Toshihiko Hanada

Toshihiko Hanada is a Research Assistant Professor at the Tufts University School of Medicine's Developmental, Molecular and Chemical Biology department. His research focuses on cell polarity regulation, intracellular trafficking, and erythrocyte membrane biology with applications to malaria and hematology. He holds a PhD from the University of Tokyo (1995) and completed postdoctoral training at St. Elizabeth's Medical Center and the University of Tokyo.

• Educations:
  • Doctor of Philosophy, University of Tokyo, Japan (1995)
  • Bachelor of Science, University of Tokyo, Japan (1990)

Research interests include mechanisms of malaria parasite invasion, erythrocyte membrane stability, and cytoskeletal protein interactions. Recent work examines Babesia microti antigen discovery, Plasmodium falciparum host receptors, and dematin's role in calcium signaling. Over 50 publications span parasitology, hematology, and cell biology with a focus on translational applications.

Publications demonstrate expertise in erythrocyte biology (e.g., band 3 receptor function, calpain-1 knockout effects) and malaria pathogenesis (e.g., MSP1-glycophorin interactions). Collaborative work involves phage display techniques and humanized models for sickle cell disease.

No awards listed. Active in mentoring through Tufts University appointments since 2000. Lab focuses on integrating molecular and cellular approaches to study hematopoietic and non-hematopoietic cell systems.