Tokyo Women's Medical University

School of Medicine

Basic Science (Chemistry)

Overview

Chemistry is the study of clarifying the structure, properties, and functions of substances that surround us and are closely related to familiar phenomena. Life is made up of numerous substances, and in order to study life science, which is the basis of medicine, it is important to fully master chemistry, which is "the study of substances and phenomena," and to understand the laws governing life from the atomic and molecular viewpoint. In Basic Science (Chemistry), we are in charge of education in the core subjects "Substances Constituting the Human Body," "Body Fluids and Homeostasis of the Living Body," and "Metabolism of Living Matter," which aim to provide students with a foundation for learning life science. Our department also offers elective courses such as "Basic Chemistry," a lecture that bridges the gap between chemistry learned in high school chemistry and the integrated curriculum, "Chemistry" for students interested in chemistry experiments, and "Medical Informatics," in which students learn computer literacy necessary for medical professionals. In addition, we are in charge of the longitudinal courses "Practical Study of” Sincerity and Love” and "Basic and Medical Expression Skills," and are committed to nurturing physicians with rich human qualities.
Our main research theme is "Synthetic development of organofluorine compounds for bioactive substances," and we are developing new organic synthetic reactions to search for the seeds of new pharmaceuticals. At the same time, we are conducting research on education for medical professionals, including "professional education, behavioral science, and ethics education for medical students" and "medical simulation education" with collaborating researchers.
Recently, we have been focusing on supporting female junior and senior high school students in choosing science-related careers, working with collaborators both inside and outside the university on a variety of projects to encourage interest in science-related careers among junior and senior high school girls.

Faculty

Lecturer Yuko NAKAMURA
Lecturer Ichiro KOSHINO

Related links

Research Achievements Database

Basic Science (Biology)

Overview

Biology is the study of diverse life phenomena and forms the foundation of all medical knowledge and practice. A solid understanding of biology provides the basis for studying basic and clinical medicine in depth and applying it flexibly.
We are responsible for a wide range of lectures and practical classes, including first-year courses such as “Basic Biology,” “Cell Structure,” “Human Body Structure,” “Genetics and Genes,” and “Tissue Structure”; the second-year course “Human and Comparative Embryology”; the cross-year course “Practical Studies in ‘Sincerity and Love’”; and upper-year (second- to fourth-year) courses such as “Histology Practicum.” We also teach elective courses such as “Biology” for medical students and “Human as a Biological Being” for nursing students.
New knowledge and a spirit of inquiry gained through research enrich our teaching and help deepen students’ understanding. At the same time, they contribute to the academic vitality of the entire university. Our research focuses on developmental biology using avian embryos and gene introduction techniques. We explore the mechanisms by which complex organs—such as the digestive system, heart, and eyes—form during development. We also welcome third-year students into our research projects.
In addition, we contribute to the Center for Medical and Nursing Education through the management and support of various academic activities, including open campus events, entrance examinations, orientation for new students, tutorial education, simulation-based learning, CBT, and OSCE. These efforts aim to improve the quality of the learning environment and to ensure the consistency and effectiveness of the university’s educational curriculum.

Faculty

Lecturer Yasuo ISHII


Assistant Professor Kouko URASE

Related links

Research Achievements Database

Basic Science (Physics)

Overview

Physics is closely related to modern medicine. Physics is necessary to correctly understand the mechanisms of the living body and advanced medical and laboratory equipment. Our department is in charge of lectures and practical training on the physical foundations of medicine in subjects such as "The Origin of the Human Body," "Body Fluids and Homeostasis of the Living Body," "Cells and Signal Transduction," "Basics of Biomedical Imaging," "Basics of Therapy," and "Basic Physics." In addition, professionalism and communication education is delivered through the "Practice of the university philosophy Sincerity and Compassion" educational program. Furthermore, as elective courses, we provide "Physics A (Continuum Mechanics" and "Physics B (Physics of the Human Body)." In terms of research, the department is pioneering the field of application of quantum mechanics, the mainstay of modern physics, numerical simulations to elucidate natural phenomena, utilizing learning analytics in medical education, and the development and verification of effective physics education methods. In terms of social contributions, activities include serving as a certified standardized patient accredited by the Common Achievement Tests Organization (CATO), contributing to medical education. Additionally, roles as committee members in relevant academic societies (such as the Japan Society of Applied Physics and the Optical Society of Japan) are undertaken to support academic activities.

Faculty

Associate Professor Kenji TSUJINO

Related links

Research Achievements Database

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