Taisuke Kanaji

Taisuke Kanaji, MD, PhD, is an Institute Investigator in the Department of Translational Medicine at The Scripps Research Institute. His research focuses on platelet biology, thrombopoiesis, and the role of aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases in inflammation and autoimmune diseases. He has held roles at institutions including Kyushu University, BloodCenter of Wisconsin, and The Scripps Research Institute, where he has contributed to understanding mechanisms of platelet generation under inflammatory stress, the pathophysiology of Antisynthetase Syndrome, and immune responses in hematopoiesis.

Education:

• Ph.D. (Hematology), Kyushu University Faculty of Medicine (1999)
• M.D. (Medicine), Kyushu University Faculty of Medicine (1990)

Research Interests: Dr. Kanaji’s work bridges hematology, immunology, and molecular biology. Key areas include:

• Mechanisms of platelet activation via von Willebrand Factor (VWF)-GPIb-Filamin A axis
• Role of tyrosyl-tRNA synthetase (YARS) in thrombopoiesis during inflammatory stress
• Autoimmune diseases linked to aaRSs, such as Antisynthetase Syndrome (myositis and ILD)
• Innate and adaptive immune regulation in hematopoiesis

Awards & Grants:

• NIH R01 Grant (HL129011-01A1) from NHLBI (2016-2020)
• Fukuoka Medical Award (1998)
• Multiple grants from Japan Society for the Promotion of Science and private foundations

Lab & Collaborations: Utilizes animal models, clinical samples, and proteomics to study platelet dynamics and autoimmune mechanisms. Collaborates with groups at BloodCenter of Wisconsin, Kurume University, and The Scripps Research Institute.