Dr. Makiko Mitsunami | Medicine | Best Researcher Award
Dr. Makiko Mitsunami, Integrated Center for Women’s Health, Japan
Dr. Makiko Mitsunami is a dedicated physician-scientist specializing in obstetrics, gynecology, and reproductive epidemiology. Born in Shiga, Japan, she obtained her MD from Jichi Medical University in 2008 and earned an MMSc from Harvard Medical School in Clinical Investigations. She later completed her PhD at Jichi Medical University, further enriching her academic prowess. Her professional journey includes rigorous clinical residency and postdoctoral research fellowships at prestigious institutions such as the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. Dr. Mitsunami’s research explores the intersection of nutrition, environmental health, and reproductive outcomes, with a strong focus on plant-based diets, infertility, and hormonal biomarkers. Her numerous grants and awards—including multiple research fundings from the Fuji Protein Foundation—underscore her impactful work. As a research associate at Harvard, she continues to mentor students and contribute to groundbreaking studies, advocating for women’s reproductive health globally through science and public health interventions.
Profile
Suitability Summary for Research for Best Researcher Award
Dr. Makiko Mitsunami is an exemplary candidate for the Research for Best Researcher Award based on her robust academic background, extensive clinical and research experience, and impactful contributions to medical science, particularly in obstetrics, gynecology, and reproductive health. She holds an MD, MMSc in Clinical Investigations, and a PhD, combining rigorous clinical training with advanced research expertise from prestigious institutions such as Jichi Medical University and Harvard Medical School. This strong educational foundation supports her credibility and authority in her field.
Throughout her career, Dr. Mitsunami has balanced clinical responsibilities and academic pursuits, holding roles from junior resident to senior medical staff and research fellow. Her postdoctoral research experience at Harvard’s T.H. Chan School of Public Health highlights her commitment to advancing public health knowledge, particularly in areas such as nutrition, environmental health, and epidemiology, under the guidance of notable principal investigators. Her leadership experience as Associate Director of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Higashi-Ohmi General Medical Center further demonstrates her ability to integrate research with clinical practice and manage healthcare delivery effectively.
🎓 Education
Dr. Makiko Mitsunami embarked on her academic journey at Jichi Medical University, where she earned her MD in 2008, followed by postgraduate residency training in obstetrics and gynecology across multiple medical centers in Japan. Pursuing a passion for clinical research, she enrolled in Harvard Medical School’s Master of Medical Sciences (MMSc) in Clinical Investigations, graduating in May 2021. She culminated her academic accomplishments with a PhD in Medicine from Jichi Medical University in 2023, reflecting a robust blend of clinical acumen and research excellence. Her academic path was enriched with prestigious international training experiences at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, where she contributed to studies on nutrition, epidemiology, and environmental health. Her cross-disciplinary education and commitment to women’s health have made her a prominent figure in reproductive medicine and global health. Her educational background empowers her ongoing contributions to cutting-edge research and healthcare improvement.
💼 Professional Experience
Dr. Mitsunami’s professional experience spans clinical practice, academic appointments, and cutting-edge public health research. She began her career as a junior and senior resident in obstetrics and gynecology across several hospitals in Japan, including Otsu Red Cross and Shiga University of Medical Science Hospital. From 2012 to 2015, she served as a Visiting Assistant Professor of General Surgery, later becoming Associate Director of the Ob-Gyn department at Higashi-Ohmi General Medical Center. Her passion for research led her to the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, where she currently serves as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow and Research Associate under esteemed mentors such as Dr. Jorge Chavarro and Dr. Shruthi Mahalingaiah. Her research addresses nutrition, endocrine health, infertility, and environmental exposures. She has also contributed significantly to student training and curriculum development. Her diverse professional background uniquely positions her at the intersection of clinical medicine and impactful research.
🏅 Awards and Recognition
Dr. Makiko Mitsunami has been widely recognized for her contributions to reproductive medicine and clinical research. Early in her career, she received the Young Investigator’s Award in 2012 from the Society for Study of the Kidney in Pregnancy for her work on cardiomyopathy in dialysis patients. She has been awarded multiple competitive research grants from the Fuji Protein for Research Foundation between 2021 and 2025, totaling over $30,000 in support of her investigations into soy-based diets and reproductive health. In 2023, she was honored with the JMSA Scholarship from the Japanese Medical Society of America. Notably, she secured a prestigious Rotary Foundation Global Scholarship for her research on plant-based diets and hypertensive disorders during pregnancy, valued at $69,776. Additionally, she was selected as a Rose Service Learning Program Fellow at Harvard in 2024. These accolades reflect her growing global impact and academic excellence.
🌍 Research Skill On Medicine
Dr. Mitsunami brings a multifaceted research skill set to the field of reproductive medicine, grounded in clinical expertise and public health methodology. Her core research skills include epidemiologic study design, statistical data analysis, and translational research in human reproduction. She excels in linking environmental exposures and dietary patterns—especially plant-based diets—to hormonal health and fertility. Her work leverages biomarker analyses such as Anti-Müllerian Hormone (AMH) levels to evaluate ovarian reserve, endometriosis risk, and menopausal timing. Through her affiliations at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, she collaborates across departments of nutrition, epidemiology, and environmental health, contributing to multidisciplinary studies. Fluent in Japanese and English, she conducts culturally sensitive research on fertility awareness among Japanese populations in the U.S.. Her ability to secure funding, lead research protocols, and co-author impactful publications highlights her as a capable and forward-thinking researcher improving global reproductive outcomes.
Publication Top Notes
-
Access to HPV vaccination in Japan: Increasing social trust to regain vaccine confidence
Authors: K Kunitoki, M Funato, M Mitsunami, T Kinoshita, MR Reich
Journal: Vaccine
Volume(Issue): 39 (41), Pages: 6104-6110
Citations: 42
Year: 2021 -
Association of gestational diabetes with subsequent long-term risk of mortality
Authors: YX Wang, M Mitsunami, JAE Manson, AJ Gaskins, JW Rich-Edwards, …
Journal: JAMA Internal Medicine
Volume(Issue): 183 (11), Pages: 1204-1213
Citations: 37
Year: 2023 -
Women’s and men’s intake of omega-3 fatty acids and their food sources and assisted reproductive technology outcomes
Authors: A Salas-Huetos, M Arvizu, L Mínguez-Alarcón, M Mitsunami, …
Journal: American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology
Volume(Issue): 227 (2), Pages: 246.e1-246.e11
Citations: 32
Year: 2022 -
Paternal adherence to healthy dietary patterns in relation to sperm parameters and outcomes of assisted reproductive technologies
Authors: A Salas-Huetos, L Mínguez-Alarcón, M Mitsunami, M Arvizu, JB Ford, …
Journal: Fertility and Sterility
Volume(Issue): 117 (2), Pages: 298-312
Citations: 23
Year: 2022 -
Physical activity before pregnancy and the risk of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy
Authors: M Arvizu, L Minguez-Alarcon, JJ Stuart, M Mitsunami, B Rosner, …
Journal: American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology MFM
Volume(Issue): 4 (2), Article: 100556
Citations: 19
Year: 2022 -
Pre-pregnancy menstrual cycle regularity and length and the risk of gestational diabetes mellitus: prospective cohort study
Authors: YX Wang, S Wang, M Mitsunami, JAE Manson, JW Rich-Edwards, …
Journal: Diabetologia
Volume(Issue): 64 (11), Pages: 2415-2424
Citations: 14
Year: 2021 -
A dietary score representing the overall relation of men’s diet with semen quality in relation to outcomes of infertility treatment with assisted reproduction
Authors: M Mitsunami, A Salas-Huetos, L Mínguez-Alarcón, JA Attaman, JB Ford, …
Journal: F&S Reports
Volume(Issue): 2 (4), Pages: 396-404
Citations: 12
Year: 2021 -
Prepregnancy healthy lifestyle and adverse pregnancy outcomes
Authors: S Wang, M Mitsunami, E Ortiz-Panozo, CW Leung, JAE Manson, …
Journal: Obstetrics & Gynecology
DOI: 10.1097
Citations: 11
Year: 2022 -
Men’s dietary patterns in relation to infertility treatment outcomes among couples undergoing in vitro fertilization
Authors: M Mitsunami, A Salas-Huetos, L Mínguez-Alarcón, JA Attaman, JB Ford, …
Journal: Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics
Volume(Issue): 38 (9), Pages: 2307-2318
Citations: 11
Year: 2021 -
Women’s adherence to healthy dietary patterns and outcomes of infertility treatment
Authors: A Salas-Huetos, M Mitsunami, S Wang, L Mínguez-Alarcón, …
Journal: JAMA Network Open
Volume(Issue): 6 (8), Article: e2329982
Citations: 10
Year: 2023
Dr. PRAJAKTA MASURKAR, UCB, United States
Summary of Suitability for the Award
Education
Professional Experience
Awards and Recognition
Research Skills On 
Publication Top Notes