I want to choose my career path from a wide range of options.

When it was time for university entrance exams and I had to think about my future,

I couldn't form a clear picture.

So, I looked for a university and faculty that held as many possibilities as possible for my career path,

and I found the Keio University Faculty of Pharmacy.

Here, I encountered research that I found "fun," and I am now pursuing my Doctoral Programs.

(As of March 2023)

In the Clinical Pharmacokinetics (Division of)(*) where I belong, we focus on the function of enzymes involved in metabolizing drugs (a reaction that converts the chemical structure of a drug, often causing it to lose its effectiveness), and conduct research to identify components in fruit juice that inhibit this function.

To put it simply, it's about "drug interactions with food and drink." It is often said that "you should not take medicine with grapefruit juice." This is because certain components in grapefruit cause interactions with drug components, inhibiting drug metabolism in the digestive tract and causing the body to absorb more of the drug than necessary. We believe there may be components in other fruit juices besides grapefruit that could be involved in such interactions, so we are investigating various fruits.

As is common with any research, experiments don't always yield results proportional to the time and effort invested, so it's tough when I can't get the expected findings. When I get stuck, I consult with Professor Otani, the head of the division, and my senior colleagues. This laboratory has a relaxed atmosphere where I can feel free to discuss anything, which I'm very grateful for.

I think one of the main reasons I decided to enter the Doctoral Programs was that I was able to publish a paper while I was still an undergraduate in the Faculty of Pharmacy. The theme of the paper was also enzymes, specifically the contribution of metabolic enzymes in drug excretion. It was a collaborative research project with several people, not just me, and I felt a sense of accomplishment in overcoming challenges. Ultimately, I came to think that "research is fun." I believe it was a valuable experience for me.

The deciding factor for choosing the Clinical Pharmacokinetics (Division of) laboratory (division) was that I felt my senior colleagues all got along well and seemed to enjoy their research. There are many events within the division, such as trips and BBQ parties, creating a very good atmosphere.

I chose the Department of Pharmacy at the Keio University Faculty of Pharmacy because of the wide range of future career paths. I liked and was good at chemistry and biology, so I had decided to go to a related university and faculty, but I couldn't figure out what kind of profession I wanted to pursue... At 18, I couldn't form a clear picture of my future. However, I'm the type of person who tries anything that interests me. Therefore, I decided to choose a faculty where I could learn a wide range of subjects and that held many possibilities for my career path.

At the Keio University Faculty of Pharmacy, the career paths of graduates are diverse. There was a wide range of options, not limited to pharmacists, including those who go into research, join companies, or become civil servants. I think this is a unique feature of Keio that you don't find at other medical sciences or pharmacy universities.

However, for me, the appeal of the Department of Pharmacy was "being able to obtain a pharmacist license," so I ultimately chose the Department of Pharmacy over the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences. This doesn't necessarily align with the criteria for someone who thinks "I want to do research," but for me, it was more important to have more possibilities secured. Maybe I'm a little greedy.

I was looking forward to university life even before I enrolled, and I think I'm really enjoying it. As an undergraduate, I joined the wind ensemble club "Ensemble Famille" at Hiyoshi Campus and participated in activities with students from outside the Faculty of Pharmacy. My instrument is the flute.

I was able to participate in concerts, which was fun. I think I had less time for extracurricular activities compared to students in the humanities, but I was able to continue at my own pace for four years. Being able to interact with students studying in completely different fields is, I think, a unique appeal of a comprehensive university like Keio.

I've been working part-time once a week at a community dispensing pharmacy since my first year in the Doctoral Programs.

Even though it's a part-time job, I believe that actually working as a pharmacist and experiencing both research and pharmacy practice is very valuable for me.