The Immune Alliance - a German-Japanese Cooperation in Immunology Bilateral Cooperation

Wolfgang Schamel is a German immunologist and professor known for his contributions to the study of T-cell receptor (TCR) signaling. He is affiliated with the University of Freiburg, where he leads a research group at the Institute of Biology III and the Cluster of Excellence CIBSS.

His research focuses on the molecular mechanisms by which T cells are activated. In particular, Schamel has made significant contributions to understanding the organization and activation of the TCR. His work has shown that this receptor can exist not only as a single molecule but also in pre-organized clusters on the cell surface. Furthermore, he has demonstrated that the TCR exists in two different conformations: an inactive form, in which it cannot be phosphorylated and binds cholesterol, and an active form, in which it can be phosphorylated and is active in signaling. He has applied his findings on TCR function to the development of novel chimeric antigen receptors (CARs).

He studied biochemistry and earned his doctorate in immunology, followed by international research stays. Schamel has received numerous awards for his scientific achievements. In addition to his research, he is involved in academic teaching and the promotion of young scientists.

Dr. Koji Yasutomo graduated from the Tokushima University Faculty of Medicine in 1990. Following his clinical training, he transitioned to a career in immunological research. From 1997 to 2000, he served as a postdoctoral fellow in Dr. Ronald Germain’s laboratory at the National Institutes of Health, where he focused on T-cell development. Since his appointment as a Professor at Tokushima University in 2001, Dr. Yasutomo has investigated the mechanisms of immune regulation and chronic inflammation.

His research focuses on the genetic architecture of familial immunological and inflammatory disorders and the functional differentiation of T cells. By integrating human genetics with experimental immunology, his work seeks to uncover how dysregulated immune responses arise. Currently, he explores how interactions between T cells and stromal cells drive the development and persistence of autoimmune diseases, aiming to elucidate the mechanisms sustaining chronic inflammation and to identify novel therapeutic targets.