At the Faculty of Dentistry, the fourth grade students participate in 7-week long "Research Project" course. All students who wish to do so, can work also during their summer holidays, spending in total up to 3 months. After taking the series of lectures, students choose the departments where they conduct their research projects. Although "Research Project" course is originally oriented for basic research being conducted at the Faculty of Dentistry, students can also choose departments at the Faculty of Medicine or research institutes that are part of our university. Under certain conditions, a few students are also allowed do their "Research Project" course at other domestic or our affiliated overseas institutions. Since 2013, every year a few students have been given the opportunity to join the academic or research institutions in London, Oxford, Marburg, San Francisco, Toronto and Seoul. At the end of the course, each student have a poster presentation to present obtained data, but several students are chosen to present their data outside the university, at domestic or international events. Those students after entering their fifth or sixth grade, presenting the results of their research project at domestic or international conferences. Students have also an opportunity to participate in scientific events organized by our affiliated overseas institutions. For example, our students have successfully presented their data at "Research Day" held at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), School of Dentistry or at Chulalongkorn University in Thailand. Our mission is to foster dental professionals who have an inquiring mind to enable them to find and solve problems on their own, so the "Research project" course gives our students the opportunity to be exposed to research environment as well as to international collaboration at early stage of their education.
Mio Nakayama
4th year Student, School of Dentistry
I PARTICIPATED IN basic research activitiesfor three months at Harvard School of Dental Medicine. I visited Dr.Baron’s laboratory, which was famous for bone research. During my stay, Iwas invited to join my supervisor’s project (a postdoctoral student from China) exploring the influence of high circulating Irisin on bone and osteocytes.Irisin is a newly identified myokine produced by skeletal muscles during physical exercise, suggesting an important role in bone remodeling. At the beginning, I read many papers, including those published in Japan by Dr. Baron, in order to prepare myself for this project. I discussed what I couldn’t understand with my supervisor.While reading papers, I learned an xperiment technique needed for the project. Though I had learned some techniques in Japan, at Harvard I encountered difficulties learning unfamiliar protocols and new, challenging techniques. I found euthanizing mice to be particularly difficult. We had to dissect mice as fast as possible to get fresh samples, but the process was extremely time consuming. After much practice, I was able to do it more quickly. My first month was spent primarily acquiring knowledge and experimental technique. My main project started the second month there. It was a collaboration with a researcher at DANA-FARBER, a cancer institute, where we euthanized mice and obtained bone material. Later we analyzed the mice in our laboratory using the new technique I learned. The Harvard laboratory experience was invaluable because it provided opportunities to learn about career paths from mentors and co-researchers and observe first-hand the environment of a large laboratory on a scope I had never seen in Japan. It was also my first time to visit the U.S. I was surprised at the rich international environment. In my laboratory, Dr. Baron was from France, and other members came from other countries, such as Italy, China, Saudi Arabia and more. They all had different backgrounds. I really enjoyed talking with them and learned much about theirrespective countries. As most of them were doctors or dentists, I could ask them about the medical environment and education for dental students in their country. Outside the laboratory, I had dinner and lunch with them. At the end of my stay, they held a farewell party for me, complete with cake, and kindly gave me a card wishing me the best. I had a great time thanks to them. I visited sightseeing place in Boston on my holidays. There were many famous places, for example, Museum of Fine Arts and Freedom trail. I usually went out with medical students from Taiwan in my laboratory. My experience in Boston was invaluable. I am determined to make use of my experience there in my future career as a dentist.
出典：2020年 TMDU Annual News