People

Faculty

Professor

Masahiro HIRATSUKA

masahiro.hiratsuka.a8*tohoku.ac.jp

Message from the Professor

In April 2025, we launched a new laboratory, the Laboratory of Pharmacogenomics, at the Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tohoku University. Our mission is to elucidate the mechanisms behind the significant individual differences observed in drug efficacy and adverse reactions (i.e., drug responsiveness), and to apply this knowledge to achieve optimal pharmacotherapy tailored to each patient.

Genomic variations among individuals play a critical role in drug responsiveness. In particular, interindividual differences in the activity of drug-metabolizing enzymes are closely related to drug plasma concentrations, therapeutic effects, and the occurrence of side effects. Understanding these molecular mechanisms is essential for the realization of safe and effective personalized medicine.

Our laboratory employs cutting-edge research techniques, including comprehensive genomic analysis using next-generation sequencing (NGS), functional studies using our proprietary high-expression recombinant enzyme systems, and high-sensitivity quantification of drugs and metabolites via LC-MS/MS. By integrating knowledge from pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and pharmacogenomics, we are tackling the challenge of applying individualized pharmacotherapy in clinical settings.

However, genetic information alone does not fully explain individual differences in drug response. Looking ahead, we aim to incorporate multi-omics approaches—including transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics—to capture a more comprehensive picture of the biological factors influencing drug action. Through this systems-level integration, we hope to contribute to the next generation of personalized medicine.

Delivering the right drug to the right patient — together, let us build a future where this becomes the standard of care.
We warmly welcome undergraduate and graduate students interested in genome medicine and pharmacotherapy to join us in this exciting journey of research, discovery, and global contribution.

Lecturer

Yuu MiYAUCHI

Assistant Professor

Ryosuke SEGAWA

ryosuke.segawa.a2*tohoku.ac.jp

Assistant Professor

Caroline Kijogi

kijogi.caroline.mwendwa.a3*tohoku.ac.jp（Affiliation: Center for Drug Development Research）

Research Fellow

Akiko UEDA

akiko.ueda.d1*tohoku.ac.jp（Affiliation: Center for Innovative Integrated Medical Sciences, Tohoku University）

Please replace the asterisk (*) with @ before using the email address.

Students

D1

Yuuma SUZUKI

M2

Yuki OMORI

Ryo TACHIBANA

Kento TERAUCHI

M1

Naoto NAGAMATSU

Shota NISHIHARA

B6

Taichi HARADA

B5

Ayano HANIU

B4

Chihiro KOBAYASHI

Rei KOYAMA

Miki SAITO

Sae NAKAJIMA

Shinnosuke MATSUOKA