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

Tsutomu Hoshiba

Kievit Scientific LLC President

For over 30 years, I've established and managed Japanese life science companies in the US and Europe. In 2021, I founded Kievit Scientific in Philadelphia, utilizing my Western-acquired experience, up-to-date information, and network. I assist Japanese companies in the pharmaceutical, medical device, and chemical sectors in their international expansion, from strategic planning to product development and market entry. Harnessing my understanding of different cultures and wide-ranging scientific knowledge, I provide solutions to challenges faced by Japanese academia and startups in their global ventures, with the aim of supporting as many Japanese companies as possible to succeed overseas. Furthermore, through these endeavors, I promote the widespread adoption of innovative medical technologies, striving to realize a society where the benefits are extended to many.

Hiroya Kuwahara

Department of Neurology and Neurological Science / Institute of Innovation Advancement
Tokyo Medical and Dental University

M.D. (graduated from Tokyo Medical and Dental University), and Ph.D. (completed doctral course at Graduate School, Tokyo Medical and Dental University). Specialist and Attending Neurologist of the Japanese Society of Neurology, and Fellow and Board Certified Member of the Japanese Society of Internal Medicine. He is engaged in 1) clinical practice, research, and education in neurology, 2) research and development of fudamental technologies for drug discovery (especialy nucleic acid drugs and drug delivery system), 3) promotion of clinical research and industry-academia collaboration, at Tokyo Medical and Dental University. He has a career of a Deputy Director at Research and Development Division, Health Policy Bureau, at the Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare from 2018 to 2019, and was involved in establishing a nationwide system for promoting clinical research and accelerating venture companies in the healthcare field. He provides consultations on the needs of clinical practice, on collaborative research and field provision in relation to project implementation, and on clinical research and development.

Yutaka Kono

Guest professor
Drug Discovery Science Division,Institute for Open and Transdisciplinary Research Initiatives, Osaka University

Yoshimi Naruo

Orizuru Therapeuics, Inc. Associate Director, IP&Legal Ph.D., Patent attorney

Education: Ph.D. in Bioinformatics/Systems Biology, Tokyo Medical and Dental University. Conducted research in systems biology at RIKEN for 3 years (student internship). Experience: 5 years of experience in drug regulatory affairs at an originator pharmaceutical company, followed by 2 years as an in-house IP specialist handling invalidation and infringement matters at a generic pharmaceutical company. Patent prosecution primarily in the fields of pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, and food at an IP law firm. Fulfilling a long-held aspiration to join a startup, she took on the role of Vice President of Legal IP & Strategy at Splink, Inc., where she contributed to winning the Grand Prix at the 3rd IP BASE AWARD hosted by the Japan Patent Office and the 2022 WIPO Global Awards hosted by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). Currently, she is responsible for intellectual property and legal affairs at Orizuru Therapeutics, Inc., a company aiming to commercialize regenerative medicine derived from iPS cells. She leads the formulation of IP strategies and the development of an IP portfolio. Her strength lies in creating IP strategies with a focus on pharmaceutical regulatory affairs, and she strives to provide practical advice in the face of limited resources and uncertainties surrounding technology and commercialization.

Shunji Okamoto

Smith, Gambrell & Russell, LLP
Attorney at Law

After being admitted to the practice of law in Japan in 2010, he focused on corporate and commercial law matters at a law firm. In 2020, he relocated to the United States to pursue an LL.M. degree at Cornell Law School. Since then, he has been advising Japanese companies on a broad range of cross-border legal matters, with a particular emphasis on supporting their expansion into the U.S. market. Licensed in both Japan and New York, he regularly counsels Japanese startups and emerging companies on U.S. market entry, corporate governance, business formation, venture capital and other financing transactions, immigration and visa matters, FDA and other regulatory compliance issues, and the drafting and negotiation of commercial agreements, including business alliance, distribution, and licensing agreements. In addition to his legal practice, he has served as outside counsel to a multinational medical device manufacturer and as an outside director of healthcare-related startup companies in Japan. These experiences enable him to provide practical, business-oriented advice that extends beyond legal analysis to encompass regulatory strategy, corporate governance, and broader business objectives. By combining legal expertise with an understanding of operational realities, he helps clients navigate complex cross-border challenges and achieve their strategic goals in both Japan and the United States.