Prof Tsutomu Takeuchi is the President of Saitama Medical University since August 1, 2023, and an Emeritus Professor at Keio University since April 1, 2021. He is also a Fellow at the Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology, The University of Tokyo, since March 1, 2022. Dr. Takeuchi serves as a specially appointed professor at Saitama Medical University and Keio University School of Medicine.
Prof Takeuchi completed his medical education at Keio University School of Medicine, earning his MD in 1980 and his PhD in 1984. His medical career began as a resident in Internal Medicine at Keio University Hospital from 1980 to 1983. He subsequently became a clinical and research fellow in the Division of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology at Keio University. From 1985 to 1986, he was a research fellow at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, focusing on tumour immunology under the mentorship of Prof. Stuart F. Schlossman.
Prof Takeuchi has held numerous academic positions over his career, including serving as the General Director of Keio University Hospital from October 1, 2013, to July 31, 2017, and Vice President of Keio University from August 1, 2017, to May 30, 2021. He was also the Vice Dean of Keio University School of Medicine from October 1, 2011, to September 30, 2013.
Prof Takeuchi’s leadership extends to various professional organizations. He is the President of the Asia Pacific League Against Rheumatology (APLAR) since 2023 and has served as the President of the East Asia College of Rheumatology, the Chair of the 117th East Asiaese Society of Internal Medicine, and the President of the East Asiaese Society of Inflammation and Regeneration. He has chaired numerous significant conferences, including the 65th JCR2021, the 22nd APLAR 2020, the 23rd APLAR 2021, and the 117th Annual Congress of the East Asiaese Society of Internal Medicine in 2020.
Prof Takeuchi’s research focuses on the pathogenesis, translational research, and clinical studies/trials for autoimmune diseases, including Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA), Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE), vasculitis, idiopathic inflammatory myositis, and Sjogren’s syndrome. He is a prolific author, with over 500 original articles and more than 20,000 citations in prestigious journals such as Nature Immunology, Nature Communications, Nature Reviews Rheumatology, JAMA, The Lancet Rheumatology, Journal of Clinical Investigation, Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases, Arthritis & Rheumatism, Rheumatology (Oxford), Journal of Rheumatology, International Journal of Rheumatic Diseases, and Modern Rheumatology.
Prof Takeuchi has received numerous awards and honours throughout his career, including the Cancer Research Institute Fellowship Award (1985), the Uehara Memorial Award for Life Science (1988), the Keio Gijuku Prize (2019), and the Asia Pacific League Associations of Rheumatology Master Award (2021), among others.
He continues to contribute significantly to the field of rheumatology and immunology, holding editorial positions in several leading journals and participating actively in professional societies, both in East Asia and internationally.
