Ceremony to Confer the Honorary Degree of Doctor of Medicine, honoris causa, on Professor Peter Agre M.D., Duke University, the United States of America

The auspicious ceremony to confer the Honorary Degree of Doctor of Medicine, honoris causa, upon Professor Peter Agre M.D., Duke University, was held on November 1st at Kitasato Hall on the Shinanomachi Campus of Keio University[*2]. The memorable ceremony, hosted by Professor Masato Yasui, School of Medicine, proceeded in a joyous atmosphere starting with a citation by Professor Yasuo Ikeda, Dean of the School of Medicine. Professor Peter Agre M.D. made an address after Professor Yuichiro Anzai, President of Keio University, conferred the diploma and made a speech. On the same day, soon after this event was held, another important conferment ceremony of the Keio Medical Science Prize was held with Professor Thomas A. Steitz.　

[*1] Professor Peter Agre M.D.: Professor Peter Agre M.D. is one of the most influential scholars in the field of physiology and medicine at Duke University in the USA. His 1992 paper in the journal Science documented the discovery of the first water-channel protein – called an aquaporin – which facilitates the movement of water molecules into and out of cells through the cell membrane. In 2003, he shared the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for revealing the molecular basis for the movement of water into and out of cells. Human beings consist of about 70% salt water, and regulation of the water and salt metabolism is one of the most important homeostatic functions in mammals. That the body’s cells must contain specific channels for transporting water was suspected as early as the middle of the nineteenth century, but this was not proven until Professor Agre discovered the first water-channel protein, aquaporin.

These water-channels are found in most organs in the human body, and are involved in transporting water and glycerin, but disturbances in the water balance are related to many human disorders. Advanced research of aquaporins with extension to clinical applications such as brain edema and obesity with diabetes mellitus is continuously expected.

[*2] Relation with Keio University: The School of Medicine at Keio University has actively been working on research of aquaporins since their importance to the field of physiology and medicine was revealed. Several research groups at Keio collaborated with Professor Agre on researches of aquaporins, and the cooperative partnership between researchers of Keio and Professor Agre has been maintained for 10 years. Professor Agre visited Japan in 2004 to attend “The 21st Century COE Program” hosted by the School of Medicine, Keio University, and there have been many research interchanges and personal exchanges with researchers. The research collaboration and cooperative partnership will continue to be strengthened with the appointment of Professor Agre to the position of Visiting Professor at Keio University.