FACULTY
- Department
- Department of Pharmacy
- Laboratory
- Clinical Pharmaceutics and Therapeutics Laboratory
- Field of Study
- Medical Pharmacy
- Degree
- Doctor (Pharmaceutical Sciences)
History
Graduate School/University, etc.
1988 Graduated from Division of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kyoto University 1993 Completed Second Term Doctoral Course in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kyoto University
Why I Became a Researcher
When I first entered university, the term “biotechnology” was a popular term, and I vaguely imagined that I wanted to become a biology researcher. Also, the pharmacy lectures at the time focused on physical pharmacy such as pharmaceutics, which were things that I wasn’t very interested in. However, when I was deciding which laboratory I would be assigned to, after talking to many different laboratory professors and seniors, I found myself drawn to research contents where you “biologically analyzed pharmacokinetics from the perspective of membrane transportation,” decided on my laboratory, and then continued straight down the path of a researcher. At that time, I focused on the biochemical and physiological analysis of drug transporters, but I was able to anticipate the future introduction of molecular biological methods, and that’s what actually happened. Witnessing and actually being involved with new research developments in this field with my own eyes has been very valuable to me.
Research Information
Research Area and Theme
Clarifying Pharmacokinetic Variability Factors
I am clarifying individual pharmacokinetic variability factors through correlation analysis between variability in the functions and expressions of drug transporters and drug metabolizing enzymes and pharmacokinetic variability with the aim of contributing to the proper use of pharmaceutical products.
Thoughts on Research Theme
Pharmacokinetics are important for both the “drug discovery” stage where drugs are created and sent out into the world as pharmaceutical products and the “drug fostering and evolution” stage for the effective and safe use of drugs after they have been sold as pharmaceutical products. No matter how powerful a chemical compound may be, if it can’t display proper pharmacokinetic properties, it won’t be viable as a pharmaceutical product, and predicting the kinetics before administration to humans is extremely important. On the other hand, because it is administered to an unspecified large number of patients with different backgrounds after being sold as pharmaceutical products, side-effects and drug interactions that weren’t expected in the development stage may appear. I would like to contribute to drug discovery and the proper use of pharmaceutical products through pharmacokinetic evaluation and predictive development as well as research related to the clarification of individual pharmacokinetic variability factors.
Message to Students
Firmly acquire weapons that you can learn in the College of Pharmaceutical Sciences
Pharmacy is an integrated science that includes a wide variety of disciplines, such as biology, chemistry, and pharmacology as well as pharmaceutics. Within that, the disciplines of pharmacology and pharmacokinetics can only be found in the College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, and they are powerful weapons for those who graduate from this college. In the future, pharmacists will be required to utilize this knowledge to suggest proper dosages by selecting chemical agents, formulations, and precise administration plans. I want students to have a high level of awareness and learn that pharmacists are responsible for the effectiveness and safety of drug therapy. On the other hand, knowledge of pharmacology and pharmacokinetics is also essential when creating and developing drugs. You can learn chemistry and biology in the Department of Science or the Department of Agriculture, but please increase your value by firmly acquiring the weapons that you can learn in the College of Pharmaceutical Sciences.