CHIBA UNIVERSITY

Graduate School and Faculty of

Pharmaceutical
Sciences

CONTENTS-Message from the Dean

1

Outline and History- Outline of the Faculty and Graduate
School of Pharmaceutical Sciences- History of the Faculty and Graduate
School of Pharmaceutical Sciences

2

1

2
3

Guide to Entrance- Admission Policy

4- Educational Courses

4- International Partnership

5

3

6

Research Organization

Outline and History

Message from the Dean

Guide to Entrance

Research Director and Dean

Welcome to the guidebook of the Graduate Schoolof our mission. Internationalization has been one ofof Pharmaceutical Sciences and the Faculty of

the critical strategies for our development. We

Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chiba University. The

continuously expand international partnerships with

Facult y of Pha r mace utical Scie nce s at Chiba

the faculty of pharmacy and/or related fields atUniversity has cultivated a long history and tradition

overseas universities. Through these partnerships

since its foundation 130 years ago and, to this day,a n d c o ll a b o r ati o n s, o u r s tu d e nt s a n d fa c ul t ycontinues to be one of the preeminent schools ofmembers have excellent opportunities to broaden

pharmaceutical sciences in Japan. We are genuinely

their knowledge and expertise around their interests.

proud of the traditions and values our staff and

We deeply cherish these education and research

graduates have collectively passed on andcollaborations with international par tners. Ourc h e r i s h e d t h r o u g h o u t o u r l o n g h i s t o r y. O u r

graduate school, of course, is open to international

graduates have grown to become national andstudents. Our global alumni have become leaders ininternational leaders in pharmaceutical sciences andtheir respective fields and have played essential

related fields and spread their influence worldwide.

roles in their home countries. In addition, our

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Yasumitsu OGRA, PhD

graduate school has already launched a double/dual
The Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences at Chiba

degree program (DDP) with our partner universities.

University offers two courses, a six-year program at

After evaluation qualification, the DDP candidate canthe Department of Pharmacy and a four-year program

receive two Ph.D. degrees issued by her/his homeat the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, with

university and Chiba University. For undergraduate

a capacity of 50 and 40 undergraduate students,

students in the faculty of pharmacy at our partner

respectively. Department of Pharmacy, a six-year

university, we offer an opportunity for a research

program, takes courses that include clinical training

internship. An internship student stays at eachin hospitals and community pharmacies. It aims tolaboratory in our graduate school for several months

train global leaders with a research mind and clinicalto learn basic research skills and knowledge. We

skills as a pharmacist. On the other hand, in thealways try to provide a comprehensive and wideD e pa r tme nt of Pha r mace utic a l Scie nce s, therange of student support for internship students.

four-year mastery of fundamental and applied skills
fo r wo r k ing a s a globa l le ade r i s expe c te d to

On behalf of all people in the Graduate School ofcultivate research ability. Most of the graduates in

Ph a r m a c e u t i c a l S c i e n c e s a n d t h e Fa c u l t y ofthis department go on to the master’s course in our

Pharmaceutical Sciences at Chiba University, I

graduate school.

warmly and sincerely welcome your interest in
studying and exploring opportunities for academic

Since the inception of our graduate school, anor research collaboration with our graduate schoolinternational partnership has been a core component

and faculty.

1Outline and History

1

Outline and History

Outline of the Faculty and Graduate School of
Pharmaceutical Sciences

Guide to Entrance
Research Organization

The Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences at Chiba

School of Medical and Pharmaceutical Sciences,

University has emerged as a monumental pharma-

also offered by our department under the supervi-

ceutical institute since its inception in 1890 as partsion of accomplished scientists and researchers.

of the First Senior High School and is one of theG r a d u a te s o f t h e Fa c u l t y o f P h a r m a c e u t i c a loldest departments of pharmacy in the medical

Sciences can take a two-year master’s course inschool in Japan. Since then, we have numerous

