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

Kenji Harada

Director & Chief Venture Capitalist, Medical Incubator Japan K.K

He graduated with a Ph.D. in Pharmacology from the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, the University of Tokyo, and is an immunologist by training. He is also a licensed pharmacist and a licensed first-class radiation supervisor. After obtaining his doctorate, he performed a wide range of tasks from basic research to preclinical research as a team leader at Toray Basic Research Laboratories (currently Pharmaceutical Research Laboratories), during which he was developing anti-inflammatory and central nervous system drugs. Subsequently, he was involved in planning and promoting collaborative research with universities and making assessments of platform technologies and drug candidates of American and European biotech startup companies from the technological and intellectual aspects. Furthermore, he conducted GMP inspections in pharmaceutical products and medical device areas multiple times. After starting his career as a venture capitalist, he consistently invested in the biotech sector in the U.S. and Japan. He served as a board member in some of the investees of the U.S. and Japan. Since August 2020, He has expanded his investments into European countries at his current company. He is also engaged in several Japanese governmental projects supporting Japanese startups and research projects.

Chia-Feng Lu

Shareholder(Senior Partner), Greenberg Traurig, LLP

Chia-Feng Lu represents life sciences companies and industry associations in strategic regulatory and legislative worldwide to guide and develop new legislation and policy, to frame effective approaches to working with the various agencies on compliance and investigation issues. He has intensive experience in provision of the guidance to companies introducing novel technology products, such as AI, block chain, 3D-printing, cancer immunotherapy, digital health, cell / gene therapy, precision medicine-related products and services, RNAi drug, as well as SMART device. In his past experience, he has already assisted companies in translating the scientific ideas from Nobel Laureates into the successful commercial launch of at least two products. In addition, he advises investment banks, private equity firms, and venture capital groups on their evaluations of the technologies, deal structures, and the resulting business impacts, as well as regulatory uncertainty with respect to novel technology and compliance. He specializes in various issues in connection with biotech investors or life sciences companies’ research & development strategy, portfolio management, corporate strategy planning, partnerships, licensing, project finance, auction, investment, and M&A. He has also served as an adjunct faculty member of a number of leading academic institutions in the U.S. and Japan, and an advisor to numerous government agencies.

Satoshi Fukushima

Globis Capital Partners & Co.

He graduated from the Faculty of Economics, University of Tokyo. He was involved in investment activities in reformed fields of existing industries, including digital health, at Globis Capital Partners & Co. (GCP). He served as an outside director of several companies, including Medley, Inc., Kakehashi Inc., and Yoriso. Co. Ltd., and provided support to their management personnel mainly in strategy formulation, development of the organization, and finance. In addition to investigation activities, he provided support for fund structuring and open innovations provided by large companies in healthcare fields.

Before joining GCP, he was serving as an M&A advisor mainly in the technology, media, and telecommunication fields and worked on financing at the general headquarters of German Securities Finance Corporation.

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.

Kensuke Suzuki

Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu
Partner, Attorney-at-law

Kensuke Suzuki is a partner at Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu. He represents both domestic and international clients, with a special focus on cross-border transactions, with respect to pharmaceutical, medical and healthcare business, M&A and corporate transactions, fund formation and management, and financial regulations. With expert knowledge of the Japanese medical, pharmaceutical, medical device, and other various healthcare-related regulations, he advises on a wide variety of business activities in the broad healthcare sector, such as regulatory compliance, data protection, mergers and acquisitions, alliances, business startups, financing, licensing and other commercial transactions. He was admitted to the Japan Bar in 2000 and worked as visiting attorney at Kirkland & Ellis （Chicago） from 2006 to 2007. He served as a special adviser to the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare from 2014 to 2015. He is fluent in Japanese and English.