Namkoong HoProf. Dr

Prof. Dr. Ho Namkoong is a Professor in the Department of Infectious Diseases at Keio University School of Medicine, Japan. He specializes in the clinical management, molecular epidemiology, and host genetics of nontuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) lung disease. His research primarily focuses on host susceptibility genes, seeking to understand the underlying biological factors that cause certain individuals to develop severe pulmonary infections. Dr. Namkoong has led several landmark studies, including the clarification of pulmonary NTM epidemiology in Japan(Namkoong H, et al. Emerg Infect Dis. 2016) and the identification of CHP2 as the world’s first disease susceptibility gene for pulmonary M. avium complex (MAC) disease via genome-wide association studies (GWAS) (Namkoong H, et al. Eur Respir J. 2021). His expertise in host genetics also extended to the global pandemic response, where he identified DOCK2 as an Asia-specific susceptibility gene for severe COVID-19 (Namkoong H, et al. Nature. 2022). Currently, his research interests include the biological functional analysis of susceptibility genes and the global prevalence of NTM. He is particularly focused on addressing the misdiagnosis of NTM as multidrug-resistant tuberculosis in TB-endemic regions such as Africa. Dr. Namkoong serves on several international guideline committees and is dedicated to contributing to global health through his expertise in infectious diseases.