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

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.

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.

Junichi Imoto

Chief Venture Capitalist, Nissay Capital Co., Ltd.

He was involved in research and development of medicinal products at Fujifilm Corporation. Subsequently, he performed duties relating to patent and bibliographic information at Thomson Reuters. Since 2015, he has worked on investment activities mainly in research and development-driven venture companies at Nissay Capital Co., Ltd.

Masakatsu Noguchi

SMILE CURVE, Inc.

Ph.D. in life sciences. Worked at consulting firm Dream Incubator, consulting in industry-academia collaboration, business support for tech startups (bio, semiconductor, environmental energy), new business development for large corporations, and overseeing government mega-projects. Previously employed at Abbott Japan and Singapore, managing product marketing for diagnostic tests, pharmaceuticals (women's health), and Asia-Pacific marketing for medical IT. As Business Development Director at Sanamedi, facilitated the commercialization of new medical devices, handled regulatory applications and market launches, and supported investments in and assistance to startups. Additionally served as an evaluator for AMED, and as a mentor for NEDO and university accelerator programs. Currently working independently, he serves as a specially appointed associate professor in the Hiroshima University and as an strategic advisor of MEJ.

Hirokazu Yamaguchi

Akiyo Inoko Hewett

Inoko Law and Consulting, LLC　Principal Attorney

Akiyo is an international attorney licensed in both Japan and the United States. She has extensive experience advising Japanese companies on U.S. legal matters. She began her legal career at an Am Law 200 U.S. law firm, where she advised Japanese companies of all sizes and their U.S. subsidiaries on a broad range of legal matters, including corporate governance, commercial contracts, mergers and acquisitions, and compliance. She later joined AI Medical Service Inc., a Japanese healthcare startup, where she supported global commercial agreements, regulatory compliance, and the company's U.S. operations. As a Fractional General Counsel, she now advises multiple Japanese healthcare startups on U.S. market entry, business expansion, regulatory compliance, and day-to-day legal and operational matters.