A comprehensive portal site for Medical Innovation Support Office (MEDISO).Medical Innovation Support Office

Nao Yoshizawa

GRiT Partners　Law offices/Willsame.co.ltd/Cabinet office advisor for National bioecnomy strategy/Keio university Medical school

After leaving the law firm Nishimura Asahi, [the individual] established the law firm GRiT Partners and assumed the role of managing partner. They also serve as the representative of Willsame Corporation and hold qualifications as a lawyer, patent attorney, CFE (Certified Fraud Examiner), Applied Information Technology Engineer, Information Processing Security Support Engineer, and IT Strategist. They have served as a committee member for the formulation of standards in electronic commerce and related information transactions at the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, as an expert in the Cabinet Office's bioecnomy strategy, and as an advisor to Biock. They have been involved in the establishment of the Japan Chapter of Aging2.0 in Silicon Valley and served as a mentor for Alchemist Accelerator. A graduate of the law faculty at Hitotsubashi University, they completed intellectual property and machine learning programs at Stanford University, as well as multiple AI programs at MIT. They serve as a program committee member for the Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences at the University of Tokyo and the Medical Innovation Human Resources Development Course at Tokyo Medical and Dental University. With a deep understanding of international perspectives on digital health, they provide advisory support for startups and pharmaceutical companies' DX (Digital Transformation) programs. They founded the Life Science Incubation Council and focus on launching projects and connecting them with ecosystems both domestically and internationally.

Katsuhiro Fukunishi

Hidehiro Ando

President & Representative, Andy Pharma Partners Inc.

He graduated from the Department of Veterinary Medical Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Tokyo. He joined Tanabe Pharma Corporation (present Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation). After being assigned to the research department of pharmacokinetics, he was involved in partnership-related business of international development department, research and development planning department, etc., including establishment of a joint venture with overseas companies. Subsequently, he worked in the technology transfer department of RIKEN (Institute of Physical and Chemical Research), a regenerative medicine venture, Bayer Yakuhin, a drug discovery venture, and he established a personal office. He has engaged in business development and licensing work for 40 years, and now, based on his experience and networks, he is supporting business development activities, such as licensing agreements and joint research of domestic and foreign pharmaceutical companies/ventures. He provides comprehensive support services ranging from looking for appropriate partners, preparing the draft of contract outline, contract negotiation, and alliance management with partners after the partnership agreement. Especially, based on experience of practicing on both sides of venture and pharmaceutical companies, he keeps in mind providing informative advice and proposals for specific action plans.

Masakatsu Noguchi

SMILE CURVE, Inc.

Ph.D. in life sciences. Worked at consulting firm Dream Incubator, consulting in industry-academia collaboration, business support for tech startups (bio, semiconductor, environmental energy), new business development for large corporations, and overseeing government mega-projects. Previously employed at Abbott Japan and Singapore, managing product marketing for diagnostic tests, pharmaceuticals (women's health), and Asia-Pacific marketing for medical IT. As Business Development Director at Sanamedi, facilitated the commercialization of new medical devices, handled regulatory applications and market launches, and supported investments in and assistance to startups. Additionally served as an evaluator for AMED, and as a mentor for NEDO and university accelerator programs. Currently working independently, he serves as a specially appointed associate professor in the Hiroshima University and as an strategic advisor of MEJ.

Tomoko Maeda-Chubachi

TMC Clinical Development Consulting, Inc, President; The Institute of Drug Development Career Promotion, Founding Director; Japan Alliance of Medical School Startups, Director

Dr. Maeda-Chubachi is an advisor and consultant for pharmaceutical and biotech companies and was the Chief Medical Officer at Pelthos Therapeutics (previously Novan), leading First-in-Human to launch preparation. Tomoko is known for her expertise in drug development with over 20 years industry experience. She has led clinical and medical affairs in large pharma as well as a small biotech. She led global drug development teams, resulting in 8 approvals in multiple regions, including Xalatan, Xeljanz, Taltz, Vtama, and Zelsuvmi.　Tomoko has broad knowledge of drug development, of which process is highly regulated and need thorough risk assessment, management, and control. As a Chief Medical Officer, she worked closely with the CEO and board about the strategy and governance.