investigator. BIIR

  • 2009

    Associate Investigator. BIIR

  • 2011- 2016

    Investigator. BIIR

  • 2016.4

    Professor. Global Health and Emerging Pathogens Institute, Department of Microbiology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA

  • 2019.7

    Professor. Department of Immunology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan (Cross-appointment with Mount Sinai until 2021.3)

  • 2021.4

    Full-time Professor. Department of Immunology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan

I have more than 25 years of experience in human immunology research. At Baylor Immunology Research Institute, I started my research carrier with the focus on cancer vaccine development using dendritic cells (DCs), and immunomonitoring on cancer antigen-specific T cells in patients who underwent DC-based vaccinations. I have conducted basic and clinical research on human dendritic cell subsets and human follicular helper T (Tfh) cells. Major achievements include: determination of functional differences in human skin DC subsets; discovery of human Tfh cell subsets; elucidation of the involvement of Tfh cell subsets in autoimmune diseases; establishment of human Tfh cell differentiation pathways; and elucidation of the involvement of Tfh cells in antibody production after seasonal influenza vaccination.

I returned to Kyoto in 2019, 20 years after my Ph.D. Once again, I fell in love with the excellence of Kyoto University and the students, and the beauty of the city of Kyoto. A big fan of 70's and 80's culture, including Japanese vintage audio like Sansui, Denon, Yamaha, and Trio. U.S. citizen.

Masato Kubo Ph.D.

Masato Kubo Ph.D.

Specially Appointed Professor

Specially Appointed Professor of the Kyoto University Immuno-Monitoring Center (KIC)

Takeshi Kono Ph.D.

Takeshi Kono Ph.D.

Specially Appointed Professor

Worked for 39 years at a multinational pharmaceutical company, engaging in drug discovery research and business development (evaluation and in-licensing of drug discovery seeds). Since January 2025, serving as a liaison at the Kyoto University Immuno-Monitoring Center (KIC).

Hiroyuki Yoshitomi M.D., Ph.D.

Hiroyuki Yoshitomi M.D., Ph.D.

Associate Professor

  • 1995 M.D.

    Faculty of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan. Joined the Department of Orthopaedic surgery.

  • 2005 Ph.D.

    Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan. Since receiving my PhD, I have been involved in rheumatoid arthritis research in humans.

  • 2012

    Associate Professor. Center for Innovation in Immunoregulative Technology and Therapeutics

  • 2015

    Associate Professor. Institute for Frontier Life and Medical Sciences, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan

  • 2016

    Associate Professor. iPS Cell Research Institute (concurrent post),

  • 2019.7

    Associate Professor. Department of Immunology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan

Major achievements include the identification of CXCL13-producing CD4+ T cells in rheumatoid arthritis synovium, which population is now established as peripheral helper T (Tph)cells that are involved in a variety of diseases. I would like to challenge to elucidate various human pathologies by actively adopting new technologies. I am healed and inspirated by the seasonal nature of the Kamogawa River on my way towork.

I spend my weekends trail running in the mountains to refresh my mind and body, and I sometimes show up at the lab in myrunning clothes.

Coppo Roberto Ph.D.

Coppo Roberto Ph.D.

Specially Appointed Lecturer

My background is in cancer biology, and my work has used patient-derived tumor organoids, CRISPR, and multi-omics approaches to study cancer cell plasticity and mechanisms of drug resistance. I am now expanding this research toward tumor‒immune interactions, focusing on the functional plasticity of γδ T cells and their potential applications in cancer immunotherapy.

My favorite quote is “I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious.” ̶ A. Einstein. I try to keep this curiosity at the center of both my research and daily life. Outside the lab, I enjoy soccer, climbing, and anime.

Yoshitaka Honda M.D., Ph.D.

Yoshitaka Honda M.D., Ph.D.

Program-Specific Assistant Professor

  • 2009 M.D.

    Faculty of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan

  • 2021 Ph.D.

    Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan

  • 2020

    Program-Specific Assistant Professor. Department of Pediatrics, Kyoto University Hospital, Kyoto, Japan

  • 2021

    Program-Specific Assistant Professor. Institute for the Advanced Study of Human Biology (ASHBi), Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan

I have been trained as a pediatrician and engaged in the clinical immunology research at Kyoto University from 2014. I have conducted genetic or functional analysis of the patients with inborn errors of immunity utilizing patient cells or patient-derived iPS cells. As a graduate student, I have described a novel disease concept; cell-type specific quantitative NEMO deficiency caused by a deep intronic mutation. After graduation, I have established an in vitro functional assay for the functional classification of MEFV variants to improve the accuracy of the diagnosis of Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF).

