Tradition and Continued Evolution at Hoshi University
Hoshi University, founded in 1911, has a rich history and takes great pride in its heritage. Honoring the words of its founder “being a cradle for people who serve the world”, we have educated people with high vision, broad perspectives and global thinking. Our alumni include prominent pharmacists who lead hospitals and pharmacies, professors who lead science and education, scientists who drive innovation, drug specialists who support medical professionals, policymakers who make significant contributions to the world, and entrepreneurs who launch new businesses. These individuals are connected by the single key phrase of “Hoshi University”.
We have a system in place that produces such outstanding and highly respected individuals. Our professors continue to conduct world-class research known not only in the field of pharmacy, but also in the broader medical sciences. Our students are given the opportunity to participate in their research, and are trained in the skills of logical thinking, persuasive communication, and building trustworthy relationships. The pioneering spirit of our founder, Mr. Hajime Hoshi, runs deep in our university. We are committed to continue to educate students who have the ability to identify questions on their own and find solutions even when no clear answer is available.
At the same time, the profession of pharmacist, position of medical science, and the role of Japan in the world are constantly changing. The education in Hoshi University is also constantly evolving. For instance, by having high expertise in information technology, pharmacists can devote more time to communicating with patients. Since genome medicine is now in mode, we must be aware of the next medical pharmaceutical movement, such as the impact of our environment and food on our health and disease.
In our campus, students and faculty aspire to be exceptional and strive for excellence, which confer them with the ability to be of service to the world. We warmly welcome those with vision and passion.
Toshikazu Ushijima
President
Hoshi University
About the President
Toshikazu Ushijima became the 11th president of Hoshi University in 2022. He presented a vision of “eduction of proud pharmacists and research known in the world”, and is now enforcing this in the entire university by allocating time and other resources to essential issues and removing routine issues with less priority.
He graduated from Tokyo University Medical School in 1986 and started his research at the National Cancer Center Research Institute (NCCRI) in 1991. He became a section chief in 1994, chief of Carcinogenesis Division in 1999, and chief of Division of Epigenomics in 2011. He served as a deputy director of the NCCRI from 2011 to 2014, and as the deputy director of the Japan Health Research Promotion Bureau from 2020 to 2022.
Scientifically, he is one of the pioneers in genome-wide analysis of DNA methylation. Taking this advantage, he demonstrated that aberrant DNA methylation is accumulated in gastric tissues of H. pylori-infected people, and that the degree of methylation is associated with risk of gastric cancer. This led to the establishment of the concept of the epigenetic field for cancerization. Mechanistically, he demonstrated that H. pylori infection-triggered inflammation is critical for induction of aberrant DNA methylation. The clinical value of the epigenetic field was demonstrated by a multicenter prospective study with 800 participants, and cancer risk diagnosis in healthy people after H. pylori eradication will be established by another prospective study with 1,800 participants. Besides the above series of work, he discovered that the CpG island methylator phenotype is a strong prognostic marker in neuroblastoma.
He served as a Senior Editor for Cancer Research (2010-2017), and is serving as an Associate Editor for Cancer Letters, Gastric Cancer, and Cancer Science. He has received the Incitement (1997) and Mauvernay (2009) awards of the Japanese Cancer Association, the National Cancer Center President award (2012), the Tahara award of the Japanese Society for Gastroenterological Carcinogenesis (2012), the Uehara Helicobacter pylori award of the Japanese Society for Helicobacter Research (2013), the Baelz award (2018), and the the Princess Takamatsu Cancer Research Fund Prize (2018). He is serving as a program officer for the Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development Agency (AMED) and an advisor for the Japan Science Technology Agency (JST).
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