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

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.

Tomokatsu Hongo

Keio Innovation Initiative, Inc
Corporate Officer

Ph.D. in Biological Chemistry from Nagoya University. At Summit Pharmaceuticals International Corporation, I was engaged in VC fund management, investment and sales support for bio-ventures, and domestic sales agency business for overseas bio-ventures. In 2016, I joined Keio Innovation Initiative (KII) as an investment manager in the medical and health field. I have been investing in drug discovery, regenerative medicine, and medical device ventures by leveraging his business experience in the pharmaceutical industry and career as a researcher, and providing a wide range of hands-on support, not only in terms of funding, but also in business development.

Hirokazu Yamaguchi

Takato Noumi

Representative Director, FORESIGHT&LINX Cp., Ltd.

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.

Yasuo Sasaki

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.