Renowned medical scientist and recipient of the 2016 Kyoto Prize in “Basic Sciences,” Tasuku Honjo, M.D., Ph.D. will speak at UC San Diego on March 15 as part of the 2017 Kyoto Prize Symposium. Dr. Honjo has elucidated the mechanism for the functional diversification of antibodies by clarifying Class Switch Recombination and its responsible enzyme, AID. He also identified several important immunoregulatory molecules, including PD-1, whose function has led to the development of effective cancer immunotherapy. As reported by “New Scientist” magazine, Dr. Honjo’s work has initiated a historic turning point—a so-called “penicillin moment”—in the fight against cancer. The Kyoto Prize—Japan’s highest private award for global achievement—was established by the Inamori Foundation in 1985 to honor significant contributions to the scientific, cultural and spiritual betterment of humankind. The prize is presented annually in three categories: Advanced Technology, Basic Sciences, and Arts and Philosophy. For more information and to register for the free symposium, visit http://kyotoprize-us.org/.