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

厚生労働省

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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.

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).

Tsutomu Uchiyama Ph.,D.

Founder, Uchiyama IP Strategies

Main specialty areas

  • medicines
  • regenerative medicine products

Specialized support fields

  • Specialized support fields

Patent attorney/Ph.D.
After working as a researcher in molecular biology for Daiichi Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (current Daiichi-Sankyo), he passed the examination for patent attorneys in 1996. He worked in the intellectual property departments of three companies as an in-house patent attorney, practitioner, manager and global IP head (Eisai)—Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited, SoftBank Investment, and Eisai Co., Ltd.—for a total of 20 years, where he was involved in patent practice and patent strategies, as well as patent portfolio management including patent filing, patent clearance and intellectual property due diligence.
In April 2017, he founded Uchiyama IP Strategies. Currently, utilizing his experience, he mainly assists venture companies, small and medium-sized enterprises, and academia in patent strategy and contractual matters in drug discovery, regenerative medicine, and biotechnology research.

Yasuo Sasaki

Main specialty areas

  • medicines
  • medical devices
  • regenerative medicine products

Specialized support fields

  • Regulatory compliance
  • Marketing
  • Business planning
  • Business operation systems
  • Specialized support fields

He graduated with a doctoral degree in science from the Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science, Hokkaido University. He was involved in the research and development of pharmaceutical products as an employee of Asahi Kasei Pharma Corporation. He was mainly in charge of preclinical studies and regulatory affairs. From 2013, he provided support for research and development by academia, drug discovery venture companies, and small and medium enterprises centering on the eastern part of Shizuoka Prefecture. Since 2018, he has been providing support services as a freelance advisor or coordinator in the life science field.

Masaho Ishino

Main specialty areas

  • medicines
  • medical devices
  • regenerative medicine products

Specialized support fields

  • Business operation systems
  • Specialized support fields
  • Etc

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.

Satoshi Ogawa

TMI Associates Partner (Attorney)

Main specialty areas

  • medicines
  • medical devices
  • regenerative medicine products

Specialized support fields

  • Regulatory compliance
  • Funding
  • Business operation systems
  • Specialized support fields
  • Etc

Satoshi Ogawa, Ph.D., is a partner at TMI Associates specializing in life sciences and healthcare. After earning his Ph.D. in Life Sciences from Kyoto University, he joined TMI Associates as an attorney. Following a three-year secondment at a law firm in New Delhi, India, he has been based at TMI’s Kyoto Office since 2019. Dr. Ogawa advises both Japanese and international clients on cutting-edge technologies, including regenerative medicine, digital health, and AI-driven healthcare solutions. His work covers startup support, patent licensing, industry–academia collaboration, regulatory compliance, and intellectual property disputes. He works extensively with universities, startups, pharmaceutical and medical device companies, venture capital firms, and public institutions. He also serves as an advisor to BioCommunity Kansai (BiocK) and HVC KYOTO, and contributes to conflict-of-interest (COI) committees and institutional review boards (IRBs). Dr. Ogawa is passionate about advancing innovation and helping clients navigate complex legal and regulatory challenges in the life science ecosystem. His publications include “Startup Intellectual Property and Legal Guidebook – Key Points for Early-Stage Bio and Life Science Ventures” (METI-Kansai) and “Healthcare Business Legal Consultation Handbook” (Chuokeizai-sha).

Yutaka Tomioka

Project Researcher, Department for the Promotion of Medical Device Innovation, National Cancer Center Hospital East.
Chief Regulatory Scientist, ayumo Inc.
Chief Development Officer / Director, Atransen Technologies, Inc.
Senior Specialist, Premo Partners, Inc.

Main specialty areas

  • medical devices

Specialized support fields

  • Regulatory compliance
  • Business operation systems

Ph.D. (Engineering). I began my career at the Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency (PMDA), where I worked in medical device review and reliability inspection (reliability standards compliance inspections and on-site GCP inspections for medical devices). My responsibilities included the approval review, consultation services, and reliability inspections for a wide range of medical devices, including novel medical devices. Drawing on my 10 years of experience at the regulatory authority, I moved to National Cancer Center Hospital East in July 2019 to support the development of medical devices originating in Japan. At National Cancer Center Hospital East, I supported medical device development led by both academic institutions and companies. I left my full-time position at National Cancer Center Hospital East at the end of 2025, and joined ayumo Inc. in January 2026 (current position), where I lead the regulatory affairs team.I also joined Atransen Technologies, Inc. in May 2026 (current position). I currently hold part-time positions at National Cancer Center Hospital East, Yokohama City University, and the National Defense Medical College, while also supporting a number of startups, pharmaceutical companies, medical device manufacturers, academic institutions, and small manufacturing workshops (machi-koba) in Ota Ward, Tokyo.

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