Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chiba University

Yasumitsu OGRA

Professor / DeanAs a lifelong endeavor, I am researching why living organisms require metals for survival, as well as the differences between metals that are essential to life and those that are not. Given that cells contain only trace amounts of metals, I am also developing analytical techniques to measure these metals with high sensitivity. Recently, my research has expanded to analyze not only metals but also a wide range of metabolites.

Recent Topics of Interest:
As biochemistry is the field of study that elucidates the chemical processes related to life and living organisms, necrochemistry can be defined as the study of the chemical processes that originate from the death of organisms. In this context, I am tackling themes in the field of forensic toxicology, such as the transformation of substances within the body after death, and how pharmaceuticals ingested before death or environmental chemicals to which one was exposed change after death (postmortem metabolism).
Motto in Research or in Life:
Successus mater successus majoris. (Success is the mother of greater success.)
Hobby / Holiday:
Biking, Solving puzzles, Spicy food touring