Keigo Machida

Keigo Machida is Associate Professor of Molecular Microbiology & Immunology at USC. His research investigates hepatitis C virus (HCV) mechanisms in hepatocellular carcinoma development, focusing on tumor-initiating stem-like cells (TICs) influenced by alcohol and obesity.

He leads studies on TLR4-NANOG signaling in liver oncogenesis and viral mutator phenotypes. Awards include the American Cancer Society Research Scholar grant and Young Investigator Award from the Asian Pacific Association for Liver Studies. Current work examines mitochondrial reprogramming of TICs and therapeutic targeting.