General Pharmaceutical Sciences. Furthermore,

graduated pharmacists and pharmaceutical scien-

graduates of the six-year program may opt for thetists who have made outstanding contributions in

doctoral course. The programs at the Graduate

healthcare industries, medical institutions, national

School of Medical and Pharmaceutical Sciences are

regulatory authorities, universities and researchtaught by staff belonging to the Graduate School of

institutions. We pride ourselves on these accom-

Pharmaceutical Sciences and the Graduate School

plishments.

of Medicine. In addition, researchers from pharmaceutical companies, the National Institute for Envi-

Nowadays, both highly specialized knowledge andronmental Studies, and the Kazusa DNA Researchadvanced skills are required for pharmacists. In

Institute also participate in teaching at the graduate

20 0 6, the six-year program has been formallyschool as cooperating joint course teaching staff.

started for the education of pharmacy student inJapan considering this social demand. We offer a

We educate students who want to make significant

six-year program at the Department of Pharmacy

global contributions to human health and welfare

mainly for the education of pharmacy student andunder ideal environments.

also for education of future specialists in clinicaldevelopment and in regulatory sciences. On theother hand, we offer a four-year program at the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences primarily forthe education of future scientists in life science, drug
discover y and environmental science area. The
entrance examination is divided for three type: thepartition for each department and the same for thesetwo departments. Most of the lectures for the firsttwo years are same, and thus provide enough opportunity to students to choose their desired coursein the future. In both departments, we train students
to develop global leaderships and responsibilities,
and solving problems in rational ways, in addition tolearn various knowledge and skills in pharmaceuticalsciences.
After graduation, students may further opt for the
master or doctor degree course at the Graduate2

laboratory of the hospital pharmacy. In 1994, four

University is located at Inohana campus, an ideal

laboratories were joined further from the Faculty ofenvironment for research and education in the

Liberal Arts and from the Medical Plant Garden by ahealthcare field. We promote and provide close

major reorganization of the university. Through reor-

interactions with the School of Medicine, the School

ganizations in 1996 and 2001, the current organiza-of Nursing, Medical Mycology Research Center andtion with a total of 25 laboratories (including three

the Hospital of Chiba University at Inohana campus.

cooperative ones) was realized, which is now one of

Guide to Entrance

The Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences at Chiba

Outline and History

History of the Faculty and Graduate Schoolof Pharmaceutical Sciences

Research Organization

the largest faculties of pharmaceutical sciences inEstablished in 1890, the Department of Pharmacy at

Japan. The reorganization in 2001 included estab-

the Medical School of the First Senior High School islishment of the Graduate School of Medical andthe origin of the present Faculty of PharmaceuticalPharmaceutical Sciences, which promotes collabo-

Sciences, Chiba University. It was inherited by therations between the Faculty of PharmaceuticalPharmacy Department at the Chiba Medical College

Sciences and the School of Medicine especially inin 1901. The present faculty was reorganized as a

the education. The existing Graduate School of Phar-faculty of Chiba University in 1949. The Graduate

maceutical Sciences focuses on the research now.

School of Pharmaceutical Sciences was establishedWe will actively incorporate research areas which are

for the master’s degree in 1964, and for the doctor’sneeded to respond to social needs of 21st century.

degree in 1979, respectively. The faculty included 17

We will pursue new research and enthusiastic edu-

laboratories in 1987, three of them were joined from

cation under innovative visions extending more than

the former Bioactivity Research Institute including

130 years history of the faculty.

3Outline and History

2

Guide to Entrance

Admission Policy

Guide to Entrance

The Graduate School of Medical and Pharmaceuti-

approach underpinned by a rich fund of basic

cal Sciences has been established for interdisciplin-knowledge.

ary education and research of pharmaceutical and

2) Person with the enthusiasm to serve as respon-

medical sciences. The objective of this school is tosible leaders of the next generation.

Research Organization

cultivate specialists with advanced research skills

3) Person aiming to become researchers in the fields

and the rich academic knowledge, cutting-edge lifeof medicine and pharmaceutical sciences with

science researchers with knowledge of medical andfoundations in the life sciences and possessing

pharmaceutical sciences, and clinical professionals

creativity characterized by a fully internationalwith holistic perspectives. The certified person who

outlook.

graduated from a 4-year undergraduate course can4) Person possessing advanced specialized skills

apply for the Master Course. The certified person

and research abilities with their sights set on

who completed a master course can apply for the

becoming outstanding practitioners of advanced

3-year or 4-year-Doctoral Course. The certified

medicine with an integrated perspective that

person who graduated from a 6-year course at theenables them to engage in team-based medical

Faculty of Pharmacy can apply for the 4-year-Doc-

treatment.

toral Course.

