Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences

STAFF

Research Projects

• Design and synthesis of nucleoside derivatives which can be used for antiviral agents, building blocks of nucleic acid medicines, and biological tools.
• Development of novel glycosylation reactions applicable to the synthesis of the target nucleosides described above.
• Development of new C-C and C-N bond forming reactions using transition metal catalyst and organocatalyst.
• Searching new drug candidates for diabetes, Fabry’s disease, Gaucher’s disease.
• Medicinal drug design, synthesis and biological evaluation of nuclear receptor (estrogen receptor, androgen receptor etc.) ligands toward anti-cancer and anti-osteoporosis medicines.

Japanese version website

STAFF

Research Projects

• Development of new synthetic methods for biologically important and structurally unique natural products.
• Synthetic studies of new middle- and macrocyclic natural products with anti-cancer activity.
• Development of methods for construction of heterocyclic frameworks using metal catalyst.
• Development of a convergent synthetic method for maleimide natural products.
• Design and synthesis of analogs of naturally occurring 2,5-diphenyloxazoles as trypanocidal agents.

STAFF

Research Projects

• Search for biomarkers in the clinical field.
• Search for biomarkers using multi-omics analysis.
• Development of electrochemical sensor (biosensor).
• Development of high-sensitivity derivatization method in ESI-MS based on proton affinity.
• Development of measurement method for steroid biosynthesis / metabolic enzyme activity using LC-MS and stable isotope-labeled substrate

Japanese version website

STAFF

Research Projects

• Regulation of integrated-stress response (ISR) by oxidative stress and its physiological role.
• Mechanism of induction of endoplasmic-reticulum stress by Hepatitis C virus (HCV) core protein.
• Development of antiviral drugs targeting human coronavirus N protein.

STAFF

Research Projects

• Analysis of aldehyde dehydrogenase function involved in one-carbon metabolism and their effects on tumorigenesis and tumor progression.
• Study of degradation mechanisms of mitochondrial proteins.
• Structure determination of the pathogenic fungal cell wall polysaccharides.
• Study of the pathogenic fungal cell wall biosynthesis.

STAFF

Research Projects

• Mechanisms of chemical-induced neuronal damage via inflammatory response in the brain.
• Search for novel factors involved in the toxicity of chemicals and elucidation of their functions.
• Functional analysis of a novel factor tmRT1 in rectal diseases.
• Search for environmental factors that affect drug metabolism and elucidation of their related mechanisms.

Japanese version website

STAFF

Research Projects

• Development and clinical application of the new pasteurization
• Antibiotic activity against biofilm-formed Staphylococcus aureus on medical devices
• Development of the antimicrobial chemotherapy for infections with drug-resistant organisms

STAFF

Research Projects

• Elucidation of the role of angiotensin system in the modulation of spinal pain transmission.
• Production of animal models for the elucidation of psychiatric disorders as depression and schizophrenia.
• Elucidation of the pathogenic mechanisms of various symptoms caused by lifestyle-related habits focusing on sleep and mastication.

Japanese version website

STAFF

Research Projects

• Development of peptidic new analgesics, which are more potent and have fewer side effects than morphine.
• Functional characterization of μ-opioid receptor splice variants.
• Characterization of the physiological mechanisms of the morphine-resistant intractable pain (neuropathic pain, chronic inflammatory pain, cancer pain, multiple sclerosis-related pain).
• Development of novel antipruritic drugs against pathophysiological condition-related sustained intractable itch.
• Development of novel drug therapy for abdominal and pelvic pain.

Japanese version website

STAFF

Research Projects

• Molecular mechanisms of bronchioalveolar stem cells (BASCs) differentiation into multiple lung cell lineages
• Stem cell aging
• Drug screening system using BASCs
• Therapeutic approaches to lung diseases such as asthma
• Psycho-neuro-endocrino-immunological mechanisms for worsening of asthma

STAFF

Research Projects

• Study on drug discovery from natural resources– terrestrial and marine microorganisms.
• Screening of new anti-infection compounds from natural resources on silkworm infection model.
• Development of new culture conditions for the production of novel bioactive compounds.
• Design of natural resources and natural products libraries.

Japanese version website

STAFF

Research Projects

• Searches for medicinal plant resources in the Tohoku region, Mongolia and the Philippines, analysis of their action mechanisms, and assessment of their functions.
• Search for crude drugs and plants that may be effective for the control of lifestyle-related diseases such as diabetes, obesity, and hyperlipidemia, and identify their active components.
• Search for natural products and Kampo medicines that may be effective for the control of aging-related phenomena, such as cognitive impairment, dermatosis, and diabetes.
• The investigation of chemical and/or biological properties of natural products and the elucidation of their structure-activity relationship.

STAFF

Research Projects

Our research is focused on the development of nuclear medicinal molecular imaging methods aiming for both early diagnosis and treatment by targeting cancer, brain function, central nervous system disorders and so on. In order to achieve our purpose, the following some projects are ongoing.

• Development of novel nanocarriers and translational research for molecular imaging and tumor therapy.
• Development of novel molecular imaging probes reflecting in vivo redox dynamics.
• Regulatory analysis of radiation-induced gene mutations and cellular responses.

