The Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences was founded in April 2012; it was the first graduate school in its filed at Nagoya University. Here, accomplished researchers have gathered from all over Japan to conduct research and education aimed at the development of the basic medical sciences. The Graduate School incorporates into pharmaceutical research the University’s proven strengths in research and education in the sciences, engineering, and agriculture. In addition, it provides a unique medical education aimed at nurturing a new class of pharmaceutical researchers.
There are three divisions in the Graduate School, each staffed by world-class experts in their respective fields: organic chemistry, bioscience, and structural biology. These fields contribute to the understanding of phenomena related to living organisms, analysis of living organisms, and the design and synthesis of drugs, all of which are essential for drug discovery. The Division of Organic Chemistry consists of laboratories studying a wide range of topics, including reaction mechanisms and structural analysis of catalysts, total synthesis of natural products, and design and synthesis of bioactive molecules. Research topics in the Division of Bioscience include revealing the functions of proteins and intercellular communication systems, and regenerative medicine based on the development of engineering technologies that support medicine. The Division of Structural Biology conducts various kinds of research related to drug discovery, including structural analysis of proteins and nucleic acids using NMR, X-ray diffraction, and electron microscopy, as well as drug design. The Graduate School also includes the Unit of Industry, Government, and Academia Collaboration for Drug Innovation, which promotes joint research with pharmaceutical companies with the aim of producing drugs that originated at Nagoya University.