5) Person aiming to become researchers and educators in the fields of medicine and pharmaceutical

The Graduate School thus seeks applicants who fallsciences who are able to contribute to the devel-

into the following categories:

opment of pharmaceutical products and to their

1) Person with a wide perspective and a flexible

clinical application.

Educational Courses
The Master Course, the Doctoral Course (4-Year
Program) and the Doctoral Course (3-Year Program) of
the Graduate School of Medical and Pharmaceutical
Sciences consist of the following majors and fields.
Major

Field (Course)

Degree Obtained

Master Course
General Pharmaceutical
Sciences

Master of Pharmaceutical
Sciences

Doctoral Course (4-Year Program)
Frontier Medicine &Pharmacy

Pharmaceutical Sciences

Doctor of Philosophy(Pharmacy)

Doctoral Course (3-Year Program)
Frontier Pharmaceutical
Sciences

4

Doctor of Philosophy(Pharmaceutical Sciences)Outline and History

International Partnership
Chiba University has partnerships with universities and educational institutions around the world.
Additionally, our graduate school has own Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for research col-Guide to Entrance

laborations and international exchange programs with foreign colleges. This network provides students with opportunities to engage in international exchanges, including exchange programs andoverseas training programs. We also provide the double doctoral degree* program with collegesof Pharmacy, Silpakorn, Mahidol, and Chiang Mai Universities, Thailand, and this will be widely
established with other colleges.

Research Organization*Double Doctoral Degree, A double doctoral degree program, sometimes called a dual degree, involves
a student’s working for two different university degrees in parallel at both Chiba University and adifferent institution in different countries, completing them in less time than it would take to earn themseparately.

“Major partners”●China Pharmaceutical University (China)●Chulalongkorn University (Thailand)●Shenyang Pharmaceutical University (China)●Mahidol University (Thailand)●Guangdong Pharmaceutical University (China)●Silpakorn University (Thailand)●Zhejiang University (China)●Chiang Mai University (Thailand)●Fudan University (China)●Srinakharinwirot University (Thailand)●Hong Kong Baptist University (China)●Chulabhorn Graduate Institute (Thailand)●Seoul National University (Korea)●Thammasat University (Thailand)●Kaohsiung Medical University (Taiwan)●University of Malaysia (Malaysia)●University of Santo Tomas (Philippines)●Padjajaran University (Indonesia)●University of Alberta (Canada)▲Visitors from College of Pharmacy, Seoul National University

5Outline and History

3

Research Organization

Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences
Drug Development Sciences

Guide to Entrance

Pharmaceutical Sciences

Biopharmaceutical Sciences

Research Organization

Genomic Sciences inDrug Discovery※（Division）-（Section）-（Laboratory）

Pharmaceutical Chemistry / Synthetic Organic Chemistry /Middle Molecular Chemistry /Pharmaceutical Technology / Physical Chemistry /Molecular Design / Molecular Function
Physicochemistry and Preformulation Research (Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited)

Molecular Biology and Biotechnology / Biochemistry /Microbiology and Immunology / Infection Control Science
Human Genome Research [Kazusa DNA Research Institute]Environmental andBioanalytical Sciences
Clinical Pharmaceutical Sciences

Molecular Imaging and Radiotherapy / Toxicology and Environmental Health /Forensic Toxicology
Center for Environmental Risk [National Institute for Environmental Studies]

Molecular
Pharmacotherapeutics

Chemical Pharmacology / Pharmacology and Toxicology /Biopharmaceutics / Molecular Cardiovascular Pharmacology

Advanced PracticalPharmacology

Social Pharmacy / Practical Pharmacy /Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmacometrics / Clinical Pharmacy
Drug Informatics (sponsored by MatsukiyoCocokara & Co)

Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Chemistry
Lecturer

Professor

Tetsuhiro NEMOTO, PhD Shingo HARADA, PhD

HP https://www.p.chiba-u.jp/lab/yakka/

Assoc. Prof.

