Feb.21 1999
I obtained my Ph.D. in agricultural chemistry from the University of Tokyo in 1983. My Ph.D. research was the structure analysis and biosynthesis study of an insect sex pheromone using EAG (electro antennogram) bio-assay technique, the organic synthesis of the sex pheromones and GC-SIM (selected ion monitor) of the deuterated precursor.
I then joined the Sapporo Breweries Ltd., to do medicinal research. My responsibilities included the exploration of drug candidates by screening natural products. It involved the assay development, the fermentation of microorganisms, the screening, the isolation and purification of active compounds, the structure elucidation by NMR, MS, etc. The structure analysis using NMR or MS has been one of my main research interests. I developed and ran lots for enzyme assays, cell based assays, ELISA, etc for the screening of drug candidates in many therapeutic areas. I have found some novel active compounds from the natural products.
In 1993, I joined the Taisho Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. I have studied some novel LDL uptake enhancers, inhibitors of bone resorption, etc.
I am now responsible for HTS work as the HTS Group manager.
My first work concerned with HTS involved the planning of HTS at Taisho. This included the preparation of a compound library, the plate management, the introduction of new assay technology and an adaptation study of the assay system, the automation of screening and compound control, the data management system and the organization setup to perform HTS.
Concerning the automation, a Tomtec Quadra9600, Tecan TRAC and Beckman HTS were introduced as a large robotic system. Each robotic system has its own purpose, each oh which is properly operating. My group is developing transfected cells and the many kinds of assay systems for HTS, and now running the HTS at the rate of about 20 assays per year.
The methods for natural product screening are going to be changed by using the HTS. CC has also been developed at Taisho. We are trying to integrate the CC&HTS and NP&HTS.
In the near future, certain aspects of HTS will be significantly changed. For example, the wide use and development of an imaging detection system and micro-pipetting system. HTS is still going through an evolutionary stage.
I don't know who coined the phrase (word) "High Through-put Screening (HTS)", but I like this word. It sounds nice!! I would like to thank the person who coin this phrase.
HTS would be defined as to rapidly identify novel active molecules by evaluating large numbers of test samples in targeted assays using "highly systematic methods". HTS is essentially different from past "mass screening" at this point. The concept of HTS is aimed not only at screening a large number of compounds but also at the total system being highly integrated from the compounds library to the data management.
Also, it is very important that the screening itself be separated from technologies used in the other fields. It is then going to become an independent field that should be named "Screenology", for instance.
The publication of this Journal, "CC&HTS", is certainly one of the expressions of this idea. I think it is wonderful that individuals engaged in screening work have a chance to submit a paper of their results based on the screening work itself. I would like to have a paper with the practical contents such as a miniaturized or improved assay format and its screening.
I will contribute my humble efforts to the generation and confirmation of the field of "Screenology ??" And finally, my dream is to discover a drug especially from a natural product origin by HTS.