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.
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.
- ●Support method:We provide support via online meeting or e-mail.
- ●Support source:Support is provided in cooperation with experts in R&D, consultants in pharmaceutical affairs, and experts from related organizations including the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare.
- ●Remarks:Consultation and support services are free of charge.
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).
Hitoshi Fujimaki
TMI Associates Attorney-at-law (admitted in Japan and New York)
Main specialty areas
- medicines
- medical devices
- regenerative medicine products
Specialized support fields
- Regulatory compliance
- Etc
Joined TMI Associates in 2016. Completed an LL.M. in National and Global Health Law at Georgetown University Law Center in 2023, earning the Food & Drug Law Certificate. Admitted to the New York State Bar in 2024. The practice focuses on pharmaceutical, medical device, and healthcare regulatory matters in both Japan and the United States, with extensive experience supporting R&D and commercial operations of Japanese companies domestically and abroad. Work includes licensing and collaboration agreements with overseas partners, joint research and development arrangements, CRO agreements, GCP compliance during clinical trials, promotional review, regulatory assessments (including medical-device classification), authority inspections, and broad advisories on pharmaceutical and medical-device regulations. Also advises on U.S. healthcare compliance issues, including the Anti-Kickback Statute, the Sunshine Act, and related federal and state requirements. Author of Introduction to U.S. FDA Drug and Medical Device Law and Regulation (Shojihomu, September 2024).

Aiko Kato Sullenberger
RykoTECH President
Main specialty areas
- medicines
- medical devices
- regenerative medicine products
Specialized support fields
- Marketing
- Business planning
- Funding
- Business operation systems
Aiko Kato Sullenberger, CEO of RykoTECH, a significant contributor within the Boston startupecosystem for several years, brings a wealth of experience in various roles, spanning investor,startup, and accelerator. She provides specialized advisory services comprehensive strategicconsultation and facilitation of market entry into the US across diverse sectors, including drugdiscovery, medical devices, digital health, digital therapeutics and biotech. Aiko can help • Fundraising • Strategic Partnership Development • Create Deal Flow (Connecting with Potential Investors) • Identifying Partners and Advisors • Assistance in Facilitating Clinical Trials • Corporate Strategy: Investment Thesis, Portfolio Analysis • Market / Trend Research & Analysis • Go-to-Market Strategy • Academic Business Liaison: Interdisciplinary Project Lead • Cross-Functional Team Building

Akihiko Okuno
SK Intellectual Property Law Firm (SKIP) Managing Partner
SCM BioMedica Co., Ltd. Co-Founder
Main specialty areas
- medicines
- medical devices
- regenerative medicine products
Specialized support fields
- Specialized support fields
Master's degree in Cell Structure Research, Department of Applied Bioengineering, Graduate School of Agriculture and Life Sciences, University of Tokyo, Japanese Patent Attorney, Information Security Administrator, and JPAA Intellectual Property Management Consultant certification. As a FoundX supporter of the University of Tokyo, He supports the intellectual property strategies of many IT and bio-related startups. He specializes in supporting the planning of intellectual property strategies in a variety of fields including biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, and medical devices. In addition, together with Dr. Yoshimasa Tanaka of Nagasaki University (a genius researcher who developed Opdivo with annual sales of over 1 trillion yen together with Dr. Tasuku Honjo, winner of the Nobel Prize in Medicine and Physiology), he established SCM Biomedica Co., Ltd. He co-founded the company and is currently trying to manage his own drug discovery startup.

Tsutomu Uchiyama Ph.,D.
Founder, Uchiyama IP Strategies
Main specialty areas
- medicines
- regenerative medicine products
Specialized support fields
- Specialized support fields
Patent attorney/Ph.D.
After working as a researcher in molecular biology for Daiichi Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (current Daiichi-Sankyo), he passed the examination for patent attorneys in 1996. He worked in the intellectual property departments of three companies as an in-house patent attorney, practitioner, manager and global IP head (Eisai)—Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited, SoftBank Investment, and Eisai Co., Ltd.—for a total of 20 years, where he was involved in patent practice and patent strategies, as well as patent portfolio management including patent filing, patent clearance and intellectual property due diligence.
In April 2017, he founded Uchiyama IP Strategies. Currently, utilizing his experience, he mainly assists venture companies, small and medium-sized enterprises, and academia in patent strategy and contractual matters in drug discovery, regenerative medicine, and biotechnology research.

Ruka Takeuchi
Discovery Biotech Consulting Representative
PARKS Commercialization Producer
Main specialty areas
- medical devices
Specialized support fields
- Marketing
- Business planning
- Business operation systems
- Etc
I have been engaged in marketing and business development for more than 30 years in the life science market, mainly in the medical and pharmaceutical fields, both in Japan and overseas. Currently, I have established my own consulting firm and provide business consulting services to foreign and domestic companies from start-ups to small and medium-sized enterprises. I would be happy to be of service to you by drawing on my past business experience as well as my daily experience in providing hands-on support to various companies and projects.

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.
- The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare/
- Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency (PMDA)/
- Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development (AMED)/
- Cabinet Office/
- Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry/
- Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications/
- Small and Medium Enterprise Agency/
- Organization for Small & Medium Enterprises and Regional Innovation, Japan/
- Union of Kansai Governments/
- New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO)/
- Life Science Innovation Network Japan, Inc. (LINK-J)/
- Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST)/
- Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO)/
- INCJ, Ltd./
- Osaka Prefecture/
- Tokyo Metropolis/
- Kanagawa Prefecture/
- National Institutes of Biomedical Innovation, Health and Nutrition (NIBIOHN)
A comprehensive portal site for Medical Innovation Support Office (MEDISO).
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