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

厚生労働省

Knowledgeable experts support
the practical application of medicines,
medical devices,
and regenerative medicinal products.

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.

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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).

Nobutaka Tani

Chair Person, Nonprofit Organization Japan Organoid Repository
Independent Consultant (New Business in Life Sciences)

Main specialty areas

  • medical devices
  • regenerative medicine products

Specialized support fields

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

He graduated with a master’s degree from the Department of Synthetic Chemistry, Graduate School of Engineering, University of Tokyo. He led the research and development and the launching new project for medical devices, including blood purification system and brain and heart catheters, at Kaneka Corporation. After that, he was involved in RD of the whole life science, including biopharmaceuticals, as the head of the Life Science RD Center, while investing in medical venture companies such as DDS and establishing joint ventures. He then moved to JSR Corporation and established JSR Life Sciences. He led the launch of the life science project for M&A as the first president since JSR Life Sciences was established. As a part of open innovation, he established a CVC and invested in or acquired venture companies in Japan and overseas, while successively holding the positions of president of the invested companies.

Shinichi Watanabe

WNW IP ATTORNEYS

Main specialty areas

  • medicines
  • medical devices
  • regenerative medicine products

Specialized support fields

  • Specialized support fields

Shinichi Watanabe began his career as a patent attorney in 2003, and with the valuable experience gained at global patent law firms. His practice primarily deals with filing and prosecution of domestic and international patent applications in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology fields. Backed up by a wealth of practical experience and technical expertise, he is actively engaged in IP counselling and advises start-up pharmaceutical and biotech companies on patent filing strategies. Recently, he is interested in AI and machine learning, and now also working on support in the interdisciplinary area between life science, IT and AI.

Takayuki Hirose

Patent attorney, Hirose International Patent Firm

Main specialty areas

  • medicines
  • medical devices
  • regenerative medicine products

Specialized support fields

  • Specialized support fields

He graduated with a master’s degree from the Graduate School, University of Tokyo. Patent attorney. After working in the intellectual property department in a major company, he was involved in lawsuit-, adviser- and application-relating services at a lawyer's office, followed by establishing his own international patent attorney's office in 2017. He offers intellectual property strategies in cooperation with companies as an adviser for multiple companies, including the Japanese Organization for Medical Device Development, Inc., (JOMDD) and Shin Nippon Biomedical Laboratories, Ltd. Furthermore, he applies for patent rights and trademarks in a wide variety of areas. He is involved in intellectual property-related services that include medical devices and pharmaceutical products. When he applies for a patent in foreign countries, he offers application strategies by placing the most importance on client’s profit, for example, to give advice to receive a subsidy or to select a foreign agent at a reasonable price depending on the company’s size.

Akiyo Inoko Hewett

Attorney, Smith, Gambrell & Russell, LLP

Main specialty areas

  • medicines
  • medical devices
  • regenerative medicine products

Specialized support fields

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

Akiyo Inoko Hewett is a bilingual and double-licensed attorney based in Atlanta, Georgia, United States. She graduated from Tokyo University of Foreign Studies and earned her J.D. at Keio Law School. After passing the Japanese bar exam and completing her legal training in Kushiro, Hokkaido, Akiyo relocated to the United States. She earned an LL.M. from Emory University School of Law in Atlanta, Georgia. Currently, Akiyo serves as an attorney at Smith, Gambrell & Russell, LLP, where she provides legal services to Japanese companies doing business in the United States and supports clients across a broad range of corporate matters. Her practice areas include international and domestic commercial transactions, regulartory compliance, healthcare law, and immigration law.

Tomohito Suzuki

Tohoku University Knowledge Cast Co., Ltd.
Senior Consultant, Medical Device Development Support Division

Main specialty areas

  • medical devices

Specialized support fields

  • Regulatory compliance
  • Business planning
  • Funding

D. in Pharmaceutical Sciences from Kyoritsu Pharmaceutical University (now Keio University). Formerly a medical device reviewer at the Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency (PMDA). At PMDA, a member of the team in charge of the cardiovascular field and was in charge of approval review and consultation for many medical devices including new medical devices. Seconded from PMDA to the University of Tokyo Hospital as a Project Assistant Professor at the Translational Research Center, where supported the development of medical seeds in academia. Seconded from PMDA to Division of Medical Device Research of the Department of Industrial-Academic Collaboration of the Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development (AMED) as a manager in charge of overseeing projects with medical device-related budgets. He has been in his current position since 2020. Based on his experience in reviewing at PMDA and supporting R&D in academia and AMED, he supports efficient development of medical devices for many manufacturers including venture companies.

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