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

Tomokazu Ichikawa

Director, TM Research and Investments Pte. Ltd.

Leveraged cross-functional expertise in business strategy and legal to work on strategy development, M&A, and investments in the medical device sector. Practiced law at Nagashima, Ohno and Tsunematsu, handling M&A and other corporate matters. Worked for McKinsey & Company and Hoya Corporation. Completed several acquisitions and investments in the US and Europe in the medical device business. Experienced managing a healthcare service operator in India. Currently, helping AI Medical Service, an artificial intelligence software startup for endoscope and CUC, a healthcare service provision related company. Spent more than 10 years in Singapore and familiar with business in Southeast Asian countries. Graduated from Waseda University, London Business School's Masters in Finance, and Cambridge's MBA. Attorney at law admitted in Japan.

Akiko Yamamoto

Nissan Chemical Corporation
Risk Management ＆Compliance Office
Risk Management Department

Graduated from the Department of Pharmacy at Kyoritsu Collage of Pharmacy (currently Keio University) and received a Ph.D. from Gifu Pharmaceutical University. Engaged in work related to each process of pharmaceutical life cycle (research and development, sales promotion, licensing/alliance, quality assurance and Good Vigilance Practice(GVP)) at Nissan Chemical Corporation. Especially, as the corporate quality assurance department leader, managed the company's pharmaceutical quality system, and maintained and improved appropriate quality assurance systems for API manufacturing sites, manufacturing contractors, and contract testing facilities. Specifically, provided support during FDA inspections and global pharma quality audits, and advised on improvements and response policies for issues raised. Also has experience in implementing regulations and change processes when adding starting material, intermediate and API manufacturing sites, and testing facilities. In addition, has reviewed documents such as license and quality assurance-related contract contents, change applications and master files to be submitted to authorities.

Masaho Ishino

After engaging in medical research for 25 years, I became a patent attorney (JAPAN). Over the next 20 years, I have supported medical researchers in creating intellectual property and planning research strategies, as well as engaged in contract practice and technology transfer of university IP. Intellectual property strategies for regenerative medicine and other new modalities require not only a high level of expertise in both cutting-edge medical research and intellectual property rights, but also comprehensive knowledge covering clinical development and regulations. Utilizing my experience of contributing to the development research and practical application of university-originated seeds as a representative of an institution responsible for the AMED's Project of Translational and Clinical Research Core Centers and an organizer of nationwide academia intellectual property networks, I aim to contribute to raising the potential of intellectual property of academia/venture.

Yutaka Kono

Guest professor
Drug Discovery Science Division,Institute for Open and Transdisciplinary Research Initiatives, Osaka University

Jun Utsumi

CEO, TIR Research Consulting LLC.

JU graduated from the Graduate School of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University. He holds DVM, D.Sc., MBA and has licenses of Professional Engineer (biotechnology), Radiation Protection Supervisor and Certified Scientist of Medical AI. He was engaged in research and clinical development at Toray Industries, Inc. and succeeded in commercializing the world's first opioid kappa agonist (received Awards from the Pharmaceutical Society of Japan and Okochi Memorial Foundation). After the business career, he served as a professor in Hokkaido University and Kyoto University, as well as an expert in Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency (PMDA) and a senior consultant for intellectual property at the Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development (AMED). Over 30 years of experience led him to establish a consulting company in 2018, he is also involved in medical DX support and won the Japan Open Innovation Award in 2023. He is part-time lecturers at the graduate schools of the University of Tokyo, Kyoto University, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, and the University of Tsukuba. He published “A Guide to Integrated Strategy in Drug Discovery” (Nanzando Co., 2015).