Nagasaki University has been selected for the Program for Forming Japan’s Peak Research Universities (J-PEAKS), a five-year program implemented by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) for the period from 2025. The University has a vision of becoming a world-leading university with the aim of realizing “Planetary Health”, and is implementing various initiatives to contribute to the local and international communities.

Under this circumstance, we are pleased to announce that, starting in November 2025, Dr. Brett J. Hos, who earned his Ph.D. from Leiden University, will join our faculty as an Assistant Professor for a three-year term.
Dr. Hos will be affiliated with the Division of Oncology within the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences. His research will focus on the development of innovative cancer immunotherapies, contributing to our broader mission of advancing “Planetary Health.”

In May 2025, the President of Nagasaki University and other members of the School of Medicine visited Leiden University to introduce their research. This visit made Dr. Hos, who had obtained his PhD from Leiden University, interested in the research and development of cancer immunotherapy at our Department of Oncology and approached Professor Ikeda in the department for advice. This was the starting point of this project.

Dr. Hos worked as a PhD student in the Department of Immunology at Leiden University Medical Centre under Prof. Ferry A. Ossendorp in cancer immunology research. Later, in the Department of Immunology at the Erasmus Medical Centre Rotterdam, he worked on the development of cancer cell elimination methods using novel PROTAC (proteolysis-inducing chimeric molecules). These are all very relevant to the ongoing research and development in the Department of Oncology of our university, and his academic experience will be of great advantage in advancing research in the department, improving the outcomes of cancer immunotherapy and contributing to our university’s vision “Planetary Health”.

The welcome of Dr Hos to the Department of Oncology is not only in line with the aim of promoting the realization of “Planetary Health” at Nagasaki University by welcoming outstanding young researchers from abroad who are seeking opportunities to work in Japan, but is also significant in terms of furthering exchange between Nagasaki University and Leiden University, with which we have had an academic exchange agreement since 1989.

After assuming his new position, he will conduct research in the field and also engage in educational activities at the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences and the School of Medicine at Nagasaki University. We look forward to his future activities and the further deepening of research exchange between the two universities.

From Left: Prof. Kawakami (the Dean, the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences),
Prof. Ikeda (the Department of Oncology), President Nagayasu, Dr. Hos, and Prof. Ikematsu (the Dean, the School of Medicine)

Meeting at the School of Medicine with Dr. Hos

References

J-PEAKS (Nagasaki University Official Website – Japanese)
https://www.nagasaki-u.ac.jp/ja/pickup/J-PEAKS/
Nagasaki University Planetary Health Special Site
https://www.plh.nagasaki-u.ac.jp/english/