Meet the Volume Editors

Hiroyuki Kagechika received his bachelor's degree and Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Sciences from the University of Tokyo, Japan, where he served as an associate professor until 2004. He is currently a professor at the Institute of Biomaterials and Bioengineering (IBB), Tokyo Medical and Dental University (TMDU). From 2010 to 2012, he was the dean of the Graduate School of Biomedical Science. Since 2012, he has served as the vice dean of the Gradu-

ate School of Medical and Dental Sciences. He has been the director of the IBB since 2020. Dr. Kagechika's major research interests are the medicinal chemistry of retinoids, vitamins D/K, and nuclear receptors. He has developed various compounds including a drug for acute promyelocytic leukemia.

Hitoshi Shirakawa is a professor at the Laboratory of Nutrition, Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Tohoku University, Japan. He obtained his Ph.D. from the same university in 1996 with his studies on the structure and molecular functions of chromosomal protein HMG2. His current research is focused on the modulation of intracellular signaling by nutrients and other food ingredients, especially on the alternation of inflammatory response and

steroidogenesis by vitamin K, biotin, isoprenoids, and other food ingredients. Dr. Shirakawa also investigates the effects of fermented rice/wheat bran extract on the prevention of lifestyle-related diseases and identifies novel functional ingredients from fermented materials.

## Contents