Japanese version website

STAFF

Research Projects

• Molecular mechanism of vertebrate WRNIP1 action
• Engineering of chromosome
• Evolution of cell
• Development of novel strategy for vertebrate brain research using chick embryo
• Development of novel highly functional peptides

STAFF

Research Projects

• Contributions of glycan alterations to the progression of diseases, including cancer, neurodegenerative disorders, and mental illnesses such as depression.
• Functional roles of N-glycans in multidrug resistance, focusing on glycosylation-dependent regulation of P-glycoprotein expression and activity in chemoresistant cancer cells.
• Roles of core fucosylation in neuroinflammation—such as microglial activation and cytokine production—as well as its involvement in tumorigenesis and the maintenance of cancer stemness.
• Biological functions of hyaluronic acid and its interplay with the synthesis of N-glycans and O-GlcNAcylation in regulating cell signaling and behavior.
• Regulatory mechanisms of glycan expression at both transcriptional and non-transcriptional levels.

Japanese version website

STAFF

Research Projects

• Fate and growth suppression mechanisms of SAL in cancer cells
• Function of Globotriaosylceramide (Gb3) in cancer cells
• Combination effects of SAL or cSBL and anti-cancer drugs
• Basic research for clinical application of cSBL on cancer therapy
• Cancer cell-selective apoptosis-inducing effect of cSBL

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Research Projects

• Altered expression of glycosphingolipids (GSLs) and their roles in metabolic syndrome and inflammatory diseases
• Functional roles of GSLs in receptor signaling
• Analysis of pathophysiological functions of GSLs using mouse models
• Functional analysis of variants of glycosyltransferase genes leading to molecular diagnosis and elucidation of the pathology of GSL deficiency

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Research Projects

• Combining NMR and MD simulation for glycoprotein structure and dynamics
• Understanding structural and functional role of protein glycosylation
• Synthesis of designer glycoproteins for structural and functional study
• Exploring the mode of oligo- and polysaccharide recognition by proteins
• Data science and AI to advance the field of human biology

Japanese version website

STAFF

Research Projects

• Developing new screening methods of detecting autoimmune disease using routine tests.
• Visualization and analysis of drug information (adverse effect, effect-efficacy, drug interaction, etc.) using pattern recognition methods.
• Computer simulation of an operation change of neural networks by dosage.
• Improvement in medication adherence with information and communications technology.

STAFF

Research Projects

• Review of drug information and creation of useful new database on clinical setting.
• Identification and management of risk factors for adverse drug reaction.
• Proper use of medicines and supplements.
• Evaluation of generic products.

Japanese version website

STAFF

Research Projects

• Drug efficacy and safety monitoring based on blood and other body fluid concentration.
• Evaluation of drug efficacy and safety using medical database.
• Development of supportive care to reduce adverse events.
• Scientific analysis of drug stability and design of appropriate administration method.
• Construction of new educational methods for pharmaceutical students and pharmacists.

Japanese version website

STAFF

Research Projects

• Mechanism of induction in claudin family of tight junctional proteins and ABC transporters such as P-gp localized in intestine especially focused on ulcerative colitis.
• Comparative study of flux through ABC transporter and tight junction on normal and disease condition in drug absorption and elimination.
• Development of the prediction system for drug-drug and drug-health food interaction depending on transporters.
• SLC and ABC transporters contribution to transport process in the small and large intestine
• The critical role of transporters on intestinal absorption of polysaccharide and regional differences.

STAFF

Research Projects

• Quality control and pharmaceutical research of medicines
• Pharmacological research on the efficacy of opioid receptor agonists against pruritus
• Pharmacological research on elucidation of mechanism of pain control
• Survey on the development of home healthcare by Pharmacists in Tohoku
• Investigation of the Patient Safety and Quality Improvement

Japanese version website

STAFF

Research Projects

• Chemotherapy drug-induced cardiotoxicity; its mechanism and protection.
• Screening new anti-tumor and anti-inflammatory drug candidates.
• Molecular mechanism for cytotoxicity of bioactive compounds from natural products.
• Involvement of a guanine nucleotide-exchange protein, ARF-GEP100, on expression of multi drug resistance (MDR)-1 protein.
• Sensitivity of chemo toxicity mediated oxidative stress in mice.

Japanese version website

STAFF

Research Projects

• Data analysis of medical data (maternal-fetal medicine, pediatric care)
• Information sharing at medical institutions
• Avoidance of adverse drug reactions in community pharmacies
• Development of tools for cooperation between community pharmacies and hospitals

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Research Projects

• We are collaborating with hospitals and pharmacies in the neighborhood of our university where students acquire work experience, discover problems in the practice of the pharmacists, and propose, evaluate, and verify solutions.
• We will disseminate new pharmacists to pharmacies and verify the awareness of pharmacists about issues related to patients, general consumers, medical staff, and welfare personnel.

STAFF

Research Projects

• Establishment of an environmental microbiological monitoring program in experimental animals.
• Structure-activity relationships in bioactive peptides and the development of peptides with new functions.

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Research Projects

• The construction of a new pharmaceutical education system

Japanese version website

STAFF

Research Projects

• We extract evidence-based data from accumulated education-related data.
• We conduct analysis to estimate the "structure" hidden in education-related data.
• We develop indicators that characterize individual students.
• We work on developing causal models and predictive models to forecast the future growth of current students.