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

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.

Kazuhiro Takekita

Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Department of Vascular Regeneration and Podiatry, Associate Professor

He was involved in launching a project of regenerative medicine by using autologous skeletal muscle-derived cell sheets in the Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University. Subsequently, he was involved in the evaluation of regenerative and biological devices at the Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency (PMDA). He performed several duties related to the Health Labour Sciences Research Grant, clinical study of human stem cells, and advanced medical care at the Research and Development Division, Health Policy Bureau, Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare. After that, he led the regenerative medical product evaluation unit as chief of the Office of Review for Regenerative Medical Product, PMDA. Also, he was involved in improving the legislation for regenerative medical products in the revision of the Pharmaceutical Affairs Law in 2014. From August 2017, he has been serving as a specially appointed lecturer in the Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, where he promotes projects to develop various products derived from human-induced pluripotent stem cells.

Masakazu Masujima

Partner, Mori Hamada & Matsumoto

Masa is a guru of startup legal advisory space in Japan. Based on the experiences at Palo Alto office of Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, his advice is West Coast style; progressive, risk-base and proactive. Through more than 2 dacades of dedication to the startup space, he has advised IPOs, M&As and major cross-border fundraising for may startups, including biotech and healthcare ones, and have also worked with entrepreneurs through a variety of touch situation, such as disputes between founders, problems with investors as well as intellectual property disputes. Masa has served as a council member of numerous Government committees, such as Regulatory Reform Promotion Council, the Regulatory Sandbox Committee, the Digital Market Competition Council and the Industrial Structure Council. He is admitted to NY bar and Japan bar, and a licensed patent attorny in Japan.

Saho Murakami

VISIONEO LLC CEO

After gaining clinical experience as an ophthalmologist, I served at the Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency (PMDA), where I was responsible for reviewing and providing consultations on pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and regenerative medical products in the fields of CNS, sensory organs, and anesthesiology. My work included designation reviews for Sakigake (pioneering) and orphan drugs, as well as post-marketing safety activities. Currently, I support business and clinical development across the healthcare and life sciences sectors, offering strategic and R&D advisory services to major corporations, startups, and venture capital firms.

Hiroyuki Kajiyama

Graduated from Kyoto University Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences. Worked at Tanabe Mitsubishi Pharma Corporation in pharmaceutical research and development, primarily handling clinical development tasks. Since 2016, employed at the Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency (PMDA), Review Management Department, as a Technical Expert in Regulatory Science Strategy Consultation. Engaged primarily in providing consultation services on pharmaceuticals, medical devices, regenerative medicine products, focusing on academia and venture companies.