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

Hiroaki Kato

Visiting Professor, The Graduate School of the Digital Hollywood University

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—.

Hirohumi Shido

I am a UI/UX design expert and specialize in driving product development. As a product manager at a medical startup, he was in charge of renewal and new planning for multiple SaMD products. My experience ranges from planning to obtaining regulatory approval, and I have won a Good Design Award for a healthcare product. These experiences have made me realize the importance of experience design and usability in SaMD products with a diverse mix of stakeholders.

Tomohito Suzuki

Tohoku University Knowledge Cast Co., Ltd.
Senior Consultant, Medical Device Development Support Division

D. in Pharmaceutical Sciences from Kyoritsu Pharmaceutical University (now Keio University). Formerly a medical device reviewer at the Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency (PMDA). At PMDA, a member of the team in charge of the cardiovascular field and was in charge of approval review and consultation for many medical devices including new medical devices. Seconded from PMDA to the University of Tokyo Hospital as a Project Assistant Professor at the Translational Research Center, where supported the development of medical seeds in academia. Seconded from PMDA to Division of Medical Device Research of the Department of Industrial-Academic Collaboration of the Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development (AMED) as a manager in charge of overseeing projects with medical device-related budgets. He has been in his current position since 2020. Based on his experience in reviewing at PMDA and supporting R&D in academia and AMED, he supports efficient development of medical devices for many manufacturers including venture companies.

Masanori Sato

ReachMed Partners LLC President

Masanori has extensive experience in pharmaceutical R&D, alliance management, and business development. Their career evolved into leadership roles in global product launches, strategic licensing, and early-stage clinical development, particularly in antiviral therapeutics at a R&D focused pharmaceutical division of a leading Japanese conglomerate. Later, as head of the business development department, they managed global licensing agreements and partnerships with major pharmaceutical companies in the U.S. and Europe for multiple in-house pipeline assets. Since 2016, they have held leadership roles in alliance management and business development at leading U.S. biotech and European pharmaceutical companies, focusing on partnerships with Japanese firms, contract negotiations, and search & evaluation of external technologies/assets across Japan and the Asia-Pacific region. From 2021, they joined a top Japanese pharmaceutical company, where they led open innovation initiatives, incubation of internal and external seed assets, and support for venture investments. During this time, they also served as a board member for a portfolio biotech companies. In March 2025, they founded their own company, leveraging their broad expertise and network to support Japanese biotech startups and assist international startups into Japan. They hold national license for Small and Medium Enterprise Management Consultant, among others.

Masashi Matsunaga

Biospire Japan Ltd. / Biospire UK Ltd.
CEO

As an experienced global business development strategist, Dr Masashi Matsunaga provides business soft-landing, clinical and regulatory support to the UK and European market. He also enables to support IP management, marketing and pitch-deck brush-up in the MEDISO support package. He is based at Harwell Science & Innovation Campus, a core UK innovation hub located near Oxford.