The 10th Award Profile of the Recipient
Name and age
Ohtsura Niwa, born in Japan on July 16, 1943 (71 years old)
Name and age
Ohtsura Niwa, born in Japan on July 16, 1943 (71 years old)
● Education
・1967 - Graduated from Kyoto University (Zoology)
Enrolled in Postgraduate Course Kyoto University (Zoology; Department of Radiobiology)
・1972 - Enrolled in Postgraduate course, Stanford University (Biophysics)
・1975 - Completed the above and obtained Ph.D.
● Professional appointments
Kyoto University Faculty of Medicine
・1975-1984 Assistant, Department of Experimental Radiology
Hiroshima University Research Institute for Nuclear Medicine and Biology
・1984-1991 Assistant Professor, Department of Pathology Professor, (department above renamed as the Department of Molecular Pathology with reorganization in 1994)
Kyoto University Radiation Biology Center
・1997-2007 Professor
National Institute of Radiological Sciences
・2007-2009 Deputy Director, Research Center for Charged Particle Therapy Fukushima Medical University
・2012-2015 Extraordinary Professor
● Reasons for selection
After graduating from Kyoto University, Professor Niwa played an important role as a researcher.
In 1984, when he worked as an associate professor at Hiroshima University Research Institute for Nuclear Medicine and Biology he made many research achievements regarding the heath effects of atomic bomb survivors, especially in the area of Radiation Carcinogenic Mechanisms.
In 1997, Professor Niwa also made important achievements as the lead professor at the Kyoto University Radiation Biology Center.
He is highly respected internationally and has held prominent positions such as President of the Japanese Radiation Research Society, a Member of Committee 1 on the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP, 2001-2009), President of the International Association for Radiation Research (IARR), and member of the ICRP Main Commission (2009- to the present).
Currently, he is an Extraordinary Professor at the International Department of Fukushima Medical University. He is devoted to helping the people of Fukushima Prefecture and is the recipient of much gratitude and admiration there.
Professor Niwa has been highly evaluated on the grounds of all the above activities, and thus selected as the recipient for this time’s prize.