Dr Kei Ikeda graduated from Chiba University School of Medicine, Japan in 1997. After his rheumatology training, he engaged himself in basic research at Chiba University Graduate School of Medicine, Japan and finished his PhD programme in 2004. Dr Ikeda learned musculoskeletal ultrasound and clinical research at Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Singapore from 2005 to 2006 and at Leeds University, UK from 2006 to 2007. After being engaged in clinical practice, research, and education for 15 years as Assistant Professor/Senior Lecturer at Chiba University, Dr Ikeda moved to Department of Rheumatology, Dokkyo Medical University, Japan, as Professor in 2023. His research interest is imaging, biomarkers, and the pathophysiology of rheumatic/autoimmune diseases.