Assist. Prof.

Shinji HARADA, PhD*

Takahito KURIBARA, PhD*

Pharmaceutical Chemistry based on Catalytic Organic Synthesis
Organic chemistry is one of the most important subjects inpharmaceutical sciences because almost all medicines areorganic compounds. Such pharmaceutical molecules are generally produced by the combination of various organic reactions.
The research interests of the laboratory of pharmaceuticalchemistry lie in the field of organic synthesis. We are investigating the development of highly efficient and selective catalytic
synthetic methods applicable to the synthesis of functionalizedbioactive molecules and natural products.
＊

6

Institute for Advanced Academic Research

Laboratory of Synthetic Organic Chemistry
Professor

Assoc. Prof.

Assist. Prof.

Kenzo YAMATSUGU, PhD

Shigeru ARAI, PhD

Akitomo KASAHARA, PhD

Outline and History

HP https://www.p.chiba-u.jp/lab/gousei/

Chemistry Enabling Biomolecule Transformations

Guide to Entrance

Organic chemistry has been developed mainly for the purposeof producing desired (small) molecules in test tubes. However,when targeting peptides, proteins, or even cells, syntheticorganic chemistry is extremely immature.
We are developing new synthetic chemistry that enables

Research Organization

on-demand chemical transformation of biomolecules such asproteins. By discovering a new reactivity that functions underphysiological conditions (i.e., in neutral water at 37 °C), we
create methods to chemically modifying proteins and manipulating their functions. We particularly focus on designing uniquemolecules and finding their unique reactivities.

Laboratory of Middle Molecular Chemistry
Professor

Hayato ISHIKAWA, PhD

HP https://www.p.chiba-u.jp/lab/skb/

Assoc. Prof.

Assist. Prof.

Mariko KITAJIMA, PhD

Kenta RAKUMITSU, PhD

Drug Development from Natural Products
Our basic research objective is chemical, synthetic, and medicinal study on biologically active natural organic molecules
produced by botanical medicinal resources. Following arethree main ways of approach that we employ.
1) Survey of natural molecules of high potential use in medicinal resources (isolation, structure elucidation by means ofspectroscopy and chemical reaction of natural molecules, etc.).
2) Studies on synthesis of biologically active natural molecules
isolated by our hands (asymmetric total synthesis and chemical
conversion of biologically active natural products). 3) Medicinal
chemistry research by using our libraries of natural and synthetic compounds.

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Outline and History

Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Technology
Professor

Kunikazu MORIBE, PhD

HP https://www.p.chiba-u.jp/lab/seizai/

Assoc. Prof.

Assist. Prof.

Kenjirou HIGASHI, PhD

Keisuke UEDA, PhD

Dissolving a Poorly Water-Soluble Drug

Guide to Entrance

Don’t you associate a term “medicine” with a tablet or a capsule? When medicines are taken orally, the drug in the medicines is absorbed into a body after dissolution at the stomach
and the intestine. However, most of the recent developed drugs
are poorly soluble in water, and the absorption into the body is

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low. In our laboratory, techniques to dissolve poorly watersoluble drugs have been developed. In late years, techniques
to reduce the particle size of drugs into nano-level attract
attention (Figure shows nanoparticles of anti-hyperlipidemicdrug). One nm is a 1/1,000,000 size of one mm! The drug rapidly dissolves from the large surface area of nanoparticles andis effectively absorbed into the body.

Laboratory of Physical Chemistry
Professor

Noritaka NISHIDA, PhD

HP https://www.p.chiba-u.jp/lab/bukka/

Assist. Prof.

Qingci ZHAO, PhD

Analyzing protein structure dynamics for drug development
Elucidating the three-dimensional structures of proteinsprovides crucial information for drug development. We utilize
Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy to analyze
the three-dimensional structures and dynamics of proteins insolution, thereby elucidating the mechanisms of their functional
expression. Specifically, we are focusing on developing
techniques for In-cell NMR, which enables NMR observationsof the target protein within living cells. This technology willallow us to analyze the functional structures of disease-related
proteins within cells and apply this knowledge to drug
screening.

