People have always been the catalyst in my life. My grandmother suffered from Parkinson's disease when she was 18 years old. Parkinson's is a disease that causes motor dysfunctions such as tremors and slow movements due to a decrease in dopamine neurons in the brain. I learned that Parkinson's disease is a neurological intractable disease for which no effective treatment has yet been established, and I strongly felt helpless as I could do nothing but wait for the disease to progress. Later, when I learned of a report by Professor Yamanaka of Kyoto University on the creation of human pluripotent stem cells, I decided to pursue regenerative medicine research at the age of 21, hoping to cure intractable diseases by harnessing the potential of stem cells, which can transform into various types of cells. One key point in the treatment of Parkinson's disease is how to approach dopamine neurons in the brain. Since clinical studies and animal experiments have shown that dopaminergic neurons that have been transplanted into the brain by cell transplantation contribute to functional improvement, we were highly motivated to pave the way for clinical application if we could produce high-quality dopaminergic neurons from stem cells. However, despite the theoretical simplicity, actual research results showed that the quality of dopamine neurons produced from stem cells varied widely, and we have been working day and night on research issues such as how to improve the purity of the dopamine neurons. When you have more choices,
your life expands.
So do what you can. After various research and development efforts, the path to clinical application was paved in 2018 in the form of a physician-led clinical trial. I realized that my attitude toward research and development changed dramatically as I played a role in bridging the gap from basic research to clinical application. I also had the experience of suffering from leukemia, which greatly changed my own attitude toward facing life. I realized that there are a limited number of treatment options as the disease progresses, and that I am often forced to make difficult decisions at each moment. I strongly feel that this number of options is the hope for life and that my role is to open up these possibilities. Currently, through stem cell research, I have discovered that their secreted factors (supernatant fluid and exosomes) also have various actions. With this background, I would like to continue my commitment to "providing options for people's problems in the world," not only in the development of treatments for diseases, but also in challenging new fields such as health and beauty. By combining the know-how I have cultivated as a researcher with the skills I have nurtured as a manager, I will pioneer an unprecedented future faster than anyone else. It has been four years since I started CellPro Japan Co. I will be making a new start as the representative of Waqoo, Inc. but my initial thoughts have not changed a millimeter. It is a simple desire to contribute to people and society. Regenerative medicine has great potential. It can solve various problems. It can help people in need. We can contribute to someone's life. We will do our best to promote what we can do.