Dr Hiroshi Maeda was a world renowned expert in macromolecular therapeutics and served as director of the BioDynamics Research Foundation in Japan until his passing. He held distinguished academic positions including Professor Emeritus at Kumamoto University and Senior Invited Professor at Osaka University Medical School while maintaining close ties with his alma mater Tohoku University where he completed his doctoral course in Agricultural Science in 1968. Following his PhD completion, he furthered his medical expertise by earning an M.D. in 1973, establishing a unique interdisciplinary foundation that would shape his groundbreaking career. His contributions to science were formally recognized in 2020 when Tohoku University conferred upon him the title of Distinguished Invited University Professor in acknowledgment of his exceptional scientific achievements.
Dr Maeda's most significant scientific contribution was the discovery of the Enhanced Permeability and Retention (EPR) Effect, a fundamental principle in tumor biology that revolutionized cancer drug delivery systems. He pioneered the development of SMANCS, the world's first polymeric conjugate drug, which became clinically used in Japan for treating hepatoma, a common form of liver cancer. His seminal 1986 discovery of the EPR Effect provided the scientific foundation for modern nanomedicine approaches to cancer treatment, enabling targeted delivery of therapeutic agents specifically to tumor tissues while minimizing systemic toxicity. This work has had immense global impact, with the EPR Effect becoming a cornerstone principle in the design of nanoparticle based cancer therapies worldwide, influencing countless researchers and clinical applications.
Dr Maeda's scientific legacy extends through his continued leadership at the BioDynamics Research Foundation where he directed research until his final days, actively engaging with the scientific community through publications and lectures. His last scholarly contribution, published in March 2021, reflected on the 35th anniversary of the EPR Effect discovery and outlined future directions for nanomedicine in tumor targeted drug delivery. He maintained an active research program well into his later years, with patents continuing to be published posthumously, including a light radiating probe invention with publication date July 14, 2022. The principles he established continue to drive innovation in cancer therapeutics, cementing his status as one of the most influential figures in the history of oncology research whose work has fundamentally transformed cancer treatment approaches globally.