8

RAS (G-domain)

GTP Ile21

GDP

Cells

Time-resolved NMR

In-cell NMRHP https://www.p.chiba-u.jp/lab/riron/

Outline and History

Laboratory of Molecular Design
Assoc. Prof.

Tyuji HOSHINO, PhD

Drug Design with computational and structural analysis

Guide to Entrance

The binding structure between a protein and a drug is essential
information in drug discovery and development. We use X-ray
crystallography to clarify the molecular interactions between
compounds and the target protein. By combining the obtained
structural information with computer simulations, we can

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design new chemicals for drug candidates. The figures show
the binding structure of an inhibitor compound to the influenza
virus polymerase. We also perform a computational screening
with a large chemical database based on the protein X-ray
crystal analysis.

Laboratory of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology
Professor

Mami YAMAZAKI, PhD

HP https://www.p.chiba-u.jp/lab/idenshi/

Lecturer

Assist. Prof.

Naoko YOSHIMOTO, PhD

Ryosuke SUGIYAMA, PhD

Phytochemical Genomics of Medicinal Plants
Plant natural products are the most important medicinal
resources. The understanding the molecular mechanisms ofplant specialized metabolisms producing natural products
could be applied for human health science in future. For thisaim, genes involved in specialized metabolism in medicinal
plants have been isolated and functionally characterized in thislaboratory. Genomic function was also studied by using
cutting-edge technologies such as transcriptomics, metabolomics and bioinformatics. This knowledge can be applied toinnovative biotechnology for new medicinal resources.

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Outline and History

Laboratory of Biochemistry
Professor

Motoyuki ITOH, PhD

HP https://sites.google.com/faculty.gs.chiba-u.jp/pharm-biochem

Assoc. Prof.

Assist. Prof.

Ayako TONOKI, PhD

Takamasa MIZOGUCHI, PhD

Dissecting the Mechanisms of Cell Communication for Drug Discovery

Guide to Entrance

The human body has many different types of cells. The cells
communicate each other by sending a signal via proteins andchemicals. Impairment of cell communication causes many
diseases. We have been studying these cell communication
relating with developmental defects, cancer, aging, andResearch Organization

memory defects. We are using zebrafish, Drosophila, andhuman culture cells as model systems to dissect diseases
related with defects in cell communication and to apply themechanisms of cell communication to drug-discovery.

Laboratory of Microbiology and Immunology
Professor

Hiroto KAWASHIMA, PhD

Assoc. Prof.

Hiroko NAKATSUKASA, PhD

Drug Discovery Based on Molecular Studies ofthe Host-Microbe Interactions
Immune system of humans (hosts) rapidly responds to signals
from outside and eliminates invaders such as pathogens,which leads to the maintenance of homeostasis. Pathogenic
bacteria (pathogens), on the other hand, combat against
immune system of the hosts using various virulence factors tocause infectious diseases. The balance between hosts andpathogens is critical for our health; i.e., if the former dominates
health should be maintained whereas if the latter dominates
infection is established. In our laboratory, we are studying molecular mechanisms of the host immune system by focusing on
the role of glycans composed of unique combinations ofmonosaccharides. We are also studying molecular mechanisms of bacterial infection by focusing on particular virulence
factors produced by pathogenic bacteria. We believe thatthese studies should lead to the development of new vaccines
and antibiotics against infectious diseases.

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HP https://www.p.chiba-u.jp/lab/bisei/HP https://www.p.chiba-u.jp/lab/kassei/

Assoc. Prof.

Akiko TAKAYA, PhD

Research of dormant bacteria for antimicrobial drug discovery

Guide to Entrance

Antibiotics are drugs that act on the pathogenic bacteria that

Outline and History

Laboratory of Infection Control Sciencecause bacterial infections. In recent years, the number of bacteria resistant to existing antibiotics has increased, which has
become a global clinical problem. It has been found that dormant cells, which are generated in response to antibiotics andResearch Organization

host immunity, are one of the factors that cause the emergence of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria. We are conducting
research aimed at clarifying the mechanism that regulates
dormant cells of pathogenic bacteria, finding new targets forthe treatment of infectious diseases that are also effective
against resistant bacteria, and screening compounds that canbe seeds for drug discovery.

