Takashi Akera receives the 2026 Vilcek Prize for Creative Promise in Biomedical Science for his highly creative approach to researching selfish DNA, an anomaly in reproduction resulting in the biased proliferation of genes that can lead to fertility issues and genetic disorders. 

Originally from Japan, Akera temporarily moved to Bloomington, Indiana, when he was 4 years old, while his father completed a postdoctoral program. Though Akera and his family soon returned to Japan, Akera says that this experience exposed him to different cultures and showed him that scientists could go abroad to pursue their dreams. 

Growing up surrounded by scientific research, Akera chose to study biophysics and biochemistry. He became fascinated with biology after observing the dynamic cytoskeleton network in yeast cells during a biochemistry lab. 

“Their beautiful structures and hypnotizing behavior captivated me, and I knew at that moment that I was destined to become a biologist,” Akera explains. 

After earning a Master of Science and PhD in biochemistry and biophysics from the University of Tokyo, Akera immigrated to the United States in 2015 to complete a postdoctoral program at the University of Pennsylvania. Though he was originally planning to return to Japan after a short while, Akera was drawn to the open and collaborative scientific culture in the United States. 

While completing his postdoctoral research in 2018, Akera received both the Holtzer Award for outstanding postdoctoral research in cell and developmental biology and the Kaushal Award for excellence in postdoctoral research in genetics from the University of Pennsylvania. 

In 2019, Akera accepted an offer from the National Institutes of Health. Today, he leads a team of scientists from Brazil, Morocco, China, France, Korea, Japan, and India, working to visualize and manipulate selfish DNA in order to prevent challenges with female fertility. He notes that he is deeply committed to mentoring the next generation of immigrant researchers. 

“Winning a Vilcek Prize has further strengthened my commitment to mentoring young immigrants who left their home country to follow their passion in science,” Akera says.

Awards and Accomplishments

NHLBI Outstanding Mentor Award (2024)
Kaushal Award for Excellence in Postdoctoral Research in Genetics, UPenn (2018)
Holtzer Award for Outstanding Postdoctoral Research in Cell and Developmental Biology, UPenn (2018)
Research Fellowship of the Uehara Memorial Foundation, Japan (2017-18)
Inoue Research Award for Young Scientists (2017)
Postdoctoral Fellowship of the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (2015-17)
Predoctoral Fellowship of the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (2013-14)
Best Student Award (PhD), School of Science, University of Tokyo (2014)
1st Place, Research Presentation in Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Tokyo (2013)
Best Student Award (MSc), School of Science, University of Tokyo (2011)