About Me

I'm a professor of biostatistics at Vanderbilt University Medical Center and the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center. Since joining Vanderbilt in 2003, my primary focus has been on collaborative research, partnering with investigators across various fields, including urology (prostate cancer), breast cancer, digestive diseases, and lung diseases.

After earning my PhD in Statistics from the University of Pittsburgh, I developed methodological expertise in the design and implementation of adaptive clinical trials. I contributed to studies incorporating data-driven adaptations—such as early stopping rules, sample size adjustments, and Bayesian dose-finding designs—aimed at enhancing trial efficiency and decision-making. This foundation in methodological research continues to shape my collaborative work today.

I was born in Japan and came to the United States as an "exchange" student. I graduated from Elk Grove High School, then attended De Anza College before transferring to UC Berkeley, where I completed my undergraduate studies. I later pursued my PhD in Statistics at the University of Pittsburgh.

Running is my hobby. I have been running since July 20, 2012, and have completed sub-3 marathons at both the 2023 Boston Marathon (2:58:26) and the 2024 Indianapolis Monumental Marathon (2:58:53). My current goal is to set a personal best in the half marathon, aiming to beat 1:23:01, which I set in October 2022.