Health Science

Public Health, Food Hygienics, Working Environmental Control, Environmental Hygiene，Mental Health，Food Sanitation Act and Related Laws and Regulations, Types and Analysis of Epidemiology，Public Health Administration，Labor Administration，Industrial Health Management，Environmental Engineering，Science for Sustainability and Survival，Pharmacology and Toxicology，Health Food Science，Psychology for Adults & Children with Disabilities，Introduction to Clinical Psychology，Global Warming，Laboratory in Environmental Hygiene and Engineering.

Thesis training is the major focus for the senior students. Students conduct research work for one year in each major laboratory (public health and epidemiology research, environmental and hygienic research, environmental, occupational health and toxicology research, mental health and psychology research). The aim of thesis research is to integrate what the students have learned in the last three years in the course of their choice. Successful completion of thesis is required for graduation.

The primary goal of our research is to establish effective methods for prevention and early detection of mental illness, deteriorated mental health and other diseases or conditions that may affect mental health in industry and the community. For this purpose, we have been working on psychophysiological and psychopharmacological experiments, epidemiological surveys, and clinical study in hospitals. We are quite interested in how insufficient sleep or sleep disorders affect mental and physical health. Another research focus of our lab is to find out how excessive drinking and addictive behaviors occur as well as how to help people with addiction effectively.

Major subjects：Mental health, Clinical psychology, Vocational mental health, Industrial counseling

We are conducting research and technology development targeting “Water” that is essential for living things, to evaluate the hygienic safety of the water environment and to create a safe and secure water environment. Dealing with virus, bacteria, protozoa, vectors of infectious diseases, and their genes, we monitor pathogens (viruses, bacteria and protozoa), antimicrobial resistant bacteria (ARB), and vectors, in water environment. We are also developing novel technology for ARB disinfection.

1. Development of environmental DNA / RNA analysis method to monitor vectors of infectious disease, and ARB.
2. Monitoring ARB and antimicrobial-resistant genes (ARGs) to elucidate their origin and behavior in the environment.
3. Development of novel disinfection technology for ARB and ARGs by applying pulsed electric field or low cost disinfectants.

For more details, visit the original site of the Environmental Hygiene Laboratory : https://envhyglab-kitasato-u-e.localinfo.jp

Major subjects：Environmental hygiene, Instrumental analysis, Environmental engineering, Water environment

The aim of our research is to clarify the mechanism of the harmful effects of chemical substances on health (e.g. metals, organic solvents, dust, etc.), and also establish the method of useful better determination and risk assessment of harmful chemical substances in the work environment. In our laboratory, we are investigating heavy metal toxicity, especially cadmium and the role of metal-binding protein metallothionein, using animal experiments. We are also attempting to establish a newer, useful analytical method and evaluation of dust or microbes to assure safety in the workplace and/or living spaces.

Major subjects： Working environment control, Laboratory and practice of occupational environment control, Risk assessment and management, Industrial health management and laboratory

In Japan, in which a super-aging society predominates, the question of how to live a long and healthy life has become an important issue. We, therefore, aim to contribute to sustaining good health and preventing the onset of lifestyle-related diseases by promoting food safety and the appropriate intake of food.
In particular, it is known that dietary fatty acids are involved in the maintenance of good health, and our research activities aim to advance the understanding of the effects of dietary oils and fatty acids on health and the mechanisms underlying those effects. For example, the onset and progression of cardiovascular diseases, and their improvement, are affected by dietary polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs).
Our research themes also include other areas, such as the development of a simple counting method for Bacillus bacteria to evaluate activated sludge and the practical investigation of various uses for nanobubble water that take advantage of its antioxidative and antibacterial properties.

Major subjects： Public health, Food safety, Functional food analysis