The 146th Annual Meeting of the Pharmaceutical Society of Japan (Osaka)

Organizer: Shigeki Shimba (Sch. Pharm. Nihon Univ.), Ko Fujimori (Osaka Med. Pharm. Univ.)

In 1996, the bioactive substance adiponectin, secreted by adipocyte, was discovered in Osaka. This discovery marked a turning point, and over the subsequent 30 years, fat cells evolved beyond their image as mere "storage units for excess energy" to become central players in metabolism and inflammation. In recent years, the introduction of novel obesity treatments has propelled obesity-related disease therapy and drug discovery research into a new phase of development. Moving forward, to advance this phase, we anticipate a surge in drug development targeting adipocyte function control, driven by deeper understanding through novel, unique approaches. Therefore, looking ahead to the next decade, we have gathered young researchers who will lead future generations. They will introduce the relationships surrounding "adipocytes" that have garnered attention in the past year or two: "time," "the tumor microenvironment," "calorie restriction," "interactions with blood vessels," and "sound." Based on this new adipocyte research, we will discuss the future prospects for treating obesity and related diseases. We sincerely hope that participants from diverse backgrounds will engage in symposium discussions, contributing to future drug development and educational activities related to prevention.