Masato Yasui, Professor, School of Medicine

What does it mean “to be alive”? This may sound like a simple question, but when you actually try to answer it, I think it is a profound theme quite difficult to answer. Fortunately, we live on “earth”, a very beautiful planet. Putting aside the question of whether life exists somewhere other than earth, it would not be an exaggeration to say that life on earth lives on “water” and “air (gas)”. Actually, 70% of the human body consists of water molecules (H2O). “Get to the essence of life phenomena through a better understanding of water”. With such an intention, I have proposed the concept of “Water Biology”. In other words, we conduct research aiming to “redefine life phenomena by understanding behavior of water molecules”. More specifically, in addition to conventional methods of molecular and cellular biology and biochemistry, we also work on (1) imaging of water molecules using leading-edge optical techniques and (2) computer simulation of water molecules, in order to understand the role of water within the living organism. In the field of pharmacology, these researches can be considered as a gateway to more accurate understandings of the absorption of drugs in gastric and intestinal epithelium and blood-brain barrier, and pharmacokinetics of the brain tissue.

In our laboratory, I always try to be careful that everyone can feel an open and active atmosphere. I also want to create an international environment. There is no boundary in science, so I hope that young students, no matter which country they are from, learn from each other and engage in their research so that they cultivate lifelong friendships.

Also, there is something I always tell my students, which is to “have a simple adjective”. In the future, to be successful as a professional, I think it would be ideal to be able to have an adjective so that you could be remembered as a “person of such-and-such”.

Student's Voice
Akiko Hanyuda, Sixth-year Student,
School of Medicine

A laboratory with a bright and international atmosphere

In fourth year level at the School of Medicine, there is a subject called “self-directed learning”, and you can choose a laboratory from almost 60 themes to study freely. I went to see the Department of Pharmacology because I was interested in function analysis of ion channels, but as soon as I stepped into the room, I was instantly drawn into the laboratory filled with a Nordic aroma. Before I knew it, I was into research of CI-channels. Even as students, we can participate in noon conferences while eating lunch and a weekly meeting held in English in which we can freely discuss with teachers in charge of other projects, so you can learn a lot about the direction of your research theme and how to make presentations. Also, teachers of the laboratory including Professor Yasui lead us with passion to prepare our presentations and create posters for the self-directed learning outcome presentation, which is positioned as the compilation of our studies, and in some cases, even for a paper presentation, enabling students to conduct research with originality.