Laboratory of Molecular Imaging and Radiotherapy
Professor

Tomoya UEHARA, PhD

HP https://www.p.chiba-u.jp/lab/housha/

Assist. Prof.

Assist. Prof.

Hiroyuki SUZUKI, PhD

Kento KANNAKA, PhD

Developing Novel Drug Delivery Systems of Radiation to
Target Molecules
Radiopharmaceuticals are unique medical formulations containing radioisotopes used in major clinical areas for diagnosis
and radiotherapy. When oncophilic molecules such as antibody fragments or peptides are used as the vehicles to deliverradioactivity to tumors for targeted imaging or radiotherapy,
target selective radioactivity is enhanced by reducing theradioactivity accumulated in non-targeted tissues such as theliver or kidney. Thus design of new “bioconjugates” that holdcleavable linkers between the radio metal chelate and theoncophilic molecules is much emphasized in our laboratory.

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Outline and History

Laboratory of Toxicology and Environmental HealthProfessor

Yasumitsu OGRA, PhD

HP https://www.p.chiba-u.jp/lab/yobou/

Lecturer

Assist. Prof.

Yasunori FUKUMOTO, PhD

Yu-ki TANAKA, PhD

We are Tackling “Chemistry-Based Health Sciences.”

Guide to Entrance

Pharmaceutical students must learn several kinds of chemistrysuch as organic, inorganic, analytical, physiological and biological chemistry. Based on the Chemistries, the pharmaceutical students furthermore learn nutrition, food chemistry,

Metal Toxicology

hygiene, public health, epidemiology, environmental sciences

Research Organizationand toxicology. In this faculty, we responsibly lecture theseapplied subjects. Our research is focusing on the toxicology ofmetal and metalloid recognized as an environmental contaminant. The biochemistry of essential metal and metalloid is also
our interests. Namely, we intend to clarify the interaction
between the meal/metalloid and biomolecule(s) at molecular
and/or chemical reaction level. The mission of our research andeducation is to design the strategy for maintenance of healthy
life, society and environment.

Laboratory of Forensic Toxicology
Professor＊

Yasumitsu OGRA, PhD

Lecturer

Sayaka NAGASAWA, PhD

Forensic analytical toxicology saves the rights of the deadIn recent years, the number of incidents and accidents involving drugs has been increasing. Namely, it is important to analyze the drug associated with the autopsy. The Laboratory of

The logo of LFT

Forensic Toxicology conducts several researches on drugs,
such as 1) examination of novel sample pretreatment methods
and analytical techniques, 2) elucidation of post-mortem pharmacokinetics of drug in autopsied samples, and 3) development of novel analytical methods for illegal drugs and drugs
being relevant with traffic accidents. In addition to the researchand the education in Faculty and Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, we also conduct the analytical service ofautopsied samples obtained at autopsy by the Department of
Forensic Medicine, School of Medicine.
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12

Concurrent

The balance depicts justice
and analysis, two ophidians
express collaboration offorensic toxicology andlegal medicine

Professor

Hiroyuki NAKAMURA, PhD

HP https://www.p.chiba-u.jp/lab/hinka/

Assist. Prof.

Miaki UZU, PhD

Discovery of Cellular Targets for a New Drug

Guide to Entrance

Pharmacology can be defined as the study of substances/

Outline and History

Laboratory of Chemical Pharmacology

reagents that interact with living systems in whole body,organs, and cells. These substances may be chemical compounds administrated to achieve therapeutic effects on process within the patients. We focus on the lipid signaling mol-

Research Organization

ecules such as sphingolipids and prostanoids, and study thepharmacological and/or cellular effects of these lipids. Major
projects are a) development of chemicals to treat lipidsaccumulating diseases such as Niemann-Pick disease andsphingo-lipidosis, b) changes of receptor-mediated signalingby lipids, c) physiological and patho-physiological roles ofsphingoilipids and their intra- and inter-cellular traffic.

