It is a great honor to serve as the President of the Japanese Pharmacological Society (JPS) during the ongoing 2016–2018 academic year. On behalf of the Society I would like to take this opportunity to extend an invitation to you to become a member of the JPS.

Our new JPS Council members are as follows: Vice President, Dr. Mitsuhiro Yoshioka; Board of Councilors, Northern region: Drs. Kuniaki Ishii, Yumiko Imai, Masabumi Minami; Kanto region: Drs. Satomi Akahane, Yuji Ikegaya, Kumiko Ishige, Yasuhito Uezono, Kenzo Takahashi, Norio Matsuki, Hiroshi Watanabe; Kinki region: Drs. Yuji Imaizumi, Yoshikatsu Kanai, Hitoshi Hashimoto, Kiyofumi Yamada; Southwestern region: Drs. Hiroaki Araki, Atsuro Miyata; and Inspectors, Drs. Masataka Majima, Soichi Miwa.

Since all drugs are made up of molecules, it is necessary to clarify the events taking place at a molecular level in order to understand the pharmacological actions of any drug. At the same time, the utility of a drug must be evaluated at the level of whole body as well as in human population. Therefore, pharmacology must deal with the entire spectrum of human biology encompassing molecules, cells, tissues, organs, individuals, and human populations. Furthermore, for the development of new drugs, advances in basic science must be achieved to create the seeds of new drugs. Such seeds must be translated into clinical trials at bedside. Thus, pharmacology requires the multidisciplinary integration of various levels of studies from bench to bedside and demands that we utilize a wide spectrum of methods to achieve our final goal.

It is therefore of utmost importance to have the participation of researchers having diverse backgrounds for the advancement of the pharmacological sciences. The JPS is not only intent on satisfying the intellectual curiosity of its diverse membership but also devoted to promoting their optimal interaction to help create the ideals conditions for forging the new ideas needed for the advancement of therapeutics.

Akinori Akaike, Ph.D.
President
The Japanese Pharmacological Society