VI-Health Event Explores Research-Industry Collaborations Role in Medicines Future

On July 7, the Total Health Design Visionary Initiative (VI-Health) hosted an event at Science Tokyo's Yushima Campus titled "The Future of Medicine Through Research-Industry Collaboration."

VI-Health aims to deepen research across conventional disciplinary boundaries and help address unresolved challenges facing society and medicine. The event was designed to help researchers at all career stages - as well as physician-scientists balancing clinical care with research - take their work onto the global stage. It brought together perspectives from industry, a broad view of societal needs, and the possibility of collaboration between VI-Health and a world-leading venture capital firm.

VI-Health researchers from medicine, dentistry, science, and engineering shared their work. Talks and discussions with venture capital professionals then focused on how research can move from the lab into society and how industry-academia collaboration can help make that happen.

The event opened with remarks from Professor Fumihiko Ishikawa, Program Director (PD) of VI-Health and a professor in the Department of Comprehensive Pathology, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences. Ishikawa highlighted the importance of cross-disciplinary research collaboration and international network building made possible by the university integration. He also shared a vision for creating a global ecosystem that can bring research outcomes into society.

In Part 1, VI-Health researchers introduced their work and efforts toward real-world implementation in fields including AI-driven drug discovery, gut microbiome research, oral science, and orthopaedic surgery. Guest speaker Akihiko Nagata of UntroD Capital Japan, Inc. then gave a special lecture from the perspective of university startups and deep-tech investment. Drawing on his extensive investment experience, Nagata offered practical insights and encouragement to researchers seeking to bring their discoveries beyond the lab.

In Part 2, moderated by Professor Takashi Shichita (Sub-PD), physicians, researchers, and venture capital professionals discussed how research findings can be translated into real-world impact. VI-Health researchers were joined by faculty from the Center for Medical Innovation for case studies and a panel discussion. The speakers exchanged views on the realities of medical-device development in clinical settings, ways to turn early-stage research ideas and technologies into businesses, and effective approaches to industry-academia collaboration.

The Q&A broadened the discussion to include participants, with lively exchanges on the research environments and support systems needed to move discoveries into society, as well as how to develop people with the mindset and skills needed for commercialization.

The event concluded with a networking session, where researchers, students, and industry representatives connected across disciplinary boundaries. Conversations explored possibilities for future joint research and collaboration, creating opportunities to build new networks. Participants from outside the university also voiced strong expectations for the contributions of early-career researchers and for future industry-academia initiatives.

Opening remarks

Fumihiko Ishikawa, Professor

(PD / Department of Comprehensive Pathology, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences)

Lecture 1:"Next-Generation Drug Discovery Using AI"

Masahito Ohue, Associate Professor

(Sub-PD / School of Computing)

Lecture 2:"Science → Society → Science: The Cycle of Science Through the Lens of Gut Microbiome Research"

Takuji Yamada, Professor

(VI Researcher / School of Life Science and Technology)

Lecture 3:"Connecting Oral Science Research with Society: Toward the Development of Clinical Practice Guidelines"

Sayaka Katagiri, Professor

(Sub-PD / Department of Oral Biology, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences)

Lecture 4: "Building Healthy, Fulfilling Lives from the Spine and Joints"

Toshitaka Yoshii, Professor

(Sub-PD / Department of Orthopaedic and Spinal Surgery, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences)

Lecture 5:"Debunking Misconceptions About University Startups"

Akihiko Nagata

(UntroD Capital Japan, Inc.)

Moderator: Takashi Shichita, Professor

(Sub-PD / Department of Neuroinflammation and Repair, Medical Research Laboratory)

Case Study 1: The Role of Surgeons in Advancing Robotic-Assisted Surgery

Yusuke Kinugasa, Professor

(VI Researcher / Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences)

Akihiko Nagata

Case Study 2: From Research Idea to Startup

Takuji Yamada, Professor

Akihiko Nagata

Panel Discussion: Researchers and VCs - Perspectives from the Front Lines

Akihiko Nagata

Takashi Shichita, Professor

Daisuke Ban, Professor

(Sub-PD / Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences)

Akifumi Endo, Specially Appointed Associate Professor

(Center for Medical Innovation, M&D Data Platform Promotion Office)

Date and time: Tuesday, July 7, 2026, 1:30-6:30 p.m.

Venue: Faculty Lounge, 26F, M&D Tower, Yushima Campus, Institute of Science Tokyo

Organizer: Total Health Design Visionary Initiative (VI-Health)