Code：G2B60301 / Instructor：MORI Masayuki
Course Description
Faculty members of the School of Medicine will discuss various topics and Nobel prize-winning research related to their areas of specialism. They will explain why the research was worthy of the prize, how this research has since developed, and how it connects to our contemporary understanding of life and medicine. This course does not teach about the Nobel Prize system or the history of science. Therefore, we may also discuss research (and researchers) that has not received the prize. Note that the areas covered are not exhaustive.
Keywords
immunity, drug, disease, infectious disease, cancer, regenerative medicine, cerebral nerve, DNA, gene, genome, lifespan, aging, genetic engineering, blood vessel, diagnosis, treatment
Course Plan
Faculty members from the School of Medicine will conduct this sequential class, focusing on their respective areas of specialism. In each session, we will discuss one or more Nobel prize-winning studies, introducing their significance, subsequent advancements in related fields of research, and current developments. The topics for each session are as follows:
Week 1 (Mori): Introduction; the circadian clock
Week 2 (Mori): Why do we need vitamins?
Week 3 (Sawamura): Humans age with their blood vessels: From cholesterol and vascular function to health
Week 4 (Shiba): Establishment of iPS cells and their application in regenerative medicine
Week 5 (Mori): What is so “amazing” about PCR?
Week 6 (Mori): Human characteristics from genomic data
Week 7 (Tabuchi): Synaptic communication controls brain function
Week 8 (Umemura): Hepatitis virus: From discovery to elimination
Week 9 (Tabuchi): Discovery of nerve growth factor
Week 10 (Fujii): Discovery of immune checkpoint inhibitors and their application to cancer therapy
Week 11 (Koshō): Human drama surrounding the discovery of the beautiful DNA double-helix structure
Week 12 (Fujinaga): Radiation in medicine and its history
Week 13 (Kawakubo): Helicobacter pylori and stomach cancer
Week 14 (Taki): Blood types and organ transplants: Self and non-self immunity
Week 15 (Mori): Telomeres and aging; class questionnaire
A quiz or report assignment will be set at the end of each class to deepen students' understanding of the content. The completed tests/reports are due approximately one to two weeks after the class. Sufficient pre- and post-study is required.
