The role of the pharmaceutical society of Japan in advancing of clinical pharmacy research

Abstract

Since the start of the 6-year program in pharmacy education, outcome-based education has progressed, and stu-dents' experience of onsite pharmacy practice has increased their awareness of their roles as pharmacists. This progress has been confirmed by student reports submitted at the end of onsite practice. In addition, the results of undergraduate students' graduation research as well as those of clinical research carried out in graduate schools are presented at the annual meetings of the Pharmaceutical Society of Japan (PSJ) and its local branches. Research activity is also promoted by the various divisions of the PSJ that represent a wide range of pharmacy-related fields, including the Division of Clinical Pharmaceutical Sciences. In this way, the PSJ effectively connects researchers in basic and clinical fields, promoting the development of both translational research and reverse-translational research based on needs and ideas brought from the clinic to the basic sciences. Following their presentation at academic meetings, clinical research outcomes are often published in academic journals, including in the three academic journals published by the PSJ: Yakugaku Zasshi, Biological and Pharmaceutical Bulletin,andChemical and Pharmaceutical Bulletin. Yakugaku Zasshi accepts submissions of case studies, case reports, and survey reports related to clinical pharmacy, which can be submitted in either English or Japanese. As the foundational society for pharmacy and pharmaceutical sciences in Japan, the PSJ is committed to continuing advances in basic and clinical pharmacy research. In the last part of this review, I discuss graduate schools of pharmacy and pharmaceutical sciences.