Naoko Imai
Papers
2
Total Citations
21
H-Index
2
About
Naoko Imai is a leading translational researcher in head and neck oncology, with a focused expertise in immunotherapy for human papillomavirus–associated oropharyngeal cancer (HPVOPC). Her work centers on harnessing the immune system to target virally driven malignancies, particularly through the development and clinical evaluation of *Listeria monocytogenes*–based vaccines. Imai’s major contributions include pioneering a “window of opportunity” trial combining the HPV E7 antigen-expressing immunotherapy ADXS11-001 with robotic surgery. She demonstrated that this neoadjuvant approach can enhance HPV-specific T cell immunity within the tumor microenvironment, providing critical proof-of-concept for leveraging live attenuated bacterial vectors to reprogram the local immune landscape. Her investigations into T cell receptor diversity before and after treatment have illuminated how immunotherapy reshapes both peripheral and intratumoral immune repertoires. With her most-cited work accumulating over 19 citations, Imai’s research bridges fundamental immunology and surgical oncology, offering a compelling strategy to improve outcomes in HPVOPC—a disease now accounting for nearly 75% of new oropharyngeal cancer diagnoses. Her translational studies continue to inform the design of next-generation combination immunotherapies for virally associated cancers.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
- 1
- 2