Dr Yu Sunakawa is a medical oncologist at St. Marianna University, Japan and previously worked as an instructor at Showa University Northern Yokohama Hospital in Yokohama, Japan. He also completed postdoctoral research fellowship training at University of Southern California/Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center in United States. In 2011, Dr Sunakawa received the board certification of the Japanese Society of Medical Oncology. Dr Sunakawa’s research interests are the identification and determination of molecular markers in cancerous tissues or blood that could predict cancer risk and clinical outcome in gastrointestinal cancer. He is also focusing on research regarding tumour immunity and received a Merit Award from the American Society of Clinical Oncology in 2014, for the research of genetic variations in immune checkpoint-related genes.

Assoc. Prof. Yu Sunakawa has received financial support/sponsorship for research support, consultation, or speaker fees from the following companies:

Bayer, Bristol-Myers, Biopharma, Chugai Pharm, Daiichi-Sankyo, Gurdant, Lilly, Ono Pharm, Sanofi, Sysmex, Takeda and Tahio Pharm.