Yoshihiro Kawaoka facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Yoshihiro Kawaoka
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| Born | November 14, 1955 Kobe, Japan
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| Alma mater | Hokkaido University |
| Occupation | Virologist, professor at University of Wisconsin-Madison and University of Tokyo |
| Known for | Studies of influenza and Ebola viruses |
| Awards | Robert Koch Prize (2006) Carlos J. Finlay Prize for Microbiology (2015) Japan Academy Prize (2016) Keio Medical Science Prize (2022) |
Yoshihiro Kawaoka (河岡 義裕, Kawaoka Yoshihiro, born November 14, 1955) is a virologist specializing in the study of the influenza and Ebola viruses. He holds a professorship in virology in the Department of Pathobiological Sciences at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, USA, and at the University of Tokyo, Japan.
Following the West African Ebola virus epidemic of 2014, Kawaoka began development of an Ebola vaccine working in close coordination with Alhaji N'jai a toxicologist at the University of Wisconsin–Madison and his non-profit organization Project 1808, Inc.
Controversial experiment
Kawaoka reinvented a new virus based on H5N1, which he revealed to the public in 2011. For now, no known vaccine has been found. His research was halted by a moratorium issued from the US government in 2014. However, in 2019 he was allowed to resume the research.
Dan Brown mentioned the experiment in his novel Inferno.
Recognition
- 2006 – Robert Koch Prize (with Peter Palese)
- 2011 – Medal with Purple Ribbon
- 2013 – Members of the United States National Academy of Sciences
- 2014 – Popular Mechanics Breakthrough Award
- 2015 – Carlos J. Finlay Prize for Microbiology
- 2016 – Japan Academy Prize
- 2018 – Sir Michael Stoker Prize
- 2022 – Keio Medical Science Prize
- 2023 – Person of Cultural Merit
Selected publications
