- 2014 Albert-Lasker Basic Medical Research Award
Intro
2014 Albert-Lasker Basic Medical Research Award Japanese molecular biologist known for research on unfolded protein response. He shared the 2014 Albert-Lasker Basic Medical Research Award with
Peter Walter for discoveries concerning the unfolded protein response.
Education and Work Experience
1987, Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kyoto University
1989-1993, Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
1993-1999, Researcher, HSP (Heat Shock Protein) Research Institute
2003-Present, Professor of Department of Biophysics, Graduate School of Science, Kyoto University
Honors and Awards
2009, Canada Gairdner International Award
2010, Medal of Honor with Purple Ribbon from the Emperor
2014, Albert-Lasker Basic Medical Research Award
2018, Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences
Major Academic Achievements
The work of Kazutoshi Mori and Peter Walter reveals the unfolded protein response pathway, which explains the mechanism how the cells signal and regulate under pressure. They discovered the signalling molecule Ire1 in 1993, which communicates the state of the endoplasmic reticulum protein production line. This research laid the foundation for the prevention and treatment of many diseases.