Japanese professor honored for his work

On Sept 30, the 48-year-old Japanese professor was honored in Beijing with the prestigious 2024 Chinese Government Friendship Award, a recognition that he reflects upon with humility and gratitude.

"I feel very honored to receive this award," says Tsuda, acknowledging the company he now keeps among distinguished recipients, many of whom are in their 70s or Nobel laureates. "As a relatively young awardee, it's a bit unexpected for me. I want to continue to be a good scientist and supervisor until I retire."

In the past five years, Tsuda has swiftly built a well-structured research team at Huazhong Agricultural University, currently comprising two professors, three postdoctoral researchers, and nearly 50 graduate and undergraduate students.

Under his leadership, the team has actively engaged in scientific research on plant-microbe interactions, achieving international recognition for their studies on the molecular mechanisms regulating pathogen growth and behavior in plant immunity.