Center Director: Kazuo Kishi (Professor, School of Medicine)
Main Campus: Shinanomachi
Center Overview
The challenges facing science and technology in recent years have become increasingly diverse and complex, and it is becoming difficult to address these issues within the confines of specialized, individual academic fields. In particular, collaboration between medicine, engineering, and pharmaceutical sciences to solve problems is essential for future medical technology to support rapidly advancing healthcare. Keio University is a comprehensive university with a School of Medicine, Faculty of Science and Technology, and Faculty of Pharmacy. Although collaborative projects have been promoted within the university, they have been limited to individual joint research on specific research projects. There is no system in place to spontaneously generate collaboration between medicine, engineering, and pharmaceutical sciences, and there is a need to build a foundation for integrated research as a unified effort by Keio University. Furthermore, promoting interdisciplinary education, research, and awareness activities in regulatory science is essential for the practical application of pharmaceuticals and medical devices. This start-up center aims to create and promote interdisciplinary research and education through the establishment of Keio's unique collaborative framework between medicine, engineering, and pharmaceutical sciences, led by faculty members from the School of Medicine, Faculty of Science and Technology, and Faculty of Pharmacy.
Keywords and Main Research Themes
Collaboration between medicine, engineering, and pharmaceutical sciences, regenerative medicine and tissue engineering, neuroscience and rehabilitation, biomechanics and computational engineering, bio-drug devices, biomedical imaging, regulatory science
2013 Business Report
■ Implementation of the Business Plan for the Fiscal Year, Research Results, and Degree of Achievement
Promotion of collaborative research between medicine, engineering, and pharmaceutical sciences: We have been conducting joint research in medicine, engineering, and pharmaceutical sciences under the common goal of human care medicine. In addition, we are currently promoting the Regenerative Medicine Hub Network Project, in which researchers in medicine, engineering, and pharmaceutical sciences from within the university participate, and are also applying for a Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research on Innovative Areas from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT).
Holding regular working groups for medicine, engineering, and pharmaceutical sciences: We held regular working group meetings once every one to two months to work on joint research, applications for research funding, and curriculum development for human resource development in collaborative projects between medicine, engineering, and pharmaceutical sciences.
■ Number of Published Papers (Number and Major Journal Titles), Number of Conference Presentations (Domestic and International), and Social Contribution Achievements such as Events (Date, Location)
Operation of the collaborative platform site for medicine, engineering, and pharmaceutical sciences: http://www.mpec.project.rcp.keio.ac.jp/ We disseminate information on the activities of the Keio Medical and Pharmaceutical Science and Engineering Commons (MPEC) through the above website.
Holding symposia on collaboration between medicine, engineering, and pharmaceutical sciences: These are held once every four months, rotating between the medicine, engineering, and pharmaceutical sciences campuses. Each event attracts a large number of participants. 3rd Incubation Lounge (July 24, 2013, Shinanomachi Campus) 4th Incubation Lounge (December 11, 2013, Hiyoshi Campus) 5th Incubation Lounge (March 19, 2014, Shiba-Kyoritsu Campus)
■ Notable Achievements through Center Activities
We have been successful in forming a platform that facilitates joint research collaboration between medicine, engineering, and pharmaceutical sciences. Furthermore, based on the symposia on collaboration between medicine, engineering, and pharmaceutical sciences (Incubation Lounges) held sequentially at each campus, we have succeeded in generating new needs and seeds.
Project Members
Principal Investigator
Kazuo Kishi
ProfessorPlastic and Reconstructive SurgeryToshiyasu Nakamura
Full-time LecturerOrthopaedic Surgery