World Premier International Research Center Initiative (WPI)
On the Nobel Prizes Awarded to Dr. SAKAGUCHI Shimon (Specially Appointed Professor, Immunology Frontier Research Center (WPI-IFReC), the University of Osaka) and Dr. KITAGAWA Susumu (Distinguished Professor, Institute for Integrated Cell-Material Sciences (WPI-iCeMS), Kyoto University)
It has been announced that Dr. SAKAGUCHI Shimon, Specially Appointed Professor at the Immunology Frontier Research Center (IFReC), the University of Osaka, was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, and that Dr. KITAGAWA Susumu, Distinguished Professor at the Institute for Integrated Cell-Material Sciences (iCeMS), Kyoto University, was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry.
Both IFReC and iCeMS are WPI Academy centers established under the World Premier International Research Center Initiative (WPI), promoted and supported by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT).
We, the members of the World Premier International Research Center Initiative (WPI) Program Committee, extend our heartiest congratulations to Dr. Sakaguchi and Dr. Kitagawa, and to all those who have helped advance and supported their research activities.
Dr. Sakaguchi has served as a Principal Investigator at IFReC since fiscal year 2011 and continues in that role today. From FY 2011 through FY 2019, he also served as IFReC‘s Deputy Director, providing outstanding leadership in driving the growth of the center.
Dr. Kitagawa served as iCeMS’s Deputy Director from the time of the center’s establishment in FY 2007 through FY 2013, and as its Director from FY 2014 through FY 2023. While being the face of the center, he has played a central role in promoting its visibility and research advancement.
These Nobel awards stand as testimony to the fact that research centers established under the WPI program have become hubs within the global circulation of top scientific talent, including researchers of Nobel laureate caliber. As members of the committee that promotes the WPI program, we take great pride and delight in this achievement.
We remain committed to advancing this program so that truly world-class research centers will take firm root and flourish in Japan, while having high expectations that they will continue to produce outstanding research achievements, including further Nobel Prize-level accomplishments, vigorously driving Japan’s scientific research forward.
October 10, 2025
Chairperson
World Premier International Research Center Initiative (WPI) Program Committee
HAMAGUCHI Michinari
Both IFReC and iCeMS are WPI Academy centers established under the World Premier International Research Center Initiative (WPI), promoted and supported by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT).
We, the members of the World Premier International Research Center Initiative (WPI) Program Committee, extend our heartiest congratulations to Dr. Sakaguchi and Dr. Kitagawa, and to all those who have helped advance and supported their research activities.
Dr. Sakaguchi has served as a Principal Investigator at IFReC since fiscal year 2011 and continues in that role today. From FY 2011 through FY 2019, he also served as IFReC‘s Deputy Director, providing outstanding leadership in driving the growth of the center.
Dr. Kitagawa served as iCeMS’s Deputy Director from the time of the center’s establishment in FY 2007 through FY 2013, and as its Director from FY 2014 through FY 2023. While being the face of the center, he has played a central role in promoting its visibility and research advancement.
These Nobel awards stand as testimony to the fact that research centers established under the WPI program have become hubs within the global circulation of top scientific talent, including researchers of Nobel laureate caliber. As members of the committee that promotes the WPI program, we take great pride and delight in this achievement.
We remain committed to advancing this program so that truly world-class research centers will take firm root and flourish in Japan, while having high expectations that they will continue to produce outstanding research achievements, including further Nobel Prize-level accomplishments, vigorously driving Japan’s scientific research forward.
October 10, 2025
Chairperson
World Premier International Research Center Initiative (WPI) Program Committee
HAMAGUCHI Michinari