Kayo Inaba
Kayo Inaba | |
|---|---|
| Born | Gifu Prefecture, Japan |
| Occupation(s) | Immunologist, Professor |
| Years active | 1982–present |
| Known for | Research on dendritic cells |
Kayo Inaba holds a professorship at Kyoto University, where she leads the Graduate School of Biostudies. Additionally, she fulfills the roles of Vice-President for Gender Equality and Director of the Centre for Women Researchers.
Inaba is acclaimed for her investigations into dendritic cells and was honored with the Asia Pacific UNESCO Award for Women in Science in 2014. Her research highlighted the essential function of dendritic cells within the immune system and confirmed their capacity to survive outside living organisms.
Life
Inaba completed her doctoral degree at Kyoto University in 1978. Between 1982 and 2011, she held a visiting researcher position in the laboratory of Ralph Steinman. At Kyoto University, she serves as executive vice-president overseeing gender equality, international relations, public communications, and leads the International Strategy Office. Notably, Inaba was the inaugural female associate professor within Kyoto University's science faculty and is a board member of the Japanese Society for Immunology.
She was designated a Person of Cultural Merit in 2024.