Noriyuki Nishimura, MD, PhD

Current Role: Professor at the Graduate School of Health Sciences, Kobe University; Holds both M.D. and Ph.D. degrees, with specialization in Pediatrics; Research Focus; Dr. Nishimura’s research focuses on childhood cancers, particularly high-risk neuroblastoma. He has developed and validated a droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) method to quantify seven neuroblastoma-associated mRNAs for monitoring minimal residual disease (MRD). This tool supports early detection of tumor relapse and assessment of treatment response in pediatric patients.; Selected Publications; “Higher levels of minimal residual disease in peripheral blood than bone marrow before 1st and 2nd relapse/regrowth in a patient with high‑risk neuroblastoma: A case report”; Reports that MRD levels in peripheral blood can exceed those in bone marrow prior to relapse in neuroblastoma.; (PubMed); “Distinct Expression Profiles of Neuroblastoma-Associated mRNAs in Peripheral Blood and Bone Marrow of Non-High-Risk and High-Risk Neuroblastoma Patients”; Compares mRNA expression patterns across patient groups, contributing to risk stratification and disease monitoring.; (PubMed); Clinical and Research Collaborations; Dr. Nishimura collaborates closely with:; Department of Pediatrics, Kobe University School of Medicine; Hyogo Prefectural Kobe Children's Hospital; Sysmex Corporation, as part of academic-industry research partnerships; Conclusion; Dr. Noriyuki Nishimura is a leading figure in pediatric oncology research, especially in the field of neuroblastoma MRD monitoring. His innovations in molecular diagnostics and ddPCR-based methods are paving the way for improved personalized treatment and relapse prediction in pediatric cancer care.