Our research interest is to understand the molecular mechanisms of the protective immunity to infectious agents.  This includes the effects of the infections on development of other diseases such as cancer.  We are using murine models of infection with Toxoplasma gondii, an obligate intracellular protozoan parasite.  T. gondii establishes a chronic infection by forming cysts preferentially in the brain, and one third of human population worldwide is estimated to be chronically infected with this parasite.  Recent epidemiological studies demonstrated that T. gondii infection is associated with a 1.8-fold increase in the risk of brain cancers, and that brain cancer mortality rates increase with T. gondii seroprevalence.  These evidences strongly suggest that T. gondii contributes to development of brain cancers and mortality associated with the cancers.  Therefore, it is important to prevent infection with this parasite in order to reduce a risk of developing brain cancers and the cancer-associated mortality. 

Our research has recently been focused on analyzing the molecular mechanisms of the protective immune responses to T. gondii, especially in the brain and on applying the knowledge obtained from these studies to improve prevention and treatment of the infection.  These projects have an excellent potential to provide valuable information for prevention of brain cancers.  In addition, I have considerable experience in analyzing the antitumor effects of immunomodulatory agents using murine models of lung carcinoma and lymphoma.