Tokyo Women's Medical University

Graduate School of Medical Science

Public Health

About us

The Department of Hygiene and Public Health was founded in 1934 by Professor Hiroto Yoshioka, the son of Dr. Yayoi Yoshioka, the founder of Tokyo Women’s Medical University. We contribute to research and education covering a wide range of health issues in society. The achievements of public health are applied in community health, maternal and child health, mental health, and elderly health at health centers, as well as school health, occupational health, environmental health, and international health. In public health, research on a wide range of fields is conducted mainly using epidemiological approaches. We aim to nurture medical professionals who can play an active role in such fields. We also conduct research and education on women's health and working women in order to contribute to "the empowerment of women", which is the purpose of establishing Tokyo Women’s Medical University.

【Section of Global Health】
In order to realize the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the three divisions of our department, the Division of Tropical Medicine (Malaria Genetic Research), the Division of Interdisciplinary Field Research (Field Epidemiological Research), and the Division of Global Health Research (Global Health Policy and Governance Research), are collaborating with each other. Through our education and research activities, we hope to nurture young researcher with the next generation of leaders who will create a prosperous society that values life. Our research includes genome analysis of Plasmodium falciparum, research on health care seeking behavior in Papua New Guinea, and epidemiological studies in Nepal and Kenya, etc. We are conducting research and providing leadership education on the future of medicine and social design through a variety of research approaches including molecular biology, public health, epidemiology, sociology, development studies, economics, and medical anthropology. we will actively promote a new sense of value called "social design" through research and learning activities.

Research

(1)Study among working women’s health
As the employment rate of women is increasing and women are expected to play more active roles, it is extremely important to improve the work environment for women to maintain and improve their health throughout their lives. In our laboratory, we have been conducting research on the health effects caused by occupation (working conditions) and the health issues across women's life cycles. In this program, students will decide on a theme, develop a plan, and conduct a survey. And then they will carry out the statistical analysis and study about the health effect of work environment and life cycles.
(2)Study on improving working conditions in medical institutions
We have been conducting research focusing on the work balance for physicians, given that the Japanese government is promoting work style reform for physicians as a priority issue. In this program, students will decide on a theme, develop a plan, and conduct a survey. And then they will carry out the statistical analysis and study about the appropriate work style and environment for physicians.
(3)Epidemiological study on environmental factors and health
Along with technological innovations, various physical and chemical factors are closely related to our daily lives. Safety evaluation and risk assessment of those factors are essential for realizing a safe and secure society. In this program, students will learn how to develop a plan for epidemiological research, conduct a survey, carry out the statistical analysis, and summarize the results.


【Section of Global Health】
(1)Malaria parasites resistant to antimalarial drugs
After the discovery of genes in the Plasmodium falciparum that confer the resistance to antimalarial drugs, the molecular mechanisms of the action for resistance are becoming unveiled. The genetic elements coding for resistance are contained on chromosomal and/or on extra chromosomal (Mitochondrial) elements. The department is conducting biological research its mechanistic details, understanding of evolution and spread of drug resistance provide a rationale for pharmacological intervention to overcome the exacerbation and rampancy of drug-resistant parasites in the fields.
(2)Community health systems research in low- and middle-income countries (Field epidemiology)
Our department is currently conducting field research such as, “Community-based lifestyle intervention for diabetes management in rural Nepal: A Cluster randomized trial of a combination of community health workers (CHWs), peer supporter and regular telephone calls　(Nepal, AMED Funded Research Project)”and “A study of preventive behavior on Malaria infection along Lake Victoria region in Homabay county, Western Kenya (Kenya, SATREPS) and other social epidemiological studies in different countries.
(3)Global health policy and governance research
Our department is currently conducting health policy and governance studies on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), COVID-19 pandemic, health security, human research development, science and technology innovation, and Universal Health Coverage.

Faculty

Professor: Michiko Nohara
Lecturer: Hajime Honma (Section of Global Health)
Assistant Professor: Takako Miki
Assistant Professor: Daiki Nagamine
Assistant Professor: Shinji Yamaguchi
Part-Time Assistant Professor: Yasuto Sato
Part-Time Assistant Professor: Kosuke Kiyohara
Part-Time Assistant Professor: Takao Arai
Part-Time Assistant Professor: Asuka Sakuraya

Related links

Research Achievements Database (Public Health)
Research Achievements Database (Public Health, Section of Global Health)

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