Laboratory of Pharmacology and Toxicology
Professor

Hiroto HATAKEYAMA, PhD

HP https://www.p.chiba-u.jp/lab/yakubutu/

Assist. Prof.

Yuta TATEMOTO, PhD

Innovative Technologies for Understanding, Predicting andControlling Drug Disposition
In recent years, “new modality” drugs have been developed,
which are new treatment methods different from conventional
drugs, such as cancer immunotherapy including immune
checkpoint inhibitors, CAR-T cells, and photoimmunotherapy,
nucleic acid drugs represented by mRNA vaccines against newcoronaviruses, and drug delivery systems (DDS). In our laboratory, we are developing technologies to “analyze” the mechanism of action and disappearance of drugs and to “control” thepharmacokinetics of drugs in the body, tissues, and cells, aswell as DDS for the purpose of maximizing the efficacy of newmodality drugs and reducing their side effects. Through thesestudies, we hope to solve clinical problems and questions, andto pioneer drug discovery and drug development technologies
that will contribute to the next generation of medicine.

13Outline and History

Laboratory of Biopharmaceutics
Professor

Kousei ITO, PhD

HP https://www.p.chiba-u.jp/lab/yakuzai/

Lecturer

Assist. Prof.

Shigeki AOKI, PhD

Akinori TAKEMURA, PhD

Safe Drug Development and Efficient Use by Elucidating Underlying
Mechanism of Adverse Drug Reactions

Guide to Entrance

Among the side effects caused by drugs, those whose mechanism is unknown and whose incidence is rare are called idiosyncratic drug toxicity. Some of them are serious and fatal,
but at present it is extremely difficult to predict the risks

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during drug development. Among those toxicities, we are particularly focusing on drug hypersensitivity related to HLA
genetic polymorphism, and drug-induced liver injury involving
multiple factors in a complicated manner. The policy of thisresearch is to elucidate the onset mechanisms using our original animal models, and to construct feasible assay systems at
early stage of drug development. We are also conducting cancer-related research aimed at investigating the factors that
determine the susceptibility and resistance of anticancer
drugs. Ultimately, we would like to contribute to developing
highly safe drugs and proposing appropriate drug usage.

Laboratory of Molecular Cardiovascular Pharmacology
Professor

Hiroyuki TAKANO, MD, PhD

HP https://www.p.chiba-u.jp/lab/mcp/

Assoc. Prof.

Noritaka YAMAGUCHI, PhD

Molecular Mechanisms of Cardiovascular Disease and Developmentof New Therapy
The main focus of this laboratory is to explore the molecularmechanisms of cardiovascular diseases and develop new therapies for those diseases. Heart failure is a complex clinical syndrome that results from structural and functional disorders of
the heart associated with a variety of cardiovascular diseases.
The number of patients with heart failure has been increasing
and heart failure is becoming a major public health problem.
Over the past 20 years, there has been considerable progressin the treatment of heart failure with appearance of angiotensin
converting enzyme inhibitors, angiotensin II receptor blockers,
ß blockers and aldosterone antagonists. However, the numberof deaths due to heart failure has been increasing steadily andfurther strategies for heart failure are needed.

14

Professor

Nobunori SATOH, PhD

HP https://www.p.chiba-u.jp/lab/socialpharm/

LecturerTomoya SAKURADA, PhD

Fostering a Medical Professional

Guide to Entrance

The principal of our research and education is to foster a medi-

Outline and History

Laboratory of Social Pharmacy

cal professional with a sense of ethics and mission who canplay actively in a variety of field. Our research and education isconducted in cooperation with various clinical institutions inorder to foster a clinical pharmacist as a researcher with knowl-

Research Organizationedge in clinical pharmacy as well as an ability to think andjudge in clinical research.
We also provide children with early exposure educations tofoster their understandings on medical practice including pharmaceuticals and clinical pharmacists with professional educations.

Laboratory of Practical Pharmacy
Professor

Yuko SEKINE, PhD

HP https://www.p.chiba-u.jp/lab/jitsuyaku/

Assist. Prof.