From 2021, I have joined the Ueno group to further investigate human immunology. Now, my research topics are inborn errors of immunity (especially autoinflammatory diseases), allergy and pediatric rheumatology. I love 90’s J-POP.

Yuki Masuo M.D., Ph.D.

Yuki Masuo M.D., Ph.D.

Assistant Professor

Education:

  • 2018 M.D.

    Faculty of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan

  • 2026 Ph.D.

    Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan

Employment:

  • 2018

    Clinical residency, Kyoto University Hospital, Kyoto, Japan

  • 2020

    Clinical fellowship, Otsu Red Cross Hospital, Otsu, Shiga, Japan

  • 2026

    Assistant Professor, Department of Immunology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan

My research focuses on immune responses within tissues under inflammation. I am particularly interested in peripheral helper T cells (Tph cells) in rheumatoid arthritis and tissue resident immune cells in the liver.

Asako Shimoda Ph.D.

Asako Shimoda Ph.D.

Program-Specific Assistant Professor

  • Ma Shuhe Ph.D.

    Program-Specific Researcher

    Shuhe Ma got her bachelor degree in Biotechnology at Harbin Institute of Technology (2014), and earned her master degree in Biology at Leiden university (2016). From 2017, she joined the doctoral course at the Graduate School of Medicine in Kyoto University, and undertook postdoctoral training at the Dept. of Immunology (2020-2021) as a postdoc. She obtained her Doctor degree at 2022. She joined ASHBi at April 2022.

  • Ryusei Nishigori M.D.

    Researcher

    I graduated from Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine in 2013. I'm involved in clinical work with a focus on neuroimmunological diseases. Since 2020, I have been continuing my research in clinical immunology using patient blood and cerebrospinal fluid at the Ueno Lab.

  • Masaki Takata M.D.

    Research Student

  • Naila Shinwari

    Program Specific Researcher

    Master’s from Quaid-e-Azam university Pakistan. I Joined this lab as COVID-19 researcher focusing on unraveling the mysteries of this pandemic. With a passion for science, I strive to understand how the virus spreads and contribute to the development of effective vaccines. Previous MEXT scholarship recipient. An awardee of ASHBi Financial Support Program for International Graduate Students.

  • Hajime Morita M.D.

    Researcher

    I graduated from Kyoto University in 2014. I worked as a nephrologist and finished the nephrology fellowship in 2020. I am investigating liver resident T lymphocytes. I'm interested in the balance between tolerance and host defense in the liver.

  • Yuya Shinoto M.D.

    Doctoral (Ph.D.) student

  • Toshiaki Bando M.D., Ph.D.

    Researcher

    I graduated from Faculty of Medicine at Nara Medical University in 2013. After training as a neurosurgeon, I joined Ueno Labʼs PhD program in 2021, focusing on hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) using human liver transplant specimens, and earned my PhD in 2025. Since 2026, I have been balancing my work as a neurosurgeon with ongoing research in Ueno Lab. My current work extends my doctoral research by further investigating the interaction between HSCs and immune cells. Additionally, I support research on the immunology of the human dura mater and cerebrospinal fluid, leveraging my clinical expertise.

  • Zhang Moyu

    Doctoral (Ph.D.) student

  • Sari Hatanaka M.D.

    Research student

    I graduated from Nara Medical University and worked as a pediatrician for five years. I am investigating immune cells, including T-cell subsets and basophils, which are involved in the pathogenesis of allergic diseases and the acquisition of tolerance. Recently, I have been interested in gardening and machine learning.

  • Mouna Khan Pharm.D.

    Doctoral (Ph.D.) student

    I graduated as a Pharmacy Doctor in 2016, then specialized immunologist in 2021 from Algiers University. I worked as an immunology resident in Pasteur Institute of Algeria from 2016 to 2021, After that I joined Ueno Lab where I started my Doctoral course at the graduate school of Medicine in April 2022. I am interested in gamma-delta T cells in the liver. MEXT scholarship recipient.

  • Rinko Akamine M.D.

    Program Specific Researcher

    Interested in autoimmune disease, especially rheumatoid arthritis. Love travel to the islands. Recieving "Kibou" Project scholarship (from Japanese Society for Immunology).

  • Xue Xinxin

    Program Specific Researcher

    I am Xinxin Xue. I graduated from McGill University with a Bachelor's degree in Life Sciences from the Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Science. I joined Ueno Lab in 2021 and obtained a Master’s degree in Medical Science in March 2023. Currently, I am a Ph.D. student specializing in COVID-19 vaccine studies. An awardee of ASHBi Financial Support Program for International Graduate Students.

  • Hirotaka Sato M.D.

    Doctoral (Ph.D.) student

    I graduated from Shimane University Faculty of Medicine in 2012 and have worked as a nephrologist. In 2023, I entered the doctoral program to pursue research under Professor Ueno, whom I had admired since my boyhood. My research focuses on the immune functions of liver sinusoidal endothelial cells using human samples.

  • Osamu Iri M.D.

    Doctoral (Ph.D.) student

  • Lynn Zreka M.D.

    Doctoral (Ph.D.) student

    I graduated from Tishreen University, school of medicine in 2019 in Syria.Joined Ueno Lab in 2020 October as a research student for 1 year and half.And now, I am a first year master student, working on analyzing granulocytes residing in liver. My dream is to find some treatment to Autoimmune Hepatitis (AIH) in the future. MEXT scholarship recipient.

  • Yousuf Tahir Ali M.D.

    Doctoral (Ph.D.) student

    MD from Dow Medical College on a Government of Pakistan scholarship. M.Phil. in Biological & Biomedical Sciences from Aga Khan University with “Great Distinction.” Recipient of the MEXT Scholarship for a Ph.D. in Immunology at the Ueno Lab, Kyoto University. My research focuses on understanding Natural Killer (NK) cells in Cytomegalovirus (CMV)-positive and CMV-negative liver perfusate samples and investigating how these populations differ from NK cells in human peripheral blood.

  • Chua Celine

    Doctoral (Ph.D.) student

    Received my BS from National University of Singapore and MS from Kyoto University. My research interests are focused on the responses of human T cells in vaccination and infection. Currently supported by the MEXT scholarship and A*STAR National Science Scholarship.

  • Lu Dongyun

    Doctoral (Ph.D.) student

    I graduated from Shanghai Jiao Tong University in 2022, majoring in Biotechnology. With a great interest in infectious diseases, especially COVID-19, I hope to become a researcher with good scientific literacy in Ueno Lab. Currently, I decided to spend one year as a Research Student, learning experiment techniques and enhancing my theoretical knowledge basement.

  • Joey Matsuyama

    Doctoral (Ph.D.) student

    I received a Bachelor of Pharmaceutical Sciences in 2024 and a Master of Medicine in 2026, Kyoto University. I am working as a Ph.D. course student to elucidate the mechanism how the human immune cells fight against hepatitis B virus (HBV) using human liver-derived immune cells. Recieving "Kibou" Project scholarship (from Japanese Society for Immunology).

  • Takeru Fujimoto M.D.

    Doctoral (Ph.D.) student

    I graduated from Kyoto University Faculty of Medicine in 2016. After gaining clinical experience as a urologist, I entered a doctoral program in 2016, where I am currently conducting research on urinary immune cells in bladder cancer.

  • Masaya Kawamoto M.D.

    Doctoral (Ph.D.) student

    I graduated from Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine in 2024. After completing a two-year junior residency program, I joined the Ueno Laboratory as a PhD student in 2026.

  • Jun Ichikawa M.D.

    Doctoral (Ph.D.) student

  • Takuma Kawarabayashi M.D.

    Doctoral (Ph.D.) student

  • Mio hamatani M.D., Ph.D.

    Researcher

    Postdoctoral fellow at Kuchroo Lab, Dept. Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School as a part of JSPS Overseas Research Fellowship program.

  • Akinori Murakami M.D., Ph.D.

    Researcher

    I graduated from Faculty of Medicine at Kyoto University in 2014. I worked as an orthopedic surgeon for 4 years and joined the Ueno lab in 2020. My main research topic is CD4+ T cells in human rheumatoid arthritis.

  • Chihiro Nishino

    Technical staff

  • Emi Onohara

    Technical staff

  • Aki Mitsunaka

    Technical staff

  • Maho Oguchi

    Technical staff

  • Nanami Toya

    Technical staff

  • Marika Hirao

    Technical staff

  • Mami Fujita

    Secretary

  • Nana Sugie

    Secretary

  • Kazuya Kimura

    Program-Specific Associate Professor

Past Members

  • Kazunari Akiyoshi

    Specially Appointed Professor

  • Jumana Khalil

    Assistant Professor

  • Chiyomi Sasaki

    Researcher

  • Zhang Yunni

    Researcher

  • Daichi Akuzawa

    PhD student

  • Shunsuke Uno

    PhD student

  • Rina Fujita

    PhD student

  • Tomotaro Tanaka

    PhD student

  • Ryo Nishida

    Master student

  • Kenji Okuma

    Researcher

  • Kensuke Nishioka

    PhD student

  • Shusei Fujioka

    PhD student

  • Mayu Fujioka

    PhD student