Takeru Higuchi

Takeru Higuchi (January 1, 1918 – December 2, 2013) was a renowned pharmacologist and physical chemist, often referred to as the "father of physical pharmacy". He made significant contributions to the field of pharmaceutical sciences, particularly in the area of drug delivery systems.

Early Life and Education[edit | edit source]

Born in Japan, Higuchi moved to the United States for his higher education. He earned his Bachelor's degree in Chemistry from the University of California, Berkeley in 1943 and his Ph.D. in Physical Chemistry from the University of Wisconsin–Madison in 1947.

Career[edit | edit source]

Higuchi started his career as a research chemist at the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation. In 1952, he joined the faculty of the University of Wisconsin–Madison as a professor of Pharmaceutics. He was instrumental in establishing the field of physical pharmacy, which applies the principles of physics and chemistry to the study of pharmaceuticals.

Higuchi's research focused on drug delivery systems, particularly controlled-release formulations. He developed mathematical models to predict the release rates of drugs from these systems, which are still widely used in the pharmaceutical industry today.

In 1967, Higuchi moved to the University of Kansas, where he founded the Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry and served as its first chairman. He also established the Takeru Higuchi Research Laboratories, which continue to conduct research in drug delivery systems.

Legacy[edit | edit source]

Higuchi's contributions to the field of pharmaceutical sciences have been widely recognized. He received numerous awards and honors, including the Remington Honor Medal, the highest honor in American pharmacy. The American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists (AAPS) established the Takeru Higuchi Research Prize in his honor.