Assist. Prof.

Kazuki NAGASHIMA, PhD

Takao UTSUMI

Pharmaceutical Choice with Based on Evidence
For pharmacists to play a proper role within the healthcare
team, it is essential that they are involved in pharmacologicaltreatment as scientists, meaning that they should be involvedin evidence-based pharmacological treatment. In clinical practice, however, there are drugs that have been used year after
year despite a lack of clear evidence for their use.
We, at the laboratory of Practical Pharmacy, are involved in theclinical research that verifies the use of pharmacological drugs.
We are involved in several research themes that will lead toproper evidence-based use of pharmacological drugs byextracting actual problems encountered by pharmacists in theperformance of their tasks. Also, by studying how to resolve
problems in clinical practice, the laboratory aims to nurture
clinical pharmacists who can play a key role in future pharmacological treatment.

15Outline and History

Laboratory of Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmacometrics

HP https://www.p.chiba-u.jp/lab/cpp/

Assoc. Prof.

Hiromi SATO, PhD

Precise understanding of diseases

Guide to Entrance

The Laboratory of Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmacometrics(CPP) is engaged in both dry and wet research to analyticallyunderstand diseases and their consequences. Using computermodeling and AI, we are analyzing pharmacokinetics and thelong-term progression of various diseases including heart

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failure, diabetes mellitus, Parkinson’s disease, COPD, etc. frominformation from thousands of individual patients. In this era ofdiversified modalities, we are conducting basic research on
immune checkpoint inhibitors and brain tumors through celland animal experiments. We also contributed to the development of guidelines for new drug development in collaboration
with PMDA and companies in the pharmacokinetics fields
including drug interactions and modeling. CPP offers seminars
online and supports seminars for post-graduate pharmacists.
For more information, please refer to the website.

Department of Clinical Pharmacy
Professor＊

Itsuko ISHII, PhD

HP https://www.p.chiba-u.jp/lab/byouyaku/

Assoc. Prof.＊

Assist. Prof.

Shingo YAMAZAKI, PhD

Masayuki ISHIKAWA, PhD

Creating the information you needDo you think that pharmacists need research abilities? We arecollaborating with the Division of Pharmacy at Chiba University
Hospital to conduct a wide range of research to solve clinicalproblems. For example, we conduct basic and clinical analysis
on drug administration design in patients who is critically ill orwith rare diseases. Furthermore, we challenge basic researchon the accumulation of cholesterol in macrophages, which are
involved in the onset and progression of arteriosclerosis andproliferation and pluripotency of mesenchymal stem cells. We
would like to develop professionals who can not only use drug
information but also create the medical information they need.
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Concurrent

Professor

Tetsuto KANZAKI, MD, PhD

Assoc. Prof.

Assist. Prof.

Assist. Prof.

Satoko SUZUKI, PhD

Daisuke ISHIDA

Shinichi HIROSE

An artery is not only a tube, but is one kind of organs.
and development of atherosclerosis. We sometimes experienceadvanced atherosclerosis with no risk factors. This means that
arterial wall cells acted by risk factors have an important role in
the formation of atherosclerotic lesions.

Guide to Entrance

Atherosclerotic risk factors cannot explain all of the initiation

Outline and History

Department of Drug Informatics（sponsored by MatsukiyoCocokara & Co.） HP https://www.p.chiba-u.jp/lab/jyoho/

Our research purposes are to clarify the mechanism of theatherosclerotic diseases by clinical trials. Our first project is toclarify the characteristic changes of arterial wall cells in diabetes. Second is clinical research to clarify the real of atherosclerotic diseases and metabolic changes of lipid and glucose in

Research Organization

development and regression of atherosclerosis and to reduce

patients with psychiatric disorders. Thirdly, we try to contributethe proper use of medicine by examining practically the polypharmacy of elderly patients from the viewpoint of drug informatics. We plan to perform these projects with academic-industrial collaboration, a unique character in this researchgroup.

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Graduate School and Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences Chiba University, 2024
1-8-1 Inohana, Chuo-ku, Chiba-shi, Chiba 260-8675, Japan
https://www.p.chiba-u.jp