Kensuke Hirasawa, Memorial University of Newfoundland

Research

Cancer Therapy Irf1 Oncolytic Virus Ras/Mek Virus Infection Sumoylation Virology Cell Signaling

Latest papers

Dependence of energy balance and hypothalamic neuropeptide gene expression on initial tumor load in mice.
Frontiers in oncology · 2026
Cancer stem cell populations are resistant to 5-aminolevulinic acid-photodynamic therapy (5-ALA-PDT).
Scientific reports · 2025 · senior author
Inflammatory cell death induced by 5-aminolevulinic acid-photodynamic therapy initiates anticancer immunity.
Frontiers in oncology · 2023 · senior author

All 21 publications

Latest funding

Nanoparticle Tracking Analysis (NTA) System for Quantification and Analysis of Biologically Relevant Nanosized Particles
NSERC · 2019 · Co-investigator
$150,000
Regulation of translation initiation under stress conditions
NSERC · 2016 · Principal investigator
$186,000
Regulation of antiviral responses by Ras/MEK
CIHR · 2016 · Nominated PI
$573,750

All 8 grants and awards

21 publications.

01

Dependence of energy balance and hypothalamic neuropeptide gene expression on initial tumor load in mice.

Licursi M, Morden C, Riwa DG, Briggs H, Hirasawa K, Hirasawa M

Frontiers in oncology2026

DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2026.1783555 PMID: 42239891

02

Cancer stem cell populations are resistant to 5-aminolevulinic acid-photodynamic therapy (5-ALA-PDT).

Rice CPJ, Chelakkot VS, Conohan NT, Hirasawa K

Scientific reports2025Senior author

DOI: 10.1038/s41598-025-88173-3 PMID: 39910203

03

Inflammatory cell death induced by 5-aminolevulinic acid-photodynamic therapy initiates anticancer immunity.

Wang L, Chelakkot VS, Newhook N, Tucker S, Hirasawa K

Frontiers in oncology2023Senior author

DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1156763 PMID: 37854679

04

Interferon regulatory factor 3 mediates effective antiviral responses to human coronavirus 229E and OC43 infection.

Duncan JKS, Xu D, Licursi M, Joyce MA, Saffran HA, Liu K, Gohda J, Tyrrell DL, Kawaguchi Y, Hirasawa K

Frontiers in immunology2023Senior author

DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.930086 PMID: 37197656

05

Crosstalk Between Pyroptosis and Apoptosis in Hepatitis C Virus-induced Cell Death.

Wallace HL, Wang L, Gardner CL, Corkum CP, Grant MD, Hirasawa K, Russell RS

Frontiers in immunology2022

DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.788138 PMID: 35237259

06

A Novel Small Molecule Inhibits Hepatitis C Virus Propagation in Cell Culture.

Oraby AK, Gardner CL, Needle RF, Kofahi HM, Everard KR, Taylor NGA, Rutihinda SG, Barry JP, Hirasawa K, Georghiou PE, Russell RS

Microbiology spectrum2021

DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.00439-21 PMID: 34319169

07

MEK reduces cancer-specific PpIX accumulation through the RSK-ABCB1 and HIF-1α-FECH axes.

Chelakkot VS, Liu K, Yoshioka E, Saha S, Xu D, Licursi M, Dorward A, Hirasawa K

Scientific reports2020Senior author

DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-79144-x PMID: 33335181

08

Systemic MEK inhibition enhances the efficacy of 5-aminolevulinic acid-photodynamic therapy.

Chelakkot VS, Som J, Yoshioka E, Rice CP, Rutihinda SG, Hirasawa K

British journal of cancer2019Senior author

DOI: 10.1038/s41416-019-0586-3 PMID: 31551581

09

Mcl-1 and Bcl-xL are essential for survival of the developing nervous system.

Fogarty LC, Flemmer RT, Geizer BA, Licursi M, Karunanithy A, Opferman JT, Hirasawa K, Vanderluit JL

Cell death and differentiation2019

DOI: 10.1038/s41418-018-0225-1 PMID: 30361616

10

Enhancement of Cancer-Specific Protoporphyrin IX Fluorescence by Targeting Oncogenic Ras/MEK Pathway.

Yoshioka E, Chelakkot VS, Licursi M, Rutihinda SG, Som J, Derwish L, King JJ, Pongnopparat T, Mearow K, Larijani M, Dorward AM, Hirasawa K

Theranostics2018Senior author

DOI: 10.7150/thno.22641 PMID: 29721068

Nanoparticle Tracking Analysis (NTA) System for Quantification and Analysis of Biologically Relevant Nanosized Particles

Co-investigatorNSERC2019Research Tools and Instruments

Principal investigators: Christian, Sherri

$150,000

Regulation of translation initiation under stress conditions

Principal investigatorNSERC2016Discovery Grants Program - Individual

Principal investigators: Hirasawa, Kensuke(Ken)

$186,000

Regulation of antiviral responses by Ras/MEK

Nominated PICIHR2016Project Grant

Principal investigators: Hirasawa, Kensuke

Keywords: Cancer Therapy; Irf1; Oncolytic Virus; Ras/Mek; Sumoylation; Virology; Virus Infection

$573,750

Mechanisms of Ras-dependent oncolysis

Nominated PICIHR2012Operating Grant - PA: Regional Partnership Program - Newfoundland and Labrador

Principal investigators: Hirasawa, Kensuke

Keywords: Cancer Therapy; Cell Signaling; Interferon (Ifn); Irf1; Oncolytic Virus; Ras/Mek; Transcription; Virus Infection

$167,329

IRES-mediated translation during cellular stress

Principal investigatorNSERC2011Discovery Grants Program - Individual

Principal investigators: Hirasawa, Kensuke(Ken)

$150,000

In vivo treatment of influenza virus infection with a MEK inhibitor

Nominated PICIHR2009Catalyst Grant: Pandemic Preparedness

Principal investigators: Hirasawa, Kensuke

Keywords: Infection; Influenza Virus; Innate Immunity; Ras/Mek/Erk Pathway

$98,131

Downregulation of IFN-inducible genes by Ras/Raf/MEK

Nominated PICIHR2008Operating Grant - Priority Announcement: Infection and Immunity (Bridge Funding)

Principal investigators: Hirasawa, Kensuke

Keywords: Cell Signaling; Interferon (Ifn); Nr4a Receptors; Ras/Raf/Mek; Transcription; Virus Infection

$100,000

Viral IRES-mediated translation under stress conditions

Principal investigatorNSERC2006Discovery Grants Program - Individual

Principal investigators: Hirasawa, Kensuke

$170,000

From CIHR, NSERC and SSHRC funding decisions: CIHR since 2008, NSERC since 1991 and SSHRC since 1998, including their latest published competition results.

Frequent collaborators

Biomedical Sciences
Genetics
Surgery

Co-authors at Memorial University of Newfoundland, colored by department. Thicker lines mean more shared papers; select anyone to open their profile and their own map.

Michiru Hirasawa

Biomedical Sciences

2 shared papers, latest 2026

Guangju Zhai

Biomedical Sciences

1 shared papers, latest 2016

Mani Larijani

Biomedical Sciences

1 shared papers, latest 2018

Ann Dorward

Biomedical Sciences

1 shared papers, latest 2020

Write to this professor

A short, specific email works best. This draft uses one of their recent papers; replace the parts in brackets with your own details before sending.

Applying for

Paper to mention

Subject: Prospective PhD student: Cancer Therapy Dear Professor Hirasawa, My name is [your name], and I am a [your current degree or role] at [your institution]. I am applying for a PhD position starting in [term and year]. I read your paper "Dependence of energy balance and hypothalamic neuropeptide gene expression on initial tumor load in mice." (2026), and it connects closely to my own work on [your research topic]. [One or two sentences on what you did and what you learned.] Are you accepting new PhD students for [term and year]? I have attached my CV and transcripts, and I would be glad to talk at a time that suits you. Thank you for your time. Kind regards, [your name]

Kensuke Hirasawa

Research

Latest papers

Latest funding

Dependence of energy balance and hypothalamic neuropeptide gene expression on initial tumor load in mice.

