Why do people engage in research?

Takanori Kanai
Dean, Keio University Graduate School of Medicine

Curiosity
Without a doubt, research begins with curiosity. As a child, the great inventor Thomas Edison asked his mother why distant train tracks appeared narrower than closer. Though Edison didn't discover perspective, had he been the first to pose such a question, he may have stumbled upon it. In research, this sort of simple curiosity is an indispensable quality that marks the beginning of a researcher's journey. And the more whimsical the question, the more our curiosity can thrive. Being called “unique” or “odd” is the highest form of praise.

Perseverance
Shibasaburo Kitasato, the first dean of the School of Medicine, made many remarkable discoveries. He was the first to grow tetanus bacillus in pure culture and developed a serum therapy for tetanus using this culture. He was nominated for the first Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, and were he alive today, he undoubtedly would have won. Though he was famously not selected for the prize, upon returning from Germany, he spearheaded world-class medical research at the Institute for Study of Infectious Diseases, the Kitasato Institute, and the Keio University School of Medicine, which gave the world eminent medical scholars like Kiyoshi Shiga and Sahachiro Hata. Our predecessors bravely challenged and succeeded in overturning prevailing notions of “it can’t be done,” “it won’t be found,” or “it doesn’t exist.” While medical research begins with curiosity and inquiry, perseverance is also vital for any researcher.

The Keio University School of Medicine is home to numerous laboratories conducting research on medicine and health care at a global level. When you first come here, you may feel anxious about your research abilities despite your interest. But remember that everyone starts on the same footing, so try to stay optimistic as you begin. I would like to encourage everyone to bring their boundless curiosity to research themes that others might say can't be done, won't be found, or don't exist. I am confident that the education and research environment our graduate school offers will meet and exceed all expectations.

The Keio University School of Medicine is the perfect place for fledgling researchers to spread their wings as they venture into the world of medical research.

Dean, Keio University School of Medicine, Professor, Department of Internal Medicine (Gastroenterology)
Takanori Kanai

Prof. Kanai specializes in internal medicine, gastroenterology, and organ correlation. He also serves as the president of the Japanese Society for Mucosal Immunology and is on the board of directors of the the Japanese Society for Gastroenterology.