Professor Matsuoka graduated from Kumamoto University Medical School in 1982 before returning to study at the Graduate School there in 1984. He moved to UC Berkeley to work as a post-doctoral researcher before returning to the Kumamoto University and then finally to Kyoto University where he is currently the Director of the Institute for Virus Research. Professor Matsuoka’s research interests are primarily focused on examining how HTLV-1 (Human T cell Leukemia virus) induces diseases and he and his team are looking into treatment for those infected with the virus.