Knowledgeable experts support
the practical application of medicines,
medical devices,
and regenerative medicinal products.
What is MEDISO
MEDISO provides support for business ventures, academia,
and individuals intending to put into practical use medicines,
medical devices, and regenerative medicinal products.
Click here for further details.
About the Medical Innovation Support Office
The medical innovation support office matches medical venture companies and academic institutions facing challenges in the practical application of medical products and devices for specialists* who provide detailed consultation and support for solving problems at each stage from research and development to practical use, as well as insurance coverage at clinical sites, while looking ahead to the overall comprehensive advances and dissemination into the global market.
* Specialists in each field provide support for the response to laws and regulations, marketing, business planning, fund rasing, management strategy, intellectual property management, and international development, etc.
This website is operated by Mitsubishi Research Institute, Inc., as a trustee under instructions from the Economic Affairs Division, Health Policy Bureau, and Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare as a part of the total support for the medical ventures program sponsored by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare.
Support targets
Ventures, academic institutions, and individuals aiming to put into practical use the medicines, medical devices, regenerative medicinal products, and novel drug-discovery technologies or medical materials subject to the Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Law.
Details of support
MEDISO provides support for the practical application of medicines, medical devices, regenerative medicinal products, and other products subject to the Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Law.
That support includes business planning, financing, advice on laws and regulations, and other assistance as required.
- ●Support method:We provide support via online meeting or e-mail.
- ●Support source:Support is provided in cooperation with experts in R&D, consultants in pharmaceutical affairs, and experts from related organizations including the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare.
- ●Remarks:Consultation and support services are free of charge.
In case the link does not work, please contact us at the email address below
mediso@ml.mri.co.jp
Specialists Introduction
We will introduce registered specialists
(updated as necessary).
Takato Noumi
Representative Director, FORESIGHT&LINX Cp., Ltd.
Main specialty areas
- medicines
Specialized support fields
- Business planning
- Funding
- Business operation systems
At his consulting company, he is currently providing practical support for constructing research strategies, business development, and licensing regarding to drug discovery to pharmaceutical companies and biotech venture companies in Japan and overseas. After completing his postgraduate course, he worked in basic research in molecular biology for 10 years followed by joining the Research Division of the headquarters of Novartis. Subsequently he served as the head of theTsukuba Research Laboratories of GlaxoSmithKline K.K. He had engaged in drug discovery research from a global point of view for 15 years. After that, he has been involved in searching for and evaluating drug discovery seeds and technologies and developing international businesses and licensing at Sanofi S.A. in France and his own consulting company for 10 years. He has a broad network of connections with pharmaceutical companies, biotech venture companies, academia, and venture capital firms in Japan and overseas.

Akiko Yamamoto
Nissan Chemical Corporation
Environment, Safety and Quality Assurance Department
Quality Assurance Group
Senior Advisor (contract employee)
Main specialty areas
- medicines
Specialized support fields
- Regulatory compliance
- Business operation systems
- Etc
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.

Hiroaki Kato
Visiting Professor, The Graduate School of the Digital Hollywood University
Main specialty areas
- medical devices
Specialized support fields
- Regulatory compliance
- Marketing
- Business planning
- Funding
- Business operation systems
He is a former government official of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare and is working as a doctor specialized in digital health, including telemedicine, AI, and IoT. As an ophthalmologist, he has experience in more than 1,500 surgical operations. He developed instruments for cataract operations and ophthalmic consultation services. He is a rare person who has experience in three areas—medical practice, medical systems, and business—which are required for medical care and the healthcare business, and he understands these areas, providing support for the development of new business covering the full range of medical care. He is also familiar with Japanese medical venture companies and works as a consultant, advisor, and director for large enterprises and venture companies. He wrote 41 books, including Medical Care 4.0 — Medical Care in the Fourth Industrial Revolution Era—.

Yoshinori Shinoki
Pharma Initiative Support LLC
Main specialty areas
- medicines
- medical devices
- regenerative medicine products
Specialized support fields
- Regulatory compliance
- Marketing
- Business planning
- Business operation systems
He graduated from the Department of Biopharmaceutical Sciences, Kyoto Pharmaceutical University, and is a licensed pharmacist. At Sawai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., and Eli Lilly Japan K.K., after taking charge of clinical development, business planning, etc., he acquired experience in planning and implementing various clinical development plans as a project leader for newly developed items in the project management department. In addition, he led NHI price negotiation strategy, post-marketing clinical startegy, and market planning. After that, he built up clinical development department at Global CRO. he also led the planning of the clinical development for Japan for small and biological products, as well as negotiating with regulatory authorities. Recently, in addition to medicines, he also led the development of clinical development strategies of medical devices and the products of regenerative medicine (gene therapy products and cell/tissue processed products).

Jun Utsumi
CEO, TIR Research Consulting LLC.
Main specialty areas
- medicines
- medical devices
- regenerative medicine products
Specialized support fields
- Regulatory compliance
- Marketing
- Business planning
- Business operation systems
- Specialized support fields
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).

Introduction of measures implemented by public institutions
We will describe the measures from public institutions for pharmaceutical companies,
medical device companies, companies manufacturing regenerative medicinal products, and venture companies.
- The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare/
- Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency (PMDA)/
- Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development (AMED)/
- Cabinet Office/
- Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry/
- Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications/
- Small and Medium Enterprise Agency/
- Organization for Small & Medium Enterprises and Regional Innovation, Japan/
- Union of Kansai Governments/
- New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO)/
- Life Science Innovation Network Japan, Inc. (LINK-J)/
- Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST)/
- Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO)/
- INCJ, Ltd./
- Osaka Prefecture/
- Tokyo Metropolis/
- Kanagawa Prefecture/
- National Institutes of Biomedical Innovation, Health and Nutrition (NIBIOHN)
A comprehensive portal site for Medical Innovation Support Office (MEDISO).
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