Hirotsugu Suwanai, MD, PhD

PROFILE

From clinical questions to research.

After graduating from Keio University School of Medicine, I earned my PhD at Keio University. I conducted research at the Joslin Diabetes Center, Harvard, and worked at the University of Tokyo Hospital and the National Institute of Health and Nutrition before joining Tokyo Medical University, where I have served as Associate Professor since April 2024.

My clinical and research interests include diabetes, endocrinology and metabolism, insulin and GLP-1 signaling, pancreatic beta-cell function, immune–metabolic interactions, thyroid biology, and medical data analysis. I have contributed to publications in PNAS, Molecular Cell, Diabetes, and Thyroid, connecting molecular mechanisms with clinical questions.

Alongside academic medicine, I work as an occupational physician and Occupational Health Consultant, support physician and graduate-student education, and collaborate internationally. I obtained the ECFMG Certificate in November 2006. I am also interested in applications of AI, machine learning, and large-scale health data to medicine.

CAREER

Training and research

1996–2002

Keio University School of Medicine
MD and Japanese medical license, 2002

2002–2006

Keio University Graduate School of Medicine
PhD. Internal medicine training at Keio University Hospital, 2002–2004

2004–2009

Joslin Diabetes Center, Harvard Medical School
Research Fellow, Mathis–Benoist laboratory. American Diabetes Association Postdoctoral Fellowship, 2006–2009

2009–2017

Department of Diabetes and Metabolic Diseases, The University of Tokyo Hospital
Clinical training, patient care and diabetes and metabolism research

2017–2024

Department of Diabetes, Metabolism and Endocrinology, Tokyo Medical University
Clinical care, medical research and graduate-student education

2024–

Department of Diabetes, Metabolism and Endocrinology, Tokyo Medical University
Associate Professor (since April 2024)

CLINICAL EXPERTISE

Qualifications and certifications

• Board-certified Specialist in General Internal Medicine and Supervising Physician, Japanese Society of Internal Medicine
• Board-certified Specialist, Japan Diabetes Society
• Board-certified Specialist and Supervising Physician in Endocrinology and Metabolism (Internal Medicine), Japan Endocrine Society
• Occupational Health Consultant
• ECFMG Certificate (November 2006) — Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates