Educational Activities

Graduate School of Frontier Sciences: Sustainability Studies, Sustainability Studies Practicum

Research Activities

To achieve a sustainable and healthy society that promotes the well-being of both people and the environment, we need to explore effective and efficient utilization of healthcare resources and innovation in healthcare. Furthermore, in the long term, our dietary habits and lifestyles need to change in a direction that contributes to both climate change mitigation and health promotion. With such perspective, I aim to integrate the concept of Planetary Health with the framework of Health Economics and Epidemiology, and primarily engage in research on the following themes:
1. Health economics research on the sustainable utilization of healthcare resources
2. Research on achieving a healthy society through the utilization of digital health technologies
3. Interdisciplinary research to advance health promotion and climate change policies.

Literature

1) 齋藤英子, 中村治代, 立森久照, 笹山桐子, 大田えりか, 荒田直子, 米岡大輔, 五十嵐中「デジタルヘルス分野における評価ガイドラインの国際比較」ITヘルスケア 18(1) 2-10 2024年3月16日.
2) Saito E, Tanaka S, Abe SK, Hirayabashi M, Ishihara J, Katanoda K, Lin Y, Nagata C, Sawada N, Takachi R, Goto A, Tanaka J, Ueda K, Hori M, Matsuda T, Inoue M. Economic burden of cancer attributable to modifiable risk factors in Japan. Glob Health Med. 2023 Aug 31;5(4):238-245. doi:10.35772/ghm.2023.01001.
3) Saito E, Mutoh M, Ishikawa H, Kamo K, Fukui K, Hori M, Ito Y, Chen Y, Sigel B, Sekiguchi M, Hemmi O, Katanoda K. Cost-effectiveness of preventive aspirin use and intensive downstaging polypectomy in patients with familial adenomatous polyposis: A microsimulation modeling study. Cancer Med. 2023 Aug 30. doi:10.1002/cam4.6488.
4) Yamaji N, Nitamizu A, Nishimura E, Suzuki D, Sasayama K, Rahman MO, Saito E, Yoneoka D, Ota E. Effectiveness of the Internet of Things for Improving Working-Aged Women's Health in High-Income Countries: Protocol for a Systematic Review and Network Meta-analysis. JMIR Res Protoc. 2023 Apr 4;12:e45178. doi: 10.2196/45178.
5) Saito E, Gilmour S, Yoneoka D, Gautam GS, Rahman MM, Shrestha PK, Shibuya K. Inequality and inequity in healthcare utilization in urban Nepal: a cross-sectional observational study. Health Policy Plan. 2016 Sep;31(7):817-24. doi: 10.1093/heapol/czv137.
6) Saito E, Gilmour S, Rahman MM, Gautam GS, Shrestha PK, Shibuya K. Catastrophic household expenditure on health in Nepal: a cross-sectional survey. Bull World Health Organ. 2014 Oct 1;92(10):760-7. doi: 10.2471/BLT.13.126615.
7) Ikeda N, Saito E, Kondo N, Inoue M, Ikeda S, Satoh T, Wada K, Stickley A, Katanoda K, Mizoue T, Noda M, Iso H, Fujino Y, Sobue T, Tsugane S, Naghavi M, Ezzati M, Shibuya K. What has made the population of Japan healthy? Lancet. 2011 Sep 17;378(9796):1094-105. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(11)61055-6.

Other Activities

Delegate of the Japan Epidemiological Association (2023-present), Member of the International Committee (2022-present)
Reviewer Board Member for the Japanese Journal of Clinical Oncology (2021-present)
Board Member of the Japan-Nepal Association (2016-present)
Member of the Japanese Society of Health Economics, the Japanese Cancer Association, the Japanese Society of Public Health, and International Health Economics Association

Messages to Students

In my view, Sustainability Studies is an interdisciplinary approach that aims to promote the sustainability of the environment and ecosystems, where everyone can live a healthy and fulfilling life in terms of physical, mental, and social well-being. I look forward to working with researchers and students who are interested in health and healthcare, and aspire to engage in interdisciplinary research.