Nan Receives Her Doctoral Degree (September 16)
On September 16, the degree conferment ceremony was held for Nan (Supanuch Ekronarongchai), who completed the doctoral program at Oita University Graduate School. Nan came to Japan from Thailand as a recipient of a Japanese Government (MEXT) Scholarship and spent four years conducting research and pursuing her doctoral studies at Oita University. At the ceremony, Nan was presented with her doctoral degree, recognizing her achievements and dedication throughout her graduate studies. It was a memorable and joyful day as she celebrated the completion of her four-year journey at Oita University. Nan’s research focused on the roles of the chemokine CCL20 and its receptor CCR6 in the development of psoriasis and atopic dermatitis-like inflammation. Using mice deficient in either CCL20 or CCR6, she demonstrated that the CCL20–CCR6 signaling axis plays an important role, particularly in IL-17-mediated inflammation in psoriasis. Her study also revealed a mechanism by which this signaling pathway promotes the accumulation of pathogenic IL-17-producing γδ T cells in skin lesions, suggesting its potential as a therapeutic target for psoriasis. Her research findings were published in the international journal International Immunology in July 2026. Following the ceremony, Nan took commemorative photographs with faculty members and students of the Department of Infectious Disease Control, who gathered to celebrate the completion of her doctoral studies and her new beginning. We sincerely hope that Nan will make full use of the knowledge and experience she gained in Japan and continue to thrive as a researcher in Thailand. We wish her continued growth and success in the years ahead. |
