Akitsu Hotta

Akitsu Hotta is a leader in CRISPR-Cas9-based gene editing of iPSCs at Kyoto University's CiRA, developing immune-evasive iPSC lines through targeted disruption of HLA class I molecules and insertion of immune checkpoint ligands. His engineering approaches enable the creation of universal donor iPSC lines that can generate allogeneic cell therapy products resistant to host immune rejection. He is advancing multiplexed gene editing strategies to simultaneously introduce CARs, safety switches, and immune evasion mechanisms into iPSC lines for off-the-shelf cancer immunotherapy.