President Nagata (left) and Director Yanagisawa (right)
2026.04.16
University of Tsukuba Confers First “Distinguished Fellow” Title on Professor Masashi Yanagisawa
University of Tsukuba has conferred its “Distinguished Fellow” title on Dr. Yanagisawa, Director of the International Institute for Integrative Sleep Medicine (IIIS), the first recipient. The University of Tsukuba Distinguished Fellow title is conferred on professors and equivalent faculty members with internationally outstanding research achievements.
Dr. Yanagisawa is internationally recognized for his pioneering contributions to sleep research. Especially, his discovery and elucidation of the neuropeptide orexin have greatly advanced the understanding of sleep–wake regulation and have led to advances in the diagnosis and treatment of sleep disorders.
These outstanding research achievements have been highly recognized through prestigious honors, including the Breakthrough Prize, designation as a Person of Cultural Merit, and the Medal with Purple Ribbon. Given these achievements, the University of Tsukuba has decided to confer the Distinguished Fellow title on Dr. Yanagisawa.
