Research
Faculty Members
Center for Advanced Education and Research in Pharmaceutical Sciences Clinical Pharmacy Research and Education
Niki KazuyukiAssistant professor
I graduated from the Department of Pharmacy (6-year course), Osaka University in 2013, and obtained my Ph. D. (Pharmacy) in 2019. Currently, I am conducting multidisciplinary joint research with medical institutions such as hospitals, pharmacies, and nursing homes, as well as engineering departments, while concurrently working as a pharmacist at the Osaka University Hospital and the Ashiya Municipal Hospital. In particular, I aim to improve the quality of life of patients by using the latest digital technology for various problems in the super-aging society, such as cancer (palliative care and pharmacotherapy) and dementia.
Research theme
Devising new palliative care methods using digital technology
Patients undergoing palliative care may not be able to do the things they want to do due to multiple factors such as various symptoms and decline in physical functions. In addition, anticancer drug treatment is accompanied by stress. Therefore, I am working to improve the QOL of patients by utilizing the latest digital technologies such as Virtual Reality (VR) and 5G. In this theme, I am conducting joint research with Osaka University Hospital, Ashiya Municipal Hospital, and local NPOs.
Development of digital therapy for dementia and BPSD
I am investigating the possibility of preventing the decline of cognitive functions and the progression of BPSD by simultaneously stimulating the human sensory organs (five senses) with digital technology such as VR. This project is currently being carried out by a multidisciplinary consortium including the Graduate School of Engineering Science, Graduate School of Medicine, medical institutions, nursing homes, other universities, and companies.
Establishment of a new community medical and healthcare model centered on insurance pharmacies
In cooperation with Toyonaka City and the Toyonaka Pharmaceutical Association, I am building a new healthcare model in which insurance pharmacies aim to improve the health of the entire community by providing accurate and timely health information through the digital signages (electronic billboards). I am also working with insurance pharmacies to devise new online medication guidance models that are unique to urban areas and to make insurance pharmacies multifunctional as gate openers for community healthcare.
Promoting digital transformation (DX) in pharmaceutical education
Due to the impact of COVID-19, there is a need for DX in pharmaceutical education. Therefore, I am working on the development of a new educational plan that can realize efficient learning by utilizing XR (VR/AR/MR).
Representative achievements
Takemura M, Niki K*, Okamoto Y, Matsuda Y, Omae T, Takagi T, Ueda M. Tapentadol in cancer patients with neuropathic pain: A comparison of methadone, oxycodone, fentanyl, and hydromorphone. Biol Pharm Bull. 44:1286-1293, 2021.
Yahara M, Niki K*, Ueno K, Okamoto M, Okuda T, Tanaka H, Naito Y, Ishii R, Ueda M, Ito T. Remote reminiscence using immersive virtual reality may be efficacious for reducing anxiety in patients with mild cognitive impairment even in COVID-19 pandemic: A case report. Biol Pharm Bull. 44:1019-1023, 2021.
Niki K*, Yasui M, Iguchi M, Isono T, Kageyama H, Ueda M. A pilot study to develop a new method of assisting children in taking their medication by using immersive virtual reality. Biol Pharm Bull. 44:279-282, 2021.
Niki K*, Yahara M, Inagaki M, Takahashi N, Watanabe A, Okuda T, Ueda M, Iwai D, Sato K, Ito T. Immersive virtual reality reminiscence reduces anxiety in the oldest-old without causing serious side effects: A single-center, pilot, and randomized crossover study. Front Hum Neurosci. 14:598161, 2021.
Niki K*, Okamoto Y, Maeda I, Mori I, Ishii R, Matsuda Y, Takagi T, Uejima E. A novel palliative care approach using virtual reality for improving various symptoms of terminal cancer patients: A preliminary, prospective, multicenter study. J Palliat Med. 22:702-707, 2019.
Niki K*, Okamoto Y, Matano Y, Ishii R, Matsuda Y, Takagi T, Uejima E. Validation of a short-term, objective prognostic predictive method for terminal cancer patients in a palliative care unit using a combination of six laboratory test items. J Palliat Med. 22:685-690, 2019.
Niki K*, Okamoto Y, Tabata Y, Tsugane M, Murata T, Mizuki M, Matsumura Y, Takagi T, Uejima E. A new approach for determining short-term, objective prognostic predictive methods for terminal cancer patients based on the change-point of laboratory test values. J Palliat Med. 21:529-532, 2018.+
The 24th Japan Society for Palliative Medicine, Best Presentation Award (2019)
The 16th EAPC, One of the top three in category “Basic & Translational Research” (2019)
In the 25th anniversary project of the Journal of Palliative Medicine (a project to select the best 30 papers in the past 25 years), my article reporting on the application of VR to palliative care was selected as the only one from Japan (TOP-CITED ARTICLES category) (2022)