Cancer stem cell populations are resistant to 5-aminolevulinic acid-photodynamic therapy (5-ALA-PDT).

Inflammatory cell death induced by 5-aminolevulinic acid-photodynamic therapy initiates anticancer immunity.

Interferon regulatory factor 3 mediates effective antiviral responses to human coronavirus 229E and OC43 infection.

Crosstalk Between Pyroptosis and Apoptosis in Hepatitis C Virus-induced Cell Death.

A Novel Small Molecule Inhibits Hepatitis C Virus Propagation in Cell Culture.

MEK reduces cancer-specific PpIX accumulation through the RSK-ABCB1 and HIF-1α-FECH axes.

Systemic MEK inhibition enhances the efficacy of 5-aminolevulinic acid-photodynamic therapy.

Mcl-1 and Bcl-xL are essential for survival of the developing nervous system.

Enhancement of Cancer-Specific Protoporphyrin IX Fluorescence by Targeting Oncogenic Ras/MEK Pathway.

Nanoparticle Tracking Analysis (NTA) System for Quantification and Analysis of Biologically Relevant Nanosized Particles

Regulation of translation initiation under stress conditions

Regulation of antiviral responses by Ras/MEK

Mechanisms of Ras-dependent oncolysis

IRES-mediated translation during cellular stress

In vivo treatment of influenza virus infection with a MEK inhibitor

Downregulation of IFN-inducible genes by Ras/Raf/MEK

Viral IRES-mediated translation under stress conditions

Frequent collaborators

Michiru Hirasawa

Proton Rahman

Guangju Zhai

Mani Larijani

Guang Sun

Glynn Martin

Ann Dorward

Kensuke Hirasawa

Research

Latest papers

Latest funding

Dependence of energy balance and hypothalamic neuropeptide gene expression on initial tumor load in mice.

Cancer stem cell populations are resistant to 5-aminolevulinic acid-photodynamic therapy (5-ALA-PDT).

Inflammatory cell death induced by 5-aminolevulinic acid-photodynamic therapy initiates anticancer immunity.

Interferon regulatory factor 3 mediates effective antiviral responses to human coronavirus 229E and OC43 infection.

Crosstalk Between Pyroptosis and Apoptosis in Hepatitis C Virus-induced Cell Death.

A Novel Small Molecule Inhibits Hepatitis C Virus Propagation in Cell Culture.

MEK reduces cancer-specific PpIX accumulation through the RSK-ABCB1 and HIF-1&#x3b1;-FECH axes.

Systemic MEK inhibition enhances the efficacy of 5-aminolevulinic acid-photodynamic therapy.

Mcl-1 and Bcl-xL are essential for survival of the developing nervous system.

Enhancement of Cancer-Specific Protoporphyrin IX Fluorescence by Targeting Oncogenic Ras/MEK Pathway.

Nanoparticle Tracking Analysis (NTA) System for Quantification and Analysis of Biologically Relevant Nanosized Particles

Regulation of translation initiation under stress conditions

Regulation of antiviral responses by Ras/MEK

Mechanisms of Ras-dependent oncolysis

IRES-mediated translation during cellular stress

In vivo treatment of influenza virus infection with a MEK inhibitor

Downregulation of IFN-inducible genes by Ras/Raf/MEK

Viral IRES-mediated translation under stress conditions

Frequent collaborators

Michiru Hirasawa

Proton Rahman

Guangju Zhai

Mani Larijani

Guang Sun

Glynn Martin

Ann Dorward

MEK reduces cancer-specific PpIX accumulation through the RSK-ABCB1 and HIF-1α-FECH axes.