Our department was established in 1966 as the first department for education and research for Maternal and Child Health in Japan. The current department’s name, the Department of Developmental Medical Sciences, was changed in 1998 to more accurately reflect our department’s commitment in graduate school research and education, in the field of developmental medical sciences.

Our department is represented with a majority of female and international students, which reflects our commitment in-line with our University's initiatives in creating opportunities for diversity inclusiveness and an enhanced global education experience.

The department currently focuses on research in viral infectious disease and the development of vaccines and therapeutics for diseases that remain a major public health threat, with an emphasis on developing better strategies for maternal-child health well-being. Our collaborators include the Tokyo University Hospital, National Center for Global Medicine, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, WHO and academia, public health institutes and industrial partners.