医療系ベンチャー・トータルサポートオフィス：MEDISO ( Medical Innovation Support Office )

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.

Click here for inquiries

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).

Moto Dohi

cdmo.jp Representative

Main specialty areas

medicines
regenerative medicine products

Specialized support fields

Business planning
Business operation systems
Etc

Moto Dohi studied biology and regenerative medicine in the United States before joining Pfizer, where he worked in formulation development, manufacturing process development, and new product launches. He subsequently spent approximately ten years in Switzerland, one of the world’s major pharmaceutical and life science hubs, working across pharmaceutical and CDMO organizations. His experience includes the development of an oncology drug-delivery product, technology transfer, clinical supply, and the resolution of manufacturing and quality challenges. He later earned an MBA from IMD Business School in Switzerland and expanded his responsibilities into finance, corporate transformation, and international business management within the pharmaceutical industry. Today, he leads cdmo.jp as its Representative and CDMO Navigator, connecting pharmaceutical companies and biotech startups with CDMOs in Japan and overseas. His main areas of support include CMC and manufacturing strategy, CDMO selection, technology transfer, GMP and quality, business development and licensing, and international expansion. Drawing on experience across both technical and management functions, as well as Japan and overseas markets, he supports entrepreneurs and researchers in developing practical pathways from promising science to development, manufacturing, and ultimately patient access. He also serves as a reservist in Japan’s Self-Defense Forces.

Shin Koike

Smith, Gambrell & Russell, LLP
Attorney at Law

Main specialty areas

medicines
medical devices
regenerative medicine products

Specialized support fields

Regulatory compliance
Business planning
Funding
Business operation systems
Specialized support fields

Shin Koike is an attorney with Smith, Gambrell & Russell, LLP. After being admitted to practice law in Japan in 2016, he joined Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu, where he advised pharmaceutical and healthcare companies on a broad range of regulatory and transactional matters. From 2021 to 2023, Mr. Koike was seconded to the Minister's Secretariat of Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, where he was involved in the development and implementation of a number of significant government policies. From 2024 to 2025, he pursued an LL.M. degree at Stanford Law School. During his studies, he also served as a Student Fellow at The Center for Law and the Biosciences, engaging in research on legal and policy issues at the intersection of law, medicine, and biotechnology. Since 2025, Mr. Koike has been with Smith, Gambrell & Russell, LLP as a Visiting Attorney, advising clients on U.S. regulatory and legal matters. Mr. Koike's publications include The Legal 500: 1st Edition Life Sciences Country Comparative Guide –Japan (co-author, Legalease Ltd., 2024), among others.

Atsushi Shimada

Chief Technology Development Officer ・ Specially Appointed Professor, Tohoku University Drug Discovery Strategy Promotion Organization
AN Venture Partners, Venture Partner
Patent attorney

Main specialty areas

medicines
medical devices
regenerative medicine products

Specialized support fields

Marketing
Business planning
Funding
Business operation systems
Specialized support fields
Etc

Atsushi Shimada is a Specially Appointed Professor and Chief Technology Development Officer (CTDO) at Tohoku University, where he leads initiatives to accelerate the commercialization of academic innovations and the creation of university spinout companies. He also serves as a Venture Partner to AN Venture Partners, a cross-border life sciences venture capital firm investing in innovative biotechnology companies. Prior to joining Tohoku University, Mr. Shimada held leadership positions in intellectual property, business development, and corporate strategy at Takeda Pharmaceutical Company and Bayer. He subsequently became a life sciences investor, supporting the formation, financing, and growth of early-stage biotechnology startups. Throughout his career, he has led numerous strategic licensing transactions, M&A projects, technology transfer initiatives, venture investments, and intellectual property strategies across a broad range of therapeutic areas. As a registered Japanese Patent Attorney, Mr. Shimada combines scientific expertise with extensive experience in intellectual property, venture capital, and pharmaceutical business development. He has worked closely with researchers, entrepreneurs, pharmaceutical companies, universities, and investors to translate cutting-edge scientific discoveries into successful commercial ventures. As a MEDISO Startup Support Mentor, Mr. Shimada provides practical guidance on startup formation, business strategy, intellectual property, licensing, fundraising, and global commercialization. Drawing on his unique perspective as both a technology commercialization executive and venture investor, he is committed to helping researchers and entrepreneurs build globally competitive life sciences startups and maximize the societal impact of their innovations.

Yumi Kawata ,MD, PhD

Hedgehog MedTech, Inc.

Main specialty areas

medical devices

Specialized support fields

Regulatory compliance
Marketing
Business planning
Funding
Business operation systems

She is Founder and CEO of Hedgehog MedTech, Inc, a start-up Digital Therapeutics (DTx) company. Previously, she was a manager with SoftBank Corp, where she evaluated new Healthcare & Life Science investment opportunities, managed relationships with strategic partners. Prior to SoftBank, she was a Government Relations specialist with Medley, Inc, where she built and maintained the relationships with Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare and Academia. She launched researches and POCs, contributing to the spread of telemedicine in Japan. She also served as a technical officer for MHLW. she was involved in the management of researches on Rare and Intractable diseases and Infectious Diseases.

Takayuki Hirose

Patent attorney, Hirose International Patent Firm

Main specialty areas

medicines
medical devices
regenerative medicine products

Specialized support fields

Specialized support fields

He graduated with a master’s degree from the Graduate School, University of Tokyo. Patent attorney. After working in the intellectual property department in a major company, he was involved in lawsuit-, adviser- and application-relating services at a lawyer's office, followed by establishing his own international patent attorney's office in 2017. He offers intellectual property strategies in cooperation with companies as an adviser for multiple companies, including the Japanese Organization for Medical Device Development, Inc., (JOMDD) and Shin Nippon Biomedical Laboratories, Ltd. Furthermore, he applies for patent rights and trademarks in a wide variety of areas. He is involved in intellectual property-related services that include medical devices and pharmaceutical products. When he applies for a patent in foreign countries, he offers application strategies by placing the most importance on client’s profit, for example, to give advice to receive a subsidy or to select a foreign agent at a reasonable price depending on the company’s size.

About details of specialists

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.

See more about measures implemented by public institutions