Texas A&M University Engineering Medicine Program
Texas A&M University
Texas A&M University Engineering Medicine Program

Moriya Tsuji

Professor
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Dr. Moriya Tsuji is Professor at the Texas A&M University School of Engineering Medicine (EnMed) and Adjunct Professor at the Aaron Diamond AIDS Research Center, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons. He is an internationally recognized immunologist whose research has focused on the development of glycolipid-based vaccine adjuvants for infectious diseases and cancer, the role of natural killer T (NKT) cells in protective immunity, and the generation of humanized immune system (HIS) mouse models for translational immunology research.

Dr. Tsuji has authored more than 165 peer-reviewed publications in leading journals, including Nature, Nature Medicine, Nature Communications, The Journal of Experimental Medicine, The Journal of Clinical Investigation, and Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA (PNAS). His work has made significant contributions to the fields of vaccine immunology, unconventional T-cell biology, and humanized mouse technologies.

He was elected Fellow of the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (FASTMH) in 2021. Dr. Tsuji has served in numerous international scientific advisory and review roles, including as a Panel Member of the Vaccine Science Portfolio Advisory Council (VSPAC) for the PATH Malaria Vaccine Initiative supported by the Gates Foundation, an Advisory Member of the NIAID/NIH Malaria Vaccine Consultation Group (MVCG), and an International Advisory Member of the International Immunological Memory and Vaccine Forum (IIMVF). Since 2004, he has served as a Founding Roster Member of the Immunity and Host Defense (IHD) Study Section at NIAID/NIH. He currently serves as Editor-in-Chief of the journal Pathogens.

Education

  • Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Immunology University of Tokyo, 1987
  • Medical Doctorate (MD) The Jikei University School of Medicine, 1983

Research Interests

Development of a Glycolipid-Based Adjuvant for Vaccines Against Infectious Diseases and Cancers

Exploration of Natural Killer T-Cell-Mediated Protection Against Infectious Diseases and Cancers

Generation of “Humanized Mice” Model Mounting Human Immune System (HIS)

Patents

Pharmaceutical compositions comprising attenuated Plasmodium sporozoites and glycolipid adjuvants

U.S. Patent No. 9,642,909 – Pharmaceutical compositions comprising attenuated Plasmodium sporozoites and glycolipid adjuvants – issued: May 8, 2017.

Modification of recombinant adenovirus with immunogenic plasmodium circumsporozoite protein epitopes

U.S. Patent No. 9,555,089 – Modification of recombinant adenovirus with immunogenic plasmodium circumsporozoite protein epitopes – issued: January 31, 2017.

Pharmaceutical compositions comprising attenuated Plasmodium sporozoites and glycolipid adjuvants

U.S. Patent No. 9,278,125 – Pharmaceutical compositions comprising attenuated Plasmodium sporozoites and glycolipid adjuvants – issued: March 8, 2016

Use of allogenic or syngenic major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules as universal adjuvants for vaccines against neoplastic disease, infection and autoimmune disease

U.S. Patent No. 9,155,789 – Use of allogenic or syngenic major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules as universal adjuvants for vaccines against neoplastic disease, infection and autoimmune disease – issued: October 13, 2015

C-glycolipids with enhanced Th-1 profile

U.S. Patent No. 8,883,745 – C-glycolipids with enhanced Th-1 profile – issued: November 11, 2014.

Glycolipids and analogues thereof as antigens for NK T cells

U.S. Patent No. 8,586,051 – Glycolipids and analogues thereof as antigens for NK T cells – issued: November 19, 2013.

Synthetic C-glycolipid and its use for treating cancer, infectious diseases, and autoimmune diseases

U.S. Patent No. 8,252,909 – Synthetic C-glycolipid and its use for treating cancer, infectious diseases, and autoimmune diseases – issued: August 28, 2012.

Glycolipids and analogues thereof as antigens for NK T cells

U.S. Patent No. 8,163,290 B2 – Glycolipids and analogues thereof as antigens for NK T cells – issued: April 24, 2012.

Glycolipids and analogues thereof as antigens for NK T cells

U.S. Patent No. 7,923,013 – Glycolipids and analogues thereof as antigens for NK T cells – issued: April 12, 2011.

Use of synthetic glycolipids as universal adjuvants for vaccines against cancer, infectious diseases and autoimmune diseases.

U.S. Patent No. 7,771,726 – Use of synthetic glycolipids as universal adjuvants for vaccines against cancer, infectious diseases and autoimmune diseases. – issued: August 10, 2010.

Glycolipids and analogues thereof as antigens for NK T cells

U.S. Patent No. 7,534,434 – Glycolipids and analogues thereof as antigens for NK T cells – issued: May 19, 2009.

Use of glycosylceramide as adjuvants for vaccines against infections and cancer

U.S. Patent No. 7,488,491 – Use of glycosylceramide as adjuvants for vaccines against infections and cancer – issued: February 10, 2009.

Synthetic C-glycolipid and its use for treating cancer, infectious diseases and autoimmune diseases.

U.S. Patent No. 7,273,852 – Synthetic C-glycolipid and its use for treating cancer, infectious diseases and autoimmune diseases. – issued: September 25, 2007.

Publications

Awards & Honors

  • Fellow of the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (FASTMH) American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, 2021
  • Mizutani Foundation for Glycoscience Award 2014-2015
  • NIH Independent Scientist Award 1999-2003
  • NIH FIRST Award 1997-2002
  • American Lung Association of New York Research Award 1996-1998
  • New York University Whitehead Presidential Award 1993-1994
  • American Cancer Society Institutional Award 1992-1993
  • Japan Scholarship Society Award 1983-1987