FACULTY
- Department
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences
- Laboratory
- Pharmacology and Neurobiology Laboratory
- Field of Study
- Biological Systems
History
Graduate School/University, etc.
・2011: B.S., Faculty of Pharmacy, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University ・2015: M.S., Major in Medical Sciences, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine ・2019: PhD, Major in Comprehensive Medical Sciences, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine
Why I Became a Researcher
When I was a child, I enjoyed watching science programs on TV about the mysteries of the human body and the mysteries of the world. Back then, my head was full of questions, and it was so rewarding every time I found the answer to one of those questions. When I think about it, this was the formative experience that led me to become a researcher. But there are several questions that I have since I was a child still have no answers: why are we all different, why do people get sick, and what happens at the moment of death? As I continue to seek the answers to these questions, I come up with new questions. People are more than just their outward appearance; everyone has different likes, fears, and inspirations. We are all different in many ways. At university, as I was studying pharmacology, I learned that the same medicine have different effects on different people. Why does the same medicine have different effects and side effects on different people? To find the answer, I decided to learn more about diseases and how medicines work. Then I becoming a researcher. I am enjoying my research as I aim to developoptimal therapies for individual patients.
Research Information
Research Area and Theme
The relevance of intestinal environment, oxidative stress, and neurodegenerative diseases
I aim to elucidate the onset mechanisms of neurodegenerative diseases that the elderly are susceptible to, such as Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease, in the context of the relationship with abnormalities in other organs in order to develop methods for preventing and treating these diseases.
Thoughts on Research Theme
The human body is made up of tiny cells. Organs send and receive signals to and from each other to maintain homeostasis, so an abnormality in one organ affects the functions of other organs in the body. Neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease are thought to be caused by neuronal cell death due to abnormal protein aggregation and accumulation, but the cause of these abnormal protein dynamics is still unclear. Recently, researchers have been focusing on the relationship between the onset of neurodegenerative diseases and bacteria in places like the oral cavity and intestines that do not seem to be related to the brain. It has also become clear that systemic inflammation caused by lifestyle-related diseases such as diabetes is also related to the onset of neurodegenerative diseases. Currently, there is no effective way to prevent Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease, and there are no effective treatments when nerve cell death at onset has already occurred. Looking at this from the perspective of bodily organs, I believe that prevention and diagnosis of neurodegenerative diseases could be possible if we can elucidate the pathogenic mechanisms, normalize the relevant organs, and test for related factors.
Message to Students
Message to the Students
Like the human body is made of cells, society is made of individuals. While each person's role is small, in today’s world where globalization continues to progress, everyone is an important part of society regardless of their age, gender, race, and nationality. The most important thing is to accept each other’s differences. As medical and pharmaceutical practitioners, we aim to ensure that the people who keep society running can lead healthy, fulfilling lives every day. By supporting each patient, we contribute to society by keeping it healthy. I want the students in the college of Pharmaceutical Sciences to undertake their studies with this kind of social contribution in mind. There may be times when you find the textbook knowledge boring, but your studies and your work will be more enjoyable if you strive to help find answers to the phenomena found in research and life and to solve new problems using the knowledge you have gained on your own. I hope our pharmacy students maintain this kind of purely inquisitive mindset in their daily studies and their future work. Remember to accept each other’s differences, contribute to society, and